A recent survey released by Datafolha indicates that Brazilians are more aware of gambling risks. According to the new data, the perception that betting is an addictive practice rose from 54% in 2024 to 57% this year.
This growing awareness trend is backed up by a survey from Procon-SP, released in January 2026, which points to growing consumer concern about the impacts of betting.
Beyond perception, the São Paulo agency’s study highlights concrete effects: among bettors, 39.7% are in debt, 52.4% say they commit part of their income to betting, and 30% report monthly spending above R$ 1,000.
In addition, 62.2% say they have already faced some kind of problem with platforms.
The Datafolha survey also points to a reduction in the use of certain types of funds for betting, especially amounts drawn from savings or intended for purchases.
A more mature market, but not showing a decline
The growing awareness of gambling risks among bettors, even within the margin of error, reveals a more mature market, but one that is no less engaged.
The percentage of people who place sports bets every day grew, going from 13% in 2024 to 21% in 2026.
Meanwhile, 36% reported a weekly frequency, a figure similar to the previous survey, when 35% said they kept up the practice once a week.
The daily frequency of online casino betting, in turn, remained at 23%, while the weekly frequency grew from 26% to 30%.
The survey also shows that Brazilians are more cautious about the types of funds used for betting.
Compared to two years ago, 19% bet with money from savings, down from 22% recorded in 2024.
The use of borrowed money dropped from 15% to 8%, while the share of people who stopped paying bills in order to bet fell from 13% to 6%.
Although, at first glance, this data might suggest a reduction in financial risk, cross-referencing it with Procon-SP’s results points to a more complex scenario.
The recent decrease in the use of credit and savings coexists with a still-high stock of consumers who are already in debt or have committed income.
Thus, fewer bettors now appear to turn to more sensitive sources of financing, but the accumulated impacts of the betting habit remain significant for a relevant portion of this public.
Stricter restrictions are expected to grow
The increase in awareness of gambling risks can be explained by the so-called Bets Law, which came into force in 2025, as well as by the growth of movements critical of betting.
With regulation, the market has started requiring a license to operate and the adoption of responsible gambling practices, including warnings about risks to consumers.
In this context, surveys like the one from Procon-SP gain relevance by serving as a basis for enforcement actions, debt-prevention efforts, and financial education initiatives aimed at the digital betting environment.
At the same time, campaigns such as Block do Tigrinho have broadened the public debate about the sector’s social impacts, mobilizing thousands of supporters and gaining the support of well-known figures in Brazilian culture.
A more competitive phase for bets
The Datafolha survey signals a gradual shift in Brazilians’ perception of gambling risks – a movement that is also starting to be reflected in the demands placed on operators.
While, on one hand, the perception that betting can lead to addiction is growing, on the other, data such as that from Procon-SP shows that negative effects are already concrete for a relevant share of users, which tends to increase pressure for stricter measures.
This is already translating into proposals for advertising restrictions and greater control of the activity at different levels, as happened with the RS State Law.
In addition to adapting to stricter rules, companies in the sector will also need to deal with an environment where public debate becomes more critical and evidence-based – both in terms of social perception and observed financial impacts.
Compliance, responsible gambling, and risk behavior monitoring are set to take center stage as the Brazilian market evolves into a more mature, yet more regulated and socially sensitive, stage.