Survey shows that the share of bettors has remained unchanged since 2024, while debt levels and spending on online casinos have declined following the advance of regulation.
According to the survey, the group that reports not betting remains at 93%, data that contradicts theories of uncontrolled sector expansion after regulation.
Among the isolated modalities, sports betting records 6% of followers (stable compared to 2024, below the 8% of 2023), while online casinos account for 4%, also stable over the period.
The bettor profile is concentrated among men (11%, compared to 3% of women) and in the 18 to 24 age bracket (13%).
For market specialists, this divergence points to a twofold movement: on one hand, the operational restrictions and technical compliance requirements imposed by Brazilian regulation appear to have curbed the volatile appeal of virtual games.
On the other hand, the national bettor seems to be migrating toward a more measured entertainment profile centered on traditional sports.
Financial commitment declining
Among respondents who have bet or played at some point in their lives (a group of 323 people, margin of error of 6 percentage points), the share stating they had committed their finances in some way fell from 44% to 35%.
The share saying they had suffered no financial impact rose from 53% to 65%.
The main declines identified:
- Stopped paying a bill: from 13% to 6%
- Borrowed money: from 15% to 8%
- Stopped buying something necessary: from 19% to 11%
- Credit card use: from 15% to 10%
- Default on payments: from 8% to 5%
- Sale of personal belongings: from 5% to 2%
In the online casino segment, average monthly spending fell 34.5%, from R$354 (2024) to R$232 (2026). Average spending on sports betting, in turn, rose from R$216 to R$241.
Public perception remains critical
Despite the improvement in financial indicators, risk perception remained high: 57% of respondents consider the habit an addiction, up from 54% in 2024.
Another 31% view the activity as a loss of money, 6% as entertainment, and 2% as a source of income or investment.
Reaction
According to the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), the data indicate that betting is not the main cause of the population’s indebtedness, an interpretation by the organization based on cross-referencing bettors and indebted individuals, not a direct measurement by the institute.
According to ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge, the year-and-a-half interval between the surveys highlights the effects of regulatory rules and the fight against illegal platforms.
“The data brought by Datafolha technically contradicts assumptions that have been spread by detractors of the betting market, as if bets were the great destroyer of Brazilians’ financial and mental health,” said Jorge.
Ana Carolina Maçães, from Compliance and Integrity at Grupo Esportes Gaming Brasil, views the Datafolha data as proof that regulation acts as a “seatbelt” for the consumer, rather than an obstacle to the market.
For the executive, the reduction in indebtedness is a direct result of the sector’s maturation under the new SPA/MF rules. She points out that the ban on using credit cards and third-party Pix, combined with mandatory self-control tools, has imposed effective barriers against over-indebtedness.
The sector’s current focus, according to her, should be combating the illegal market, which ignores these protections and continues to expose vulnerable users.
The executive cites responsible gaming practices as implemented by Grupo Esportes Gaming Brasil, an operational metric based on technology, people, and governance.
The company says it uses its own Artificial Intelligence and machine learning solutions to monitor user behavior in real time, triggering alerts or preventive blocks before consumption becomes a financial problem.
When contacted, operators such as Betnacional and TQJ declined to comment.