São Paulo: 40% of bettors report debt post-online gaming boom
The São Paulo Consumer Protection and Defense Foundation (Procon-SP) has published its 2025-2026 comparative report, confirming a negative evolution in the financial health of iGaming users. The study, conducted on a sample of 2,724 respondents, highlights that 39.72% of bettors currently have debts due to this activity. Most alarming is the growth in high-impact monthly spending: while in 2025 only 18% of users spent more than R$ 1,000 (approx. US$ 195), that figure soared to 30.14% in 2026.
The report underscores a direct correlation between massive advertising and financial risk-taking. 56.62% of respondents admitted that campaigns featuring "celebrities" decisively influenced their decision to bet. This media pressure has led 52.39% of users to commit a substantial part of their income, withdraw money from their savings, or even take out bank loans to continue operating on the platforms.
Risk profile and service failures
The report details a debt profile with a strong social component: 53.90% of debtors are women and 46.81% earn less than two minimum wages. Furthermore, the user experience is marred by serious operational problems: 62.25% of bettors reported conflicts with companies. The most frequent problem is the refusal to pay winnings, reported by 42.99% of those affected, followed by the incessant sending of marketing messages and confusing game rules.
Despite 68.73% of players stating they have more losses than wins, exposure to offers is massive: 84.65% of the general population constantly receives betting promotions on their social media or mobile phones. The report also reveals critical data for the industry: 57.60% of citizens are unaware that Procon can receive complaints about this sector, indicating a significant gap in effective consumer protection.
Procon-SP's warning
The agency emphasizes that, under Law 14.790/23, bettors enjoy all the rights provided for in the Consumer Defense Code, including the right to clear information about the risks of loss and the dangers of pathological gambling. Procon-SP warns about the need to intensify educational actions, as only 7% of the population is aware of current preventive initiatives. This report will serve as a basis for future inspection actions and measures aimed at preventing over-indebtedness in Brazil's most populous state.
Access the report: Behavioral Research Technical Report "Games and Betting" Consumer Perception
Tags: Brazil, Procon-SP, Gambling debts in Brazil, Gambler profile in Brazil