According to the survey, the main reasons for starting to bet are curiosity (35%), the desire to make money quickly and easily (22%), and the search for adrenaline or fun (22%). Regarding usage, 24% of bettors say they play weekly, 18% two to three times a week, and 11% bet every day.
The research shows that the most used means of payment is Pix (76% of transactions), followed by credit card (11%). The average monthly spending on bets is R$ 187 (US$35), rising to R$ 255 (US$47) in classes A and B.
Regarding the budget, 19% of bettors admitted to spending amounts that compromised their income, while 41% said they gave up consumption to bet, mainly on eating out (15%), internet (12%), supermarket (12%) and family outings (10%).
Furthermore, 17% stopped paying some bills to gamble, and 29% have already had their names added to credit blacklists due to spending on online games, with 17% still in that situation.
“The research results raise an urgent alert about the consequences of the uncontrolled growth of online gambling in the country. The high rate of indebtedness, the replacement of essential expenses with spending on games, and the serious impacts on mental health show that this 'entertainment' is becoming a social and economic problem,” highlights the president of CNDL, José César da Costa, in a statement.
“It is essential that the regulation of the sector prioritizes consumer protection, especially for young people and families, and not just revenue collection. We need public policies that treat gambling addiction as an illness, with awareness campaigns and stricter limits on advertising and payment methods,” adds the executive.
According to the survey, 28% of gamblers have already sought or considered actions to obtain money to gamble, such as taking out loans (17%), salary advances (8%), or even selling their own or family's assets without consent (7%).
An alarming fact is that 37% said they have tried to reduce or stop gambling, but were unable to. But only 21% sought help, with the main sources of support being the church, relatives/friends, and professionals such as doctors or psychologists.
Source: Globo
