Illegal market of bets should reach 72% by 2026 and cause loss of R$ 10.8 billion to Brazil

A YieldSEC study projects that by 2026, illegal operations could dominate up to 72% of betting in the country, increasing financial and emotional risks at a time of regulatory fragility. According to the Journal of Gambling Studies, players in risky behavior compromise up to 20% of monthly income, while estimates by LCA Consultores point to annual losses of R$ 10.8 billion in revenue and productivity. In view of this scenario, the startup from Minas Gerais him zero bet and its CEO, Jezriel Francis, warn that the crisis tends to intensify with the formalization of the sector and the absence of national policies to prevent games addiction

The scenario gains relevance at a time when the country combines fragile inspection, the most financially vulnerable population and the entry into force of the new national betting rules from 2025. toward Jezriel Francis, Regulation tends to expose problems that remain hidden today. He believes that the formalization of the sector should increase complaints, reveal indebted players and bring up cases of emotional collapse. “ The regulation illuminates a silent crisis and shows the real size of the problem, especially because Brazil still does not have structured policies to prevent games addiction”, he says.

As regulation begins to bring these problems to the surface, the accelerated advance of the illegal market continues to increase practical risks for the consumer. The lack of age verification, absence of auditing, manipulation of odds, blocking looting, irregular data collection and total absence of loss limits make the environment fertile for fraud, indebtedness and behavioral dependence. Without national prevention mechanisms, specialized clinics remain restricted, expensive and concentrated in large capitals, leaving millions of users without support accessible.

“Millions of Brazilians are left without any kind of protection, and often only perceive the problem when it is too late. The regulation and the advancement of the illegal market will bring to light situations that today go unnoticed, showing that we urgently need structured prevention policies and self-control tools accessible throughout the country”, adds the specialist. 

In view of this, platforms for self-control and damage reduction gain prominence. him zero bet It offers digital tools for those looking to recover financial and emotional autonomy, with impulse monitoring resources, personalized limits, educational trails and safe and confidential support. The objective is to make care accessible throughout the country, especially in regions where specialized care is non-existent.

For jezriel, the debate on betting needs to go beyond revenue and focus on the real impact on the population. “We are facing a public health phenomenon. If the illegal market continues to grow at this rate, we will have millions of Brazilians exposed without any form of protection. Brazil needs structured policies that unite regulation, inspection and psychological support. Technology and communication play a key role in this stage”, he concludes.