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ANJL assesses the Datafolha poll confirms betting isn’t the primary cause of household debt

| By Gildo Mazza | Reading Time: 2 minutes
The percentage of Brazilians who bet has remained stable at 7% since 2024, and average spending on online casinos fell by 34%.
Datafolha ANJL betting

The Datafolha survey on the relationship between Brazilians and sports betting confirms that betting is not the primary cause of indebtedness. This is the assessment of the National Association of Gambling and Lotteries (ANJL).

In addition to revealing a decline in figures regarding the financial impact of gambling, the survey shows that the proportion of people who bet—just 7%—has remained stable since 2024. This contradicts claims of an indiscriminate rise in betting habits since the regulated market began.

Comparing the Datafolha survey on betting and debt from November 2024—prior to the industry regulations taking effect—with the current one, the key highlights are:

  • A decline from 44% to 35% among those who state they compromised their finances to place bets.
  • A drop from 13% to 6% in bettors who say they skipped paying a bill to place bets.
  • A decline from 19% to 11% among those who refrained from making a purchase to use the money for betting.
  • A drop from 15% to 8% in bettors who borrowed money to place bets.

Another important figure is the average spending on online casinos, which fell from BRL354 ($70.80) to BRL232. This 34% drop refutes the theory, circulated by representatives of other economic sectors, that Brazilians were cutting back on other purchases or reducing essential spending (such as food, clothing, etc.) to allocate more of their budget to betting.

Data contradicts market detractors

For ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge, the 18-month gap between surveys highlights the importance of regulatory rules. These include tools to curb compulsive behaviour, alongside intensified enforcement efforts to shut down illegal betting sites.

“The data provided by Datafolha technically refutes assumptions circulated by critics of the betting market—specifically the narrative that betting sites are the primary destroyers of Brazilians’ financial and mental health,” said Lemos Jorge.

The nationwide survey polled nearly 2,000 people across 139 municipalities, covering both metropolitan areas and smaller inland cities. Within this sample, only 4% reported regularly accessing online casinos. This exposes the falsity of the claim—often made by opponents of the betting industry—that this habit is widespread among the general population.

“Since the survey was completely anonymous, there is no reason to assume the respondents lied to Datafolha. This gives us a crucial snapshot of reality, showing that the extent of negative impacts from betting is far lower than previously imagined,” Lemos Jorge added.

The ANJL believes the release of this information comes at a critical time, just ahead of the election campaign season. The data could help prevent the spread of misinformation about the sector for political gain.

“The survey indicates a stabilisation in both the number of bettors and the frequency of betting. At the same time, there has been a significant drop in average monthly spending on online casinos. Consequently, most bettors view betting sites simply as another form of entertainment,” Plínio assessed.