Fun, income and the illusion of easy investment in online betting
A survey recently released by O Globo, in partnership with Offerwise, brought new data on the behaviour of Brazilian bettors. The study showed that 72% claim to bet “for fun”, while 38% say they see betting platforms as a way to supplement their monthly income or even as a kind of investment.
At first glance, the numbers may seem positive, since the majority view gambling as entertainment. However, the percentage of those who bet believing in financial gains raises an alarm that cannot be ignored, and precisely for this reason, the Brazilian government has implemented campaigns and regulations to put an end to the idea that gambling is an alternative source of income.
The profile of the Brazilian bettor
The study shows a divided Brazil regarding betting. For most respondents, betting on sports or online casinos is a form of leisure, just like watching a football match with friends or playing video games. This finding aligns with international research: a Statista survey indicates that, in countries such as the United Kingdom and Spain, more than 60% of bettors also classify the habit as a form of entertainment.
The problem lies in the 38% who see gambling as a source of extra income or investment. This percentage is significant, especially in a country where, according to IBGE data, around 50% of the population lives on up to two minimum wages. In a scenario of rising living costs, accumulated inflation and record indebtedness (more than 30% of households were in arrears in 2024, according to Serasa), it is not difficult to understand why part of the population sees betting as a “financial escape”.
The risk of viewing gambling as an investment
The greatest mistake in this perception is to consider betting comparable to financial applications. Traditional investments, such as fixed income, real estate funds, and even shares, involve risks, but are based on models of predictability and long-term return. Betting, on the other hand, is by definition an event of uncertain outcome and negative probability for the player, since the house will always have a profit margin.
This distorted view of betting can create a “culture of financial illusion”, where young people and adults replace economic planning with attempts at quick gains. And this problem is not exclusive to Brazil; in Portugal, the Online Gambling Regulatory Authority (SRIJ) has already warned of the growth of “aspirational gambling”, when betting is not done for entertainment, but in search of supplementing one’s salary.
Back in Brazil, according to a Ministry of Finance ordinance, betting companies are prohibited from broadcasting advertisements that present gambling as a form of employment, extra income, financial solution, or investment. The measure follows recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which classifies gambling as a risky activity when associated with the promise of easy profit.
Other awareness campaigns have also been carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the National Secretariat for Betting and Lotteries (Senalot), reinforcing messages of “bet responsibly” and emphasising the risk of addiction. The Minister of Finance himself, Fernando Haddad, has already declared that “gambling cannot be romanticised as an investment, as this leads to indebtedness and social vulnerability”.
International examples of combating the view of betting as income
In 2023, the United Kingdom implemented new advertising rules that prohibit celebrities and influencers from suggesting that betting can improve someone’s financial life. The Gambling Commission, the British regulatory body, states that the industry cannot exploit financially vulnerable individuals. In Spain, the Ley del Juego also limits campaigns that could associate betting with economic success. Since 2021, advertisements promising profits have been banned in prime time and during sports broadcasts. These examples help explain why Brazil chose to regulate the sector initially, at the stage of the legalised market.
The Brazilian reality and the bets
Even with the restrictions, popular culture still treats betting as a “chance to improve life”. Celebrities, football players and influencers have already been criticised for encouraging this view, especially among young people. A Datafolha survey, published in 2024, showed that 42% of young people aged 18 to 24 had already placed online sports bets, and a large portion stated that the goal was “to make easy money”.
This type of behaviour worries public health specialists. Psychiatrist Hermano Tavares, coordinator of the Pathological Gambling Outpatient Clinic at the Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo, states that the more betting is seen as an alternative source of income, the greater the risk of compulsion. According to him, the illusion of quick gain often results in indebtedness and even cases of depression.
This perception, although understandable in the face of the economic scenario, needs to be addressed. Betting is not an investment, and the contrary belief can generate serious social consequences. Entertainment must be preserved, but it is essential that society understands that no betting platform can replace financial education, stable employment, or long-term investment.
This article was first published in Portuguese on 28 August 2025.
