such as those offered by platforms like Blaze, Betfair and Jogo do Tigrinho, should not be seen as a form of investment. eople see betting as an opportunity to make money quickly, it does not follow the fundamental principles of investing, which involve planning, calculated risks and long-term goals. ets should be treated as a game or entertainment, with extremely unfavorable odds for the bettor.
In Brazil, the sports betting market has grown exponentially. In 2022, the country overtook the UK, becoming the world leader in online gambling platform access. It is estimated that about 22 million Brazilians participate in these bets, a number seven times greater than investors on the Stock Exchange, for example. This reveals a worrying trend: more Brazilians are willing to bet on the “game” than to invest in safer and structured financial options, such as stocks or investment funds.
atafolha recently released a study that reveals that approximately 22 million Brazilians (14% of the population) have already participated in online sports betting. In comparison, only 3.7 million people (2% of the population) invest in the Stock Exchange, B3. This means that the number of online gamblers is seven times higher than that of equity investors.
ave outperformed even other popular investments. outnumber the percentage of people who have invested in CDBs (5%), cryptocurrencies (4%), real estate (4%), investment funds (4%), shares (2%), private pension plans (2%) and direct treasury bonds (2%).
ategory that still represents a larger share is savings, with 25% of Brazilians, according to the study “X-ray of the Brazilian Investor”.
Why are bets not an investment?
The concept of “investing” implies the idea of increasing your wealth in an intelligent and planned way, based on analysis and study. The bets, whether in football, basketball or other sports, depend mainly on luck and chance. The online gambling phenomenon appeals to emotion, offering a kind of “game” that provides quick rewards and a sense of possible victory. But what many don’t know is that the odds of success are extremely low.
Studies indicate that the odds of a bettor making consistent profits on sports betting are less than 10%. Bookmakers, in turn, always have the advantage by adjusting the odds to ensure that most bettors lose in the long run. Therefore, while the desire to “get rich quickly” is an illusion, the risk of financial losses is real and constant.
The regulation of gambling in Brazil
In order to mitigate the damage caused by sports betting, the Brazilian government has advanced in regulating the sector. Law 14.790/23 and other measures are being implemented to ensure greater control, safety and accountability. The main changes include the limitation of the minimum age for betting, the prohibition of advertising directed at minors and the requirement of strict identification of bettors.
However, despite the regulations, many experts warn that constant monitoring is necessary to combat illegal practices and prevent match-fixing, money laundering and gambling addiction. In addition, bookmakers need to implement policies to prevent pathological gambling by providing support for those at risk of becoming dependent.
Gambling addiction and its social impacts
One of the biggest risks of sports betting is the development of addiction. Constant exposure to the possibility of gain, coupled with the feeling of “almost victory,” creates an emotional cycle that can be difficult to break. As demonstrated in experiments, the feeling of being “almost winning” keeps players engaged for longer even when they do not get positive results. This compulsive behavior is exploited by betting platforms, which create an environment in which players may feel compelled to bet more, always hoping to recoup previous losses.
This addiction can have devastating consequences on the financial and emotional lives of gamblers. In 2024, the impact of online gambling in Brazil was alarming, with millions of people compromising their incomes to the point of becoming defaulting. The data indicate that sectors of the economy, such as commerce and tourism, suffered significant declines in revenues due to the diversion of resources from households to gambling. The number of people defaulting because of gambling increased, and many Brazilians began to allocate essential resources for games, damaging their well-being and that of their families.
The National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) has released a study that assesses the impacts of the growing habit of online gambling. In 2024, Brazilians spent R$ 240 billion on betting. Lower-income families were the most affected, with the default rate among them rising from 26% in January to almost 30% in December. In the case of Bolsa Família beneficiaries, more than five million people spent R$ 3 billion on bets in just one month.
According to the CNC, gambling addiction and the unrestrained expansion of this behavior result in great losses for the economy, because financial discontrol has harmed the consumption of goods and services. This phenomenon also intensifies social inequalities and the diversion of resources, negatively affecting the formal economy and household finances.
In addition, gambling addiction has become a growing problem in Brazil, affecting the financial and emotional health of many people. Therefore, it is essential that Brazilians understand the difference between betting and investing, and that they seek more responsible and sustainable ways of managing their money.
