Brazilians spend approximately R$ 2.2 billion per year on online betting, an amount that corresponds to more than three times the estimated financial movement for Christmas shopping. The information was revealed by the Instituto Fecométrico de Pesquisas e Análises (IFEC RJ), which conducted a survey between June 22 and 25 with 1,024 residents of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro.
The survey shows that 22.8% of respondents said they have already participated in online betting. Of this total, 33% said they bet for the chance to win quick money, while 25.4% see gambling as an opportunity to earn extra income.
The results of the study also indicate that gambling addiction may be associated with various problems. Among the bettors surveyed, 22.3% declared they have or have had difficulty stopping, 29.1% said they have felt guilty, and 34.8% said they have been criticized because of the addiction. Additionally, 6.9% reported having harmed themselves or harmed another person due to betting.
According to the survey, gambling may be related to debt, loss of control, personal conflicts and impacts on the mental health of bettors.
