Nearly 23 million Brazilians bet online in 2024, surpassing traditional investments

A recent survey by Datafolha, commissioned by Anbima, found that around 23 million Brazilians placed online bets in 2024, representing 15% of the population. This marks a slight increase from 14% in 2023 and shows that more Brazilians now gamble online than invest in traditional financial products like stocks or mutual funds. The findings come from Raio-X do Investidor Brasileiro, a nationwide study that analyzed the financial behavior of over 5,800 participants.

For the first time, the study included an index to measure gambling addiction, revealing that about 3 million bettors are at high risk of developing a disorder. On average, Brazilians spend BRL 216 per month on betting, but those with signs of addiction spend over BRL 680. Worryingly, 4 million people said they consider betting a form of financial investment.

More than half of respondents admitted to betting again to recover losses, while 30% spent more than they could afford. Despite these concerns, many in Generation Z see betting as entertainment, and the activity spans all social classes. Although online gambling was regulated in 2023 under Law 14.790, the study shows that financial and social harms from betting continue to rise.