The federal government's proposal to create a platform for payroll loans aimed at workers with formal employment contracts (CLTs) – which could come to fruition this year – brings with it the promise of democratizing credit and also sheds light on a series of issues that could worsen the Brazilian population's debt and deepen structural problems related to the unbridled supply of low-cost credit – and the famous “bets”, orthe platformsbetting sites online, represent one of the biggest challenges in this regard.
Added to this is the fact that the platform can further increase the number of scam cases using the payroll loan mechanism - although this information has not been recorded in the last two years, in 2022 Brazilian Procons registered a volume of 57,874 complaints of scams involving payroll loans - which was equivalent to more than six complaints per hour.
In this risky recipe, we also add the problem of Brazilian families' indebtedness. Although it has decreased by 0.9 percentage points in one year, according to data from the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC) released at the end of January, workers' greater exposure to credit may create a debt spiral linked, precisely, to bets.
The problem with betting: far from over
“Bets” are what sports betting sites became known as, which also ended up paving the way for a new type of betting site, online casinos – commonincommonly called "Tigrinho's Game". The problem is that Law 13,756/2018, which authorized betting companies, also set a maximum deadline of four years for the Ministry of Finance to regulate the activity, which did not happen. The result is that these companies operate within a "regulatory limbo," without clear rules.
Without clear rules and with considerable advertising reach, especially on social media, betting games have become an epidemic. In 2024, Brazilian families wagered around R$ 240 billion on bets – leading more than 1.8 million people to default due to virtual betting. Lower-income families, according to CNC, were the most affected: in January of last year, they accounted for 26% – by December, this number reached 29%.
In a context where credit is widely easily accessible and risk analysis is not always thorough, many workers may be led to use payroll loans to gamble on online games. Obviously, this can lead to an even greater increase in debt, with workers resorting to new credit operations to pay off previous debts, creating a negative spiral of financial dependence. Recent research by SPC Brasil, in partnership with the National Confederation of Shop Managers (CNDL), indicates that the percentage of default among consumers who repeatedly resort to this type of loan has increased significantly, reinforcing the idea that easy access, without responsible financial management, can turn credit into a high-risk instrument.
Moreover, some research indicates that up to 60% of users of gambling platforms may use credit money, including payroll loans, for betting. And to make the situation even more dramatic, the overdue volume in payroll-deductible credit for private sector workers increased by 0.8 percentage points between 2023 and 2024, according to the Central Bank.
Fraud and payroll loans
Recent data from the Central Bank indicate that the volume of payroll loan operations has grown rapidly in recent years, reaching levels that require more rigorous monitoring by financial institutions and intermediary platforms.
The issue becomes more serious when one takes into account that, for the payroll loan platform to operate on a large scale, banks and financial institutions will be required to adopt increasingly robust anti-fraud measures.
The digitalization of financial services has shown, in recent years, a significant increase in cases of electronic fraud, often sophisticated and difficult to detect. Thus, the need to invest in technology and cybersecurity systems becomes imperative to mitigate risks that could compromise not only consumers' financial health but also the stability of the financial system as a whole.
Furthermore, centralizing operations on a single platform can create an environment conducive to internal fraud and data manipulation. Automation and system integration, when not accompanied by robust internal control, create opportunities for malicious agents to exploit vulnerabilities, offering a scenario where the damage can be twofold: on one hand, the worker finds themselves in debt that will compromise their income, and on the other hand, the financial institution may become a victim of fraud that increases operational costs.
In addition to technology, banks will also need to rely on credit formalization services, in which the granting and management of these loans are carried out in a transparent and secure manner. The formalization of payroll-deductible credit involves a thorough verification of the applicants' data, ensuring that loans are granted only to workers who meet specific eligibility criteria. This process includes the analysis of documents, such as proof of income and credit history, to ensure that beneficiaries have the capacity to meet the payments.
Ultimately, the path forward must be guided by transparency, responsibility and the search for a balance between technological innovation and the protection of consumer rights.
The payroll-deductible loan platform can, without a doubt, offer significant benefits, but these benefits cannot be achieved at the expense of workers' financial well-being. It is imperative that each operation be accompanied by a thorough analysis, that anti-fraud measures be constantly reviewed and updated, and that consumers have access to clear and accurate information about the risks and conditions of the credit contracted.
In this way, we can turn easier access to credit into a tool for inclusion and development, rather than an instrument that inadvertently deepens indebtedness and economic instability. The construction of a safer and more sustainable financial environment necessarily involves dialogue among all stakeholders and the implementation of measures that are up to the challenges imposed by the digital age.