ANGL Denies Controversial Claims That Brazilian Gamblers Sacrifice Health and Food Expenses to Gamble
Date: 2024-09-18 Author: Alex Crawford Categories: EVENTS
The association aims to refute recent claims that gamblers sacrifice spending on essential items such as clothing, food and medication to finance their gambling habits. The letter discusses a controversial study by the Brazilian Society of Retail and Consumerism (SBVC), which claims that 23% of respondents who spend part of their salary on gambling stopped buying clothes, 19% stopped going to supermarkets and 11% cut back on health care.
The study found that 63% of Brazilians who participate in online gambling believe their salary has been “compromised” by gambling. The survey, conducted in July, covered 1,337 people, of whom only 508 had gambling experience.
In response, the ANGL, which represents leading local companies such as Betnacional and Aposta Ganha, highlighted data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) showing a 1.3% increase in household spending in the second quarter compared to the previous one. Year-on-year, the increase was 4.9%. Household spending is defined by the OECD as “all purchases made by residents to meet their daily needs, including food, clothing, rent, energy, transportation, health, leisure and other services.”
“Claims that the gambling industry is responsible for the alleged reduction in consumption by Brazilians or for the increase in debt levels are baseless,” the ANGL said.
However, the association added that the sector does not ignore the cases of gambling addiction that have been reported. “To demonstrate their commitment to player protection, operators are organizing awareness and education campaigns for players, reiterating that online gaming and sports betting should be seen as forms of entertainment and not as a source of income,” the statement said.
ANL reaffirms commitment to safe gambling
Another point of criticism of the gambling sector in Brazil has been the fear of the growth of a black market, as long regulatory delays have contributed to the proliferation of unlicensed sites. The ANL is confident that the regulated market, which will launch in January 2025, will provide a safe environment for players. The association acknowledges that regulatory delays have contributed to the growth of “adventurous bookmakers who are not committed to the goals of fairness and responsibility.”
“With the entry into force of the regulated market, Brazil will have a safe betting environment with clear rules and penalties for those who do not respect the main purpose of the operation: the consumer,” the ANL explained.
The ANGL responded to those it believes unfairly criticise the gambling sector, believing that this only serves to support the black market. “Working against regulation is the same as supporting the existence of illegal sites in the country, without the slightest concern for the correct rules of the regulated market,” the ANGL added. “It means strengthening those who the government, serious companies and society are fighting against.”
