Rio Metropolitan Residents Spend an Estimated R$2.2 Billion a Year on Online Betting

Overview

• The IFec RJ survey, released July 27, found 22.7% of residents in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area have used online betting and that average annual spending per bettor is about R$1,200.
• Researchers extrapolated those results to estimate roughly R$2.2 billion flows to online betting in the region each year, a sum larger than typical seasonal retail benchmarks reported by local outlets.
• Bettors are concentrated among men and young adults with 65.6% male representation and the largest share in the 25–34 age group, and 66.9% of bettors have completed secondary education.
• The survey found 70% of bettors use their salary to fund wagers and many cite financial motives, with 48.7% expecting returns, 28.3% seeking quick gains, and 20.4% aiming to supplement income.
• Findings show 69.9% receive betting ads on social media and 48.5% do not check site legality, prompting respondents to favor stronger enforcement, advertising restrictions or platform closures and highlighting a noted discrepancy in reported sample size across outlets.