Brazilian families lost USD 12 billion to online gambling in 2025
Brazilian households lost over USD 12 billion to gambling last year. This amount represents the net figure – the difference between the money wagered and the money returned as winnings. It stands at an average of USD 920 million per month, covering October 2024 through March 2026. The losses total 0.68 percent of the country’s gross national disposable household income and include transfers made…
In 2025, Brazilian families suffered significant financial losses due to online gambling, amounting to over USD 12 billion. This figure represents the net amount, which is the difference between money wagered and money won, and is equivalent to an average of USD 920 million per month from October 2024 to March 2026. The losses account for 0.68 percent of the country's total household disposable income.
The gambling transactions, made primarily through the Pix payment method, generated nearly USD 68 billion in bets during the same period.
The National Committee of Finance Secretaries (Comsefaz) released a report on August 6, based on Central Bank statistics, detailing these alarming figures. The data shows a shift in the use of Pix transfers towards arts, culture, sports, and recreation sectors since the regulation of sports betting began in January 2024. Despite a ban on gambling for recipients of the Bolsa Família welfare program in October 2024, there has been a decline in transaction volume, suggesting that lower-income families were heavily involved in the betting market.
Attorney Júlio Leone criticized the regulation, stating that it fails to block accounts of compulsive gamblers, instead offering them additional bonuses and incentives, leading to further financial ruin.
Written by urgent.news from Agencia Brasil's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
