Betting Companies Double Revenue in Brazil and Already Pay as Much Tax as Tobacco and Agriculture

Brazil's betting and online casino industry doubled its revenue in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Tax revenue jumped from R$2.2 billion ($425 million) to R$4.5 billion ($869 million), approaching the amount paid by the tobacco and agriculture sectors, which each contribute about R$1 billion per month. Industry revenue reached R$12.2 billion ($2.3 billion) in the first four months of the year, compared with R$36.9 billion ($7.1 billion) during all of the previous year.

The Finance Ministry reports that 25 million CPF holders placed bets in 2025 and that 187 authorized websites are operating. Ten brands account for 68.8% of the market, led by Greece's Betano. According to consultancy H2 Gambling Capital, the World Cup is expected to generate between R$20 billion ($3.8 billion) and R$25 billion ($4.8 billion) in additional deposits.

The industry's growth comes amid concerns about gambling addiction: 4.4% of Brazilian gamblers face problematic gambling behavior, more than double the global average of 2%. The National Confederation of Commerce attributes part of household indebtedness to betting.

The illegal sector also worries regulated operators. Estimates indicate that unlicensed betting platforms account for between 41% and 51% of the market, handling up to R$39 billion without paying licensing fees or taxes.

Read the article in the original language

News from Brazil

Receive in your email inbox a summary of the day