A study commissioned by the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming contradicts the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) by stating that betting games have little impact on family income. According to the survey, spending on bets represents 0.46% of consumption, and is not the main reason for the increase in debt.
The IBJR is made up of giants in the betting sector, such as Betano, Betfair and Bet Nacional.
On April 15, the PT bench in the Chamber. To this end, the text attempts to revoke sections of the legal framework for sports betting and online gaming in the country, in addition to vetoing everything from the operation of platforms to the processing of financial transactions in the medium, which, in practice, makes bets commercially unviable.
Lula has also directly criticized the business model, which is already facing an increase in the need for consumption.
The survey, carried out by the economic consultancy LCA, is based on data from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets crossed with information from IBGE on family consumption in the year 2025.
During the period, total consumption was R$8.1 trillion, while spending on bets was R$37 billion, a similar range to that spent on alcoholic beverages, which cost the population R$40.5 billion.
Continues after advertising
However, the expenses described by the research are not separated by income range, which makes it difficult to clearly perceive whether or not the expense is concentrated on the public affected by the increase in family debt.
Studies show otherwise
A survey produced by Procon in São Paulo, between the end of 2025 and the beginning of this year, showed that four in ten bettors went into debt after using bets.
According to the study, bettors are generally men (61.8%), up to 44 years old (82.5%) and with an income of up to two minimum wages. The value of bets consumes, on average, more than R$1,000.00 per month of the income of 30% of respondents.
However, among the people who said they had already gone into debt because of online betting, the largest portion, almost 54%, were women aged up to 30 (44.7%) and with an income of up to two minimum wages (46.8%).
Another study, produced by FIA Business School in partnership with Ibevar, analyzed data between 2011 and 2025 to state something similar. The survey points out that than traditional factors, such as interest and credit.
According to the survey, the statistical impact of betting on domestic debt is practically double that of other variables. The coefficient associated with bets was 0.2255, while the effect of interest on the consumer was 0.0709 and that of credit on income was 0.0440.
Continues after advertising
It is estimated that 39.5 million Brazilians have used betting services in the last year. Of this total, 19% claim to have compromised their income and 17% stopped paying basic bills to play.
