Brazil is preparing to launch regulated online gambling in January 2025, a new survey by market research company Hibou found that 10% of the population has encountered financial problems due to gambling. The survey of 2,839 respondents from various social strata found that 68% gamble, with 16% facing financial problems as a result.
Among these respondents, 32% said they had sold assets to cover losses, 29% borrowed money from friends or family, and 25% used their savings. About 23% said their problems still exist, but only 2% of the entire group think they are addicted to gambling.
About 53% of respondents said they spend more money than they win, and only 48% said they have won bets. About 69% of gamblers think that online gambling is the most dangerous vertical industry, including the domestically criticized Fortune Tiger.
Brazilian Gambling Demographics
As for the composition of gamblers, 47% are single, 43% are married. The gender ratio is quite balanced, and the most gambling is done by the age group over 55 years old (27% of respondents).
The motives for gambling include economic factors (66%) and entertainment factors (25%). Media and football are considered influencing factors.
Launch of Online Gambling in Brazil
During the 90-day priority application period that ended on August 20, about 113 operators applied for Brazil's online gambling license. This number is a significant increase compared to the only 6 operators that applied before the full technical rules for online sports betting and igaming were released earlier this month.
The regulated online gambling market in Brazil is expected to start on January 1, 2025. The final number of applicants during the window period is lower than the initial total of 134 people who expressed interest, but this will still be seen as a positive outcome by the Brazilian government, exceeding the SPA's expectation of 40 applications.
