The World Cup exposed the dangers of online gambling: nearly 18,000 Brazilians requested CPF blocking in two weeks.
The 2026 World Cup, the first with the sports betting market properly regulated in Brazil, has raised a concerning alarm about the risks of compulsive gambling. Unprecedented data from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) of the Ministry of Finance reveals an overwhelming 588% increase in self-exclusion requests on online betting platforms, the famous “bets,” during the tournament period.
Between June 15 and 28, a total of 250,129 Brazilians sought to block access to these sites. This translates to a staggering average of 17,866 daily requests, a gigantic leap compared to the 2,594 requests registered in the two weeks prior to the World Cup. This phenomenon reflects not only the intense advertising campaigns by betting companies, which leveraged the football fervor to attract new users, but also the growing fear among many of losing control over their habits.
Football as a Trigger
The national passion for football, which should be a cause for celebration, has become fertile ground for the expansion of betting. Recent regulation, coupled with the omnipresence of advertisements during game broadcasts, created a scenario of massive exposure. Experts and organizations supporting recovering gamblers point out that this atmosphere intensified compulsion in many, leading them to seek refuge on the self-exclusion platform created by the government.
“The World Cup concentrates the country’s attention because football is our passion. But this passion has come to be contested by betting advertising,” laments Lucas Louback, political advocacy manager at the NGO Bonde. The account of Bruno, an engineer who lost R$122,000 and now confesses “doesn’t even like football anymore,” is a shocking testament to the devastating impact addiction can have, to the point of stealing the pleasure of such a beloved sport.
Changing Profile in Blocking Requests
Curiously, the justification for CPF blocking also changed during the World Cup. If previously the main reason was “loss of control over gambling” (43.56%), during the tournament, “prevention against irregular use of data” surged to first place (29.5%). This suggests that many, even without a clinical picture of compulsion, decided to protect themselves against the avalanche of offers and media pressure, fearing information manipulation or deeper involvement in a risky universe.
The majority of applicants opted for indefinite blocking, demonstrating the seriousness with which they face the situation. The increase in requests, according to organizations, while positive for showing that the tool is being used, is also an alarm signal about the escalation of the problem.
A Problem That May Worsen After the World Cup
While self-exclusion is seen as a crucial protective measure, many experts warn that the most severe effects of intense exposure during the World Cup may only manifest in the following months. Compulsive gamblers often try to recover previous losses by betting even more, which can lead to a vicious cycle of worsening situations.
The SPA acknowledges that the combination of information, awareness, and increased promotion of the self-exclusion tool contributed to the rise. However, the debate now turns to the need for more robust policies for prevention, treatment, and combating indebtedness, so that the appeal of football does not translate into personal and family tragedies. The full impact of this “explosion” of blocking requests on betting sites will still be felt, requiring continuous attention from public authorities and civil society.
