Brazil supermarket sales rise following sports betting ban

The Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras) reports an increase in food retail sales following a recent ban on online sports betting. According to Abras, sales grew by 6.5% between October 5 and 11, and by 6.3% between October 12 and 18, compared to the same period in 2025.

The growth is concentrated in essential items such as rice, oil, pasta, and coffee, across various retail formats including supermarkets and wholesale stores. Abras attributes this shift to the prohibition of betting, noting that Pix transactions fell by 10% immediately after the ban and remain 7% below previous levels.

The ban was implemented via a provisional measure announced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 25. The measure is set to last four months and requires Congressional approval to become permanent. While Abras links the rise in grocery volume to the ban, the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming has stated that the findings do not prove a direct causal link between the prohibition and increased food purchases.