A Playtech investigation demonstrated that three-quarters of Peruvian players bet at least once a week and simultaneously call for stricter regulations in advertising.
Peru.- Playtech recently launched the third edition of its e-book on the gaming industry in Latin America. This new report delves into player trends, their concerns, and main interests, providing expert information on responsible gaming to industry stakeholders in one of the fastest-growing regions globally. The new edition of the report presents significant findings obtained from a survey of 2,500 people from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia.
Peru recently legalized and regulated online gaming and sports betting and the market is growing by leaps and bounds. According to estimates, the market will exceed USD354m by 2025.
The Playtech survey shows that 92 percent of Peruvian players claim to place bets at least once a month. Three-quarters (75 percent) of the surveyed Peruvian players stated they bet at least once a week. One in four (25 percent) over 55 only bets on special occasions (for example, when the prizes are high).
The favorite games among Peruvians are slots and roulette, each chosen by 59 percent of respondents, followed by bingo (48 percent) and blackjack (28 percent).
One in three players (34 percent) values the availability of a smartphone app and the variety of games offered by the platform. Two-thirds (65 percent) of the surveyed Peruvians believe that some sports matches are rigged to favor certain players, while 57 percent said that professional athletes should not be allowed to bet on sports matches. Women prefer recommendations from friends and family (29 percent) and user reviews (27 percent). For men, competitive prices and odds are key (38 percent), as well as ease of navigation (35 percent).
The Playtech survey also shows that only 44 percent of players in Peru set a budget before betting (the lowest rate among the Latin American countries surveyed), although 30 percent of these players said they sometimes exceed their own limits. Most players (85 percent) spend less than S/200 (USD54) per month, and 25 percent spend less than S/50 (USD13) monthly. Regarding the management of winnings, 45 percent of players in Peru said they save their winnings. One in three (33 percent) uses their winnings to pay for daily expenses, while 30 percent choose to reinvest their winnings in more bets.
The youngest players (18-24 years old) are the most likely to save their winnings (51 percent), while older players (+55 years old) are the most likely to use their winnings to pay for daily expenses (50 percent). Peruvians said they would feel safer betting online if the platform they are using is legal and registered (51 percent) and offers a variety of payment and withdrawal methods (47 percent).
Finally, regarding advertising regulation, the report shows that 80 percent of the surveyed Peruvians want stronger regulation of gambling ads, while 82 percent said that gambling companies should do more to help problem gamblers.
For example, 40 percent of respondents believe that sector ads should include clear information about the risks of gambling, and 39 percent believe that ads should comply with legal standards and only appear on legalized sites. Another 35 percent says that ads should not encourage impulsive or excessive gambling, while one in three (33 percent) supports restricting ads to players over 18 years old. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said that gambling platforms should introduce stricter age verification policies.
Nearly half (44 percent) of the surveyed Peruvians stated they have no knowledge of the gambling laws in their country, only 17 percent feel well-informed, and another 33 percent say they have some knowledge. Among this last category, 67 percent obtain information through specialized websites, while 34 percent do so through social media and influencer profiles.
Peruvians distrust sports and betting, as 64 percent believe that some sports outcomes are manipulated and 58 percent believe that betting sites unfairly prevent players from winning. Additionally, 59 percent of respondents believe that betting companies ignore public safety.
One in three (33 percent) respondents stated they know exactly where to go in case of gambling-related harm, while a slightly lower percentage (31 percent) stated they have some idea. Conversely, one in five (22 percent) do not know where to seek help.
Older players (55+) are the least informed, as only 10 percent know where to seek help, the lowest percentage among age groups. Of those who know where to seek help, 44 percent would turn to psychologists and health professionals, followed by 17 percent who identified support groups and rehabilitation centers as places to seek help.
Among former players, the main reasons for quitting gambling include significant financial risks (31 percent), losing money due to bad luck (24 percent), and boredom (21 percent). Additionally, 21 percent mentioned that they stopped gambling because they were spending too much time playing. Meanwhile, among respondents who have never gambled, 31 percent cited the fear of losing all their money or becoming addicted, while 26 percent cited high financial risks as the main reason.
