Off the Radar: Sizing and socioeconomic impacts of the illegal gambling market in Brazil
The illegal online gambling market in Brazil, made up of unlicensed operators who operate outside the recently implemented regulations, represents a serious problem costing billions of reais to the public coffers and a trap for uninformed bettors. This is what the unprecedented study “Off the Radar: Sizing and socioeconomic impacts of the illegal gambling market in Brazil” points out.
Study on the Betting Market in Brazil
A study conducted by LCA Consultoria Econômica in August 2024 on the fixed-odds betting market in Brazil shows that gambling expenditures represent between 0.2% and 0.5% of total household consumption and between 0.1% and 0.3% of the country’s GDP. The data indicate that there is no evidence that sports betting has caused a systemic crisis for families or the economy, as some sectors claim.
Moreover, the study challenges earlier estimates that suggested Bolsa Família beneficiaries had spent R$3 billion on betting. According to the research, actual spending ranged between R$210 million and R$400 million in August 2024. The findings highlight the need for well-structured regulation to protect consumers and ensure the sector’s sustainable development.
