Brazil: Survey shows low betting participation but broad support for ban

Few Brazilians report betting

7% said they placed online bets

In a survey conducted in July, Datafolha found that 7% of Brazilians aged 18 or over said they bet on betting platforms or online casinos, while 93% said they did not.

A survey released alongside the new poll also indicates that 18% of Brazilians said they either placed bets or lived with someone who did so before the ban. Of this total, 6% said they were bettors themselves, 9% said they lived with someone who bet, and 3% fell into both categories.

The data therefore indicate relatively low reported participation in betting platforms compared with the share of the population supporting a ban on this type of activity.

Majority support ban on betting

78% support the measure

The most recent survey was conducted between September 28 and October 1, following the publication of the provisional measure that banned online betting in Brazil.

The survey interviewed 2,506 people in 152 municipalities. The margin of error is two percentage points, and the poll was registered with Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) under number BR-08039/2026.

Among respondents, 78% said they support banning betting and online casinos, while 18% said they were opposed and 4% did not express an opinion.

Support for the ban is the majority position across the different demographic groups analyzed in the survey. Among women, it reaches 82%, compared with 74% among men. Among respondents who identified as Evangelical, support stands at 81%, compared with 76% among Catholics.

Difference between participation and public perception

The results highlight a difference between the number of people who say they participate in the betting market and the share of the population that supports its prohibition.

While 7% of adult Brazilians reported betting on betting platforms or online casinos in the July survey, nearly eight out of ten respondents supported a ban in the latest poll.

This contrast comes at a time of changes to Brazil’s regulatory framework and intense debate over the future of fixed-odds betting in the country.

Support for ban has increased since 2024

Favorable percentage rises by 13 points

Comparisons with previous surveys also show a change in public perception of online betting.

In November 2024, 65% of respondents supported a ban, while 27% were opposed and 8% had no opinion.

In the latest survey, support reached 78%, representing an increase of 13 percentage points compared with the previous poll.

Survey conducted amid regulatory changes

Provisional measure reshapes Brazil’s betting landscape

The survey was conducted just days after the provisional measure banning online betting in Brazil was signed on September 25.

For the gambling industry, the data provide two distinct indicators: the share of the population that reports using betting platforms and the majority public support for a ban.

The survey therefore comes amid a significant change in Brazil’s regulatory environment, affecting operators, bettors, advertising companies, sports clubs and other stakeholders connected to the market.

The results also help illustrate the public opinion landscape surrounding betting as the debate over the future of the sector continues in Brazil.