The online study involved the participation of 550 individuals over 18 years old, from all social classes and regions of Brazil. As a result, it was possible to determine that the traditional lottery remains the most popular form (58%) of gambling.
Following that, sports betting (33%) is gaining popularity, despite being a more recent trend, and scratch cards (27%). Categories such as casinos and card games were statistically tied, with shares between 15% and 17%.
"We considered everything, from sports betting, slot machines, card games, casinos, jogo do bicho, lottery, scratch cards," said Fábia Silveira, planning and customer service manager at QualiBest. The specialist expressed surprise at the number of Brazilians who claimed to engage in sports betting.
Lower income, higher spending
According to the survey, users spend an average of R$ 58 (US$ 11.5) per month on gambling. However, this financial volume increases to R$ 80 (US$ 15.75) in the A and B classes, composed of families with incomes exceeding R$ 10,000 (US$ 1,970), and in Generation Y (adults aged 29 to 41), who are the most engaged in sports betting (45%). Baby boomers (aged 59 to 78 years) are the least involved in gambling (20%).
Regarding the financial volume spent, Silveira points out a contradiction. Despite the younger generation having a smaller budget, they are the ones who spend more on gambling and betting. "We know that income concentration is stronger in Generation X (aged 42 to 58) and among the baby boomers. I can say with certainty that this is affecting the budgets of the younger ones," she says.
This fact also concerns Tatiane Viana, a financial educator, tutor, and teacher at Eu me Banco. "It is alarming to see the number of young people seeking quick gains through games, but we know that doesn't exist," says the expert. "Gambling and betting are not a source of income."
This is also the view of Hulisses Dias, a CNPI analyst and a finance master's degree holder from Sorbonne. "The problem is not the bets themselves, but the bettor creating the expectation of turning it into extra income," he says. "Bets and games of chance are an excellent 'investment' for betting houses. For an ordinary citizen, they should be seen as nothing more than a small moment of relaxation with friends."
Is it healthy and safe?
According to the survey, the main motivation for the respondents to gamble is the “excitement” of betting. Approximately 38% gamble online at least once a week, and another 23% do so biweekly. Moreover, they spend on average more than an hour per week on this activity.
Even though it is part of their routine, internet users couldn't provide a clear answer as to whether the activity is “safe and healthy.” “The respondents are on the fence; they don't know. Although those who gamble say that the main motivator for gambling is the excitement of betting. So, the emotional elements within this universe are very high,” Silveira points out.
According to Viana, the amounts spent on gambling should be seen as part of “variable expenses,” which are expenditures related to entertainment. It is advisable that the consumer allocates a maximum of 30% of the available monthly budget to these entertainment expenses.
A sign that the relationship with gambling is not healthy is when the bettor cannot break free from the gambling routine, compromising the budget. “We all have some vices, and it's not entirely bad, as long as it generates something positive in the long term, which is not the case with gambling. The challenge for a person addicted to gambling is to replace this negative addiction with a positive one,” says Dias from Sorbonne.
Source: Estadão E-Investidor
