Last week, InPlaySoft published a market report on the first six months of regulated betting in Brazil. The document not only explains what has changed in the country’s legislation and what the current regulations are for iGaming operators, but also brings together data on the demographics of betting in Brazil.
In addition, it reveals data from its sportsbook about which types of bets are most popular, both in sports and online casino games, and provides useful insights that iGaming operators can apply to stay ahead of the competition in Brazil going forward.
The full report is free and can be accessed here.
But let’s take a look at the report with an exclusive section.
Sports betting in Brazil
According to a survey conducted in August 2024, 11% of Brazilians reported participating in sports betting – and remember, Brazil has a population of over 212 million people, making it the seventh most populous country in the world. At the same time, ENV Media reported that 66.9% of Brazilian real-money bettors engage in sports betting, making it the most popular iGaming category, followed by lotteries with 58.2% and online casinos with 51.1%.
With the new regulation that came into effect in January 2025, the trend is for these numbers to increase. The sector is ready for sustained growth, with forecasts indicating strong revenue trajectories through 2030.
In the first quarter of 2025, for example, betting platforms in Brazil recorded more than 5 billion visits, averaging over 650 visits per second, representing a 90% increase compared to the end of 2024.
Brazil’s gambling market, which includes sports betting and iGaming, is expected to reach USD 7.02 billion in 2025, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.54%, with a target of USD 9.04 billion by 2029.
Therefore, sports betting is essential for iGaming operators in Brazil. But which tournaments should sportsbooks feature? Let’s take a look.
Top tournaments for sports betting in Brazil
Brazilians love football, and InPlaySoft’s data confirms it: in our sportsbooks, the sport in which Brazil has won five FIFA World Cups is the most bet-on by the population, being nine times more popular than basketball, which ranks second, followed by tennis in third.
In fact, the top five most popular tournaments among bettors are all football-related. Number one is the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, followed by the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B and the Copa Libertadores complete the top five.
Basketball is the second most popular betting sport, so it’s no surprise that the NBA is the most popular non-football league. Rounding out the top 10 are four more football leagues: Spain’s LaLiga, the Copa do Brasil, the English Premier League, and the UEFA Europa League.
Here’s the full list:
Trends in sports betting
So, if you’re a smart iGaming operator, you don’t just want to know what’s happening now; you also need to ask yourself what the future trends are to stay ahead of the competition.
Here are some trends for sports betting in Brazil:
Keep an eye on evolving regulations
The sports betting landscape in Brazil is still in the early stages of regulation, following the launch of its legal framework. Experts expect this transition phase to remain fluid in the coming years, with possible regulatory adjustments, evolving compliance standards, and ongoing market recalibration. Regulation is expected to become stricter, so expect more frequent audits, enforcement actions, and tighter controls on advertising, KYC, and AML.
Therefore, it will be important to stay on top of regulatory changes to ensure you remain compliant and don’t risk losing your license.
Live betting
According to the 2025 Global Sports Betting Market Growth Report, live betting already accounts for more than half of all online bets worldwide, in a market valued at USD 108.6 billion. And this trend also applies to Brazil: a report from H2 Gambling Capital found that more than 50% of bettors prefer live markets, making them the dominant offering for any iGaming platform provider in Brazil.
If you’d like to learn more about live betting, check out this article from InPlaySoft.
Responsible gaming
Changes in Brazilian legislation aim to increase player protection and promote responsible gaming. The government is strengthening policies to curb the negative impacts of gambling, including restrictions on advertising, anti-money laundering measures, and the protection of vulnerable groups, such as beneficiaries of Bolsa Família.
Therefore, iGaming operators should focus on providing responsible gaming tools for their players, such as deposit, loss, and time limits; self-exclusion and cool-off periods; reality checks and session reminders; and links to help centers and gambling helplines.
Mobile devices
InPlaySoft’s database shows that 94% of all bets were placed via mobile and only 6% via desktop. This trend is likely due to the high penetration of mobile internet in Brazil, operators’ app platforms, and easier access during live sporting events.
Therefore, invest in mobile UX, but don’t forget desktop users, as those 6% of bets represent 18% of revenue. Brazilians place more bets via mobile, but when they bet on desktop, they tend to wager more money per bet.
Get to know InPlaySoft’s sportsbook
InPlaySoft is an international software provider that designs, delivers, and maintains scalable, stable, and fast-to-market iGaming platform solutions for casinos and sportsbooks, for operators seeking not only success but also sustainable growth.
Our sportsbooks use official Sportradar data, the fastest in the market, to provide the best experience with minimal risk. They also include all the necessary features for player acquisition and retention – with a level of auto-scaling you won’t find anywhere else, so you can embrace peaks in sports betting traffic rather than fear them.
Visit our website to learn more about us and our Sportsbook.
Source: InPlaySoft
