A survey by market research specialist Hibou has revealed that 10% of Brazil’s population has endured financial problems due to gambling before regulations come into effect.
The survey, which included 2,839 respondents in Brazil from all social classes, investigated the prevalence of gambling among the population.
The study found that 68% of Brazilians gamble, with around 16% of respondents saying they had financial problems due to their gambling.
Is regulated gambling causing social problems?
That is equivalent to about 10% of the Brazilian population. While this may cause concern, it is important to note that it covers a period of time before the legal online market is launched. The first legal bets will be placed on January 1, 2025, with 113 operators applying for licenses during the initial 90-day priority window.
Of those who had experienced financial problems due to gambling, 32% said they had sold assets to make up for the losses. In addition, 29% borrowed from friends or family, while 25% used their savings.
Meanwhile, 23% said their problems were still unresolved. Despite these figures, only 2% of the Brazilian population considers themselves to be addicted to gambling.
Among all respondents, 65% said they knew someone who had financial problems caused by gambling.
Of those who said they did not gamble, a lack of trust in the honesty of betting and games was cited as a reason by 44%. Having no money left to lose was chosen by 30% as a reason for not playing.
Gambling losses more than wins in Brazil
The study found that 53% of players had spent more than they won on every game they played, while less than half (48%) said they had ever won a bet.
Of the games where players made a profit, lotteries accounted for 12% and lotteries for 14%.
Gambling was considered addictive by 88% of respondents who did not gamble, with only 3% saying they did not think betting could be addictive, while 9% were not sure.
Is the Fortune Tiger Firestorm Turning Gamers Against Gaming?
Online games, including the controversial Fortune Tiger, were chosen by 69% of respondents as among the most dangerous games for gambling addiction.
Fortune Tiger, an Asian-themed slot machine that has come under fire for using influencer ads that pushed players to lose big on scam sites, leading to arrests. However, the game will be available on the regulated market, according to regulation no. 1,207 on online games.
Casinos and arcades were chosen by 64% as dangerous for addiction, while sports betting was chosen by 34%.
When asked which games should be regulated, 35% believed that online games such as Fortune Tiger should be federally regulated, while 56% believed they should be banned.
That compares to lotteries, where 67% of respondents believed they should be federally regulated, while 4% said they should be banned.
Demographics and motivations for gambling
Of those who gamble, 47% are single, while 43% are married. The number of women who gamble is also higher than that of men, with women making up 50% of gamblers compared to 49% of men.
The 55+ age group was found to be the most common age group for betting, with 27% of punters coming from that age group compared to the 25-34 (21%) and 35-44 (22%) groups.
In terms of motivation, 66% of respondents chose gambling, while gambling for fun was chosen by 25%.
As Brazil prepares to launch its legal market, 73% of those surveyed believe gambling companies should pay taxes, while 39% said regulation would provide security for bettors.
When asked where they watch gambling ads, 42% of respondents said they watch gambling ads on television.
The results come after Grupo Globo, LatAm’s largest media conglomerate, announced it was entering into a joint venture with MGM to launch BetMGM in the licensed Brazilian betting market.
The deal will leverage Grupo Globo’s consumer network of 70 million daily users across TV, digital, radio and print media.
Another big influence on Brazilians gambling comes from football, with 71% of respondents saying that brand sponsorship of their football teams would make them more likely to bet.
A number of club betting subsidies have been announced since Bill 3,626/2023 was approved by Brazil’s Vice Cabinet on December 21. These include top-flight football team Flamengo, which announced it was launching its own betting brand through shirt sponsor Pixbet.
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