Online betting: 25% of Brazilians would take out loans to gamble, points out a study by Futuros Possíveis

Futuros Possíveis, a future intelligence platform, presents the report "The Future of Online Betting: Where We Are and Where We're Going," the second edition of its study on the habits and perceptions of Brazilians regarding the online betting market, popularly known as "bets." 

Conducted in partnership with Opinion Box, the survey interviewed 2,023 people of different age groups and social classes across Brazil, revealing the profiles and motivations behind online betting, as well as the potential socioeconomic risks. For 60% of respondents, losing all the money invested in future bets would negatively impact their personal finances.

Another finding that points to potential socioeconomic risks is the propensity to take out loans to support gambling habits. In the next 12 months, 25% of respondents would consider taking out loans to continue gambling, a particularly high indicator for Generation Z, who lead this statistic with 45%.

Seen as a possibility for financial gains by the majority (38%), betting acts as a hopeful financial leverage for respondents. Among those who expect bets to improve their family budgets, classes D and E account for 32%, higher than classes A and B, which account for 21%.

"The online betting market has grown rapidly in Brazil, but this growth reflects socioeconomic inequalities that cannot be ignored," says Angelica Mari, CEO and co-founder of Futuros Possíveis. "The study reveals the urgency of financial awareness and the need for stronger regulation to protect society from the risks of this phenomenon."

The report also explores behavioral differences according to gender and social class. Men tend to bet more frequently and with higher stakes, while women make up the majority of those who have never bet. Additionally, the research identified that Class C is the most likely to seek financial gains from betting, while Classes D and E face the highest propensity for indebtedness in order to maintain the habit.

"Gender and social class differences show the extent of the effects of betting in Brazil and need to be closely observed. While men have more fun betting than women, they are also more likely to take out loans in the next 12 months to maintain the practice," analyzes Marcelo Gripa, COO and co-founder of Futuros Possíveis. "This is a sign that fun can turn into debt without proper care."

The report includes other findings, such as:

• The motivations behind the bids: 38% bet for the possibility of financial gain; 27% to try their luck; and 17% for fun;
• Frequency and expenses: Men bet more frequently and with higher stakes; women are the majority among those who have never bet;
• Risk and indebtedness: Generation Z and lower-income classes (DE) show a greater propensity to take out loans to continue gambling;
• ValuesThe majority bets less than R$50 per wager, with women making up the majority of bettors in this range (70% versus 59% of men).

"We hope this study is an important step toward initiating a wider dialogue about the impact of online gambling in Brazil, considering the financial, social, and mental health aspects of these practices," says Andreza Maia, co-founder and director of influence at Futuros Possíveis.

“These data can support the dialogue on public policies that promote financial education and offer support to the most vulnerable populations, who are often the most affected by online gambling,” he adds.

The data collection that supports the study was carried out between September 18th and September 25th, and the margin of error is 2.2 percentage points. For more information, please access the full report: https://futurospossiveis.rds.land/futuro-das-apostas-online24