Betting, popularly known in Brazil as “bets,” has become a growing phenomenon in the country. As a result, many bettors are losing money, and it's becoming increasingly common for workers to turn to loans to pay off debts and cover basic expenses.
Everyone wants a shot at luck, and betting isn't a problem in itself. In an attempt to make quick money, people turn to office pools, lotteries, and games of chance. But when betting spirals out of control and starts to damage a person's life, they develop a condition known as gambling addiction.
Betting platforms promise big rewards, and the higher the risk, the higher the potential payout. Because of this, these platforms encourage the logic of trying to win back lost money by placing an even riskier bet.
This cycle of betting, losses, and wins pulls the individual into a spiral of obsession, one that demands more and more money, worry, and mental energy — in many cases resulting in full-blown addiction.
Betting can be a far more powerful driver of mental illness than people realize. According to Paulo Jelihovschi, a psychologist and head of people and journeys at Abrasel, betting pulls people into a cycle of anxiety that goes beyond the individual and starts to affect the social sphere as well. “Someone who's mentally worn down by gambling can't keep up with everyday tasks, can't stay focused, and ends up living in a constant state of exhaustion,” the psychologist notes.
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Betting apps in Brazil
According to Datafolha, more than 32 million Brazilians say they bet or have placed a bet at some point. The study also points to broad social and geographic reach for this kind of betting — people from every social class and region are putting part of their income into uncertain bets.
However, according to a survey conducted by AGP Pesquisas — published in the newspaperFolha de São Paulo— the phenomenon is more common among young people and men. Among people ages 16 to 24, nearly a third (30%) have placed a bet, with 21% being men and 9% women. Brazilians spend an average of R$263 a month on betting sites. At first glance, these numbers don't reveal the full depth of the problem, but thousands of people have fallen into debt and find themselves struggling with addiction because of gambling.
The psychological and emotional effects of betting
From a socio-political standpoint, sports betting deepens existing social and economic inequalities. Low-income people are the most vulnerable to the appeal of betting as an illusory promise of quick prosperity. This cycle of exploitation is made worse by the lack of strict regulation and the aggressive promotion of betting, which turns economic desperation into a profitable business.
The economic effects of gambling addiction run deep and wide, reflecting a significant social problem that affects not just individuals, but also their families and communities. The compulsion to bet drives many workers into severe debt, pouring their income into games of chance instead of covering basic needs. Lower productivity and higher absenteeism are direct results of gambling addiction in the workplace, affecting companies' profitability and long-term sustainability.
On top of that, people affected by this addiction often need psychological and medical treatment, frequently funded by public resources. This shows how gambling addiction is a problem that goes beyond the individual level, becoming a matter of public interest that calls for effective prevention and treatment policies to protect the most vulnerable and reduce the social and economic harm caused by this compulsive behavior.
A journey into obsession*
*The names of the people and companies involved have been changed to protect everyone's identity.
The mechanics of gambling, which sports betting is part of, are structured in a way that pulls the bettor down a path of compulsion. People become increasingly dependent on gambling, and the social consequences vary widely. Some lose their productivity and end up exhausted. In other cases, though, things turn out even worse — as happened with Marco Antônio, owner of Oficina da Pizza, who watched one of his employees spiral into such an obsession that she ended up stealing from his business.
“She was an employee who worked hard for the company and did what needed to be done. Recently, with the rise of Tigrinho [a betting app], she started gambling and asking for salary advances. […] It got to the point where she was taking home less than half of what she should have earned that month. Sometimes she'd ask two or three times a week.”
“In May, I gave her time off and installed a hidden camera pointed at the POS (point of sale). When she came back, the first sale she made was fraudulent — she faked the sale record and pocketed the cash. So I asked her about her pay, and she admitted it was all going to Tigrinho. That's when I let her go for cause,” the business owner shared.
These examples highlight the seriousness of the problem and the deep effects betting can have on people's personal and professional lives. Gambling compulsion takes a real toll on the workplace and on the relationship between employers and employees.
Prevention and intervention in the workplace
Situations like the one Marco Antônio described are now part of business owners' everyday reality. Knowing how to handle this kind of scenario requires attention and seriousness from employers. That's why it's essential to build a closer relationship between employer and employee.
A business owner's watchful eye is essential for spotting behavioral trends and stepping in early so employees don't lose their focus and productivity. That's exactly what Lula Fylho, owner of Casa de Juja, a gastronomic studio in São Luís, did — acting before gambling addiction became a problem within his company.
The business owner says he noticed some employees were spending a good chunk of their shifts on their phones betting, with some staying up all night, showing up to work tired and unproductive. So, to avoid losing these employees to addiction, he decided to bring in the company psychologist before he started handing out salary advances.
The solution was a series of group conversations, together with the psychologist, to carry out a targeted intervention. These sessions covered mental health, financial health, and other consequences that unchecked betting can bring for both the individual and the company. The business owner adds that, since then, he hasn't had any issues with his employees.
Actions like Lula Fylho's can serve as good examples in people management, since he took preventive steps as soon as he noticed his employees were at risk of falling into betting obsession. Timely, targeted actions are a good way to step in and help keep the workplace healthy and productive.
* This piece was produced by Lucas Machado, head of Abrasel's news agency
