The sports betting and online gaming industry in Brazil is experiencing significant growth, with the sector generating BRL5.89 billion (approximately $1.18 billion) in revenue from January to May 2026. This marks an increase from BRL3.169 billion (about $634 million) during the same months in 2025, reflecting an impressive growth rate of 85.88%. This surge highlights the critical role of the gaming sector in Brazil's economy, bringing with it a heightened responsibility for the government. Given the executive branch's frequent critiques of betting platforms, it is essential for policymakers to address the industry with seriousness.
There is potential for the government to double tax revenue by incorporating illicit websites into a legal framework or effectively shutting down illegal operations, which would likely drive more bettors to licensed platforms.
This data was presented by tax auditors Claudemir Malaquias and Marcelo Gomide at an event attended by Revenue Secretary Robinson Barreirinhas.
For the entirety of 2025, Brazil's total betting revenue reached BRL9.95 billion (approximately $1.99 billion), and with the first five months of 2026 now surpassing those full-year figures by 60%, the trend indicates a profitable year ahead.
Looking at the current trajectory, Brazil could see total revenue exceed BRL14 billion (around $2.8 billion) by the end of this year. This forecast is further buoyed by heightened betting activity during the ongoing World Cup. Between the tournament's onset and June 25, bettors had already wagered nearly BRL510 million (about $102 million) on various platforms, according to data from Klavi, a data intelligence company.
Klavi reported that more than BRL25 million (approximately $5 million) was wagered during the match against Scotland on June 24 alone, signifying a 35% spike in daily averages compared to figures prior to the World Cup. Furthermore, their analysis found that the average transaction value for Brazilian bettors rose from BRL185 to BRL235 ($37 to $47), marking a 24% increase. This study was based on transactions made by 1.2 million users across 187 licensed websites in Brazil.
