Betting companies have grown by 153% in Brazil since 2025.

According to a study by BigData Corp, São Paulo holds almost 65% of the R$12 billion in invested capital.

According to research conducted by BigDataCorp, a data tech company, the number of online betting companies in Brazil jumped between 2021 and 2024, with a growth of 153% in the country, from 840 to 2,100. It is estimated that they invested around R$12 billion. For the study, BigDataCorp considered the number of companies licensed to operate in gambling.

Geographically, the research showed that the highest concentration of betting companies is in the state of Amazonas (3.49%), followed by Ceará (2.66%) and Maranhão (1.29%). Although the North and Northeast regions concentrate almost 20% of sports betting companies, when it comes to figures, São Paulo is the state with the highest concentration, with 64.22% of the invested value. Meanwhile, the Federal District has the highest average per company, R$ 16.1 million.

Bets in the Brazilian economy
During the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on Betting in the Senate, the executive secretary of the Central Bank (BC), Rogério Lucca, stated that between January and March of this year, Brazilians spent up to R$30 billion per month on sports betting. Most of this money returns to the bettors – between 93% and 94%—according to data from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), an agency of the Ministry of Finance.

In September 2024, the Central Bank published a study regarding the segment and profile of bettors. Most of the bets from the 24 million players are made via Pix (Brazil’s instant payment system). The research also indicates that the age range of consumers is between 20 and 30 years old, while the average value increases with age. Younger players typically invest R$100 per month, while older players exceed R$3,000 monthly.

Since 2018, sports betting companies have been allowed to operate in Brazil. With their growth, the debate about the addiction that gambling causes has also been gaining traction.

Health experts say the country is experiencing an epidemic of online gambling addiction. According to a survey conducted by the Brazilian Society of Retail and Consumption (SBVC) and AGP Pesquisas, at least 63% of gamblers have compromised their family income, while 19% have stopped grocery shopping and 11% have stopped buying medication or spending on healthcare.

The impact on families’ income and quality of life is just one of the problems. Beyond money, gambling addiction also compromises mental health. In August 2024, the Locomotiva Institute surveyed the epidemic. 60% of respondents stated that gambling affects their emotional state. Among the feelings experienced during the act, 51% said they felt emotional, while 41% said they felt more anxious. Another point that stands out in the survey is that 30% of respondents stated that online gambling has somehow harmed their personal relationships.