A new Meio/Ideia survey has placed online betting among Brazil’s emerging political and economic pressure points, with 25% of respondents saying they had placed bets in the 30 days before the poll.
The survey, released on Wednesday, May 6, was conducted by telephone with 1,500 people. It addressed the theme “Bets and Brazil” and has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, with a 95% confidence level, reports BLN Data.
Public concern over the sector was reflected in the poll’s findings on debt and addiction. According to the study, 59% of respondents believe online betting contributes to the increase in household debt, while 19% disagree, and 22% did not know how to answer.
A larger share, 61.9%, said online gambling can be addictive, while 16% disagreed. Among respondents aged 35 to 44, 69% agreed that betting platforms are causing addiction in the population.
The findings also show a divided public response to regulation. A total ban on betting was supported by 44% of respondents, while 24% opposed such a measure. Another 33% said betting operations should continue, but with a ban on advertising by betting platforms.
Women were more likely than men to support tougher restrictions. The survey found that 48% of women supported a total ban on betting establishments in Brazil, compared with 40% of men. It also found that 60% of women believe betting contributes to the indebtedness of Brazilian families. Meio/Ideia noted that female voters represent 52.8% of Brazil’s electorate, equal to 82.8 million women eligible to vote.
Participation in betting varied by gender, age, region, and income. Among men, 28.8% said they had placed bets during the period analyzed, compared with 21.5% of women. The survey also stated that 29% of men had gambled online in the last 30 days, against 22% of women. Men were also more likely to defend the continuity of the sector, with 27% in favor of maintaining betting, compared with 21% of women.
Income did not show a clear link with betting participation. Among Brazilians earning up to one minimum wage, 25.8% had gambled. The rate was 26.6% among those earning between one and three minimum wages, 25.7% among those earning three to five minimum wages, and 16.7% among those earning more than five minimum wages.
Regionally, the North had the highest share of recent bettors, at 41.4%. It was followed by the Central-West at 28.3%, the Northeast at 26.4%, the South at 23.6%, and the Southeast at 20.6%.
By age, the highest participation rates were recorded among respondents aged 45 to 59, at 28.3%, and those aged 25 to 34, at 26.7%. Among adults aged 25 to 34, 34% said a family member had recently gambled, while 31% believed someone in the family gambled without telling anyone.
“The political question is not about condemning gamblers, but about asking who set up the gambling table, who profited from the game, and who, now on the eve of the election, should turn off the lights in the casino,” state Cila Schulman and Mauricio Moura, respectively CEO and founder of the Ideia Institute.
The survey also pointed to policy constraints facing the government. It cited the revenue issue, saying restrictions on betting could mean giving up almost R$10 billion annually, equivalent to what the government collected in taxes and fees in the first full year of regulation in 2025.
It also cited the continued activity of illegal platforms and the risk that restrictions on authorized operators could push bettors toward the black market. The institute further referenced the American experience, saying the diversion of income to gambling is permanent rather than temporary.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/05/11/120184-one-in-four-brazilians-bet-online-as-debt-fears-push-gambling-into-election-debate
