Brazil sees 104% rise in gambling addiction treatment requests

The expansion of online betting platforms in Brazil has led to a significant rise in gambling addiction and a corresponding surge in requests for medical and psychological treatment. According to the Third National Survey on Alcohol and Drugs (Lenad III), approximately 10.9 million Brazilians exhibit risky or problematic gambling patterns, with roughly 1.4 million having developed a formal addiction.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the Unified Health System (SUS) recorded 10,553 consultations related to pathological gambling and betting mania between January 2018 and May 2025, representing a 104% increase during that period. However, health officials warn that these figures may be underreported.

In response to the crisis, more than 1 million people have used the federal self-exclusion tool to block access to authorized betting platforms since December 2025. Additionally, a specialized tele-health service launched by the Ministry of Health in March 2026 has seen high demand, expanding its capacity from 600 to 100,000 monthly consultations to meet the need. Experts emphasize that effective treatment requires an integrated approach involving psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and support for the patient's financial and family situation.