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Growing Impact Concerns Private Institutions
Brazil is closely following the rapid advance of online sports betting. Many young people seek entertainment on these platforms.
However, the effects are already concerning private higher education specialists.
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Maintainers (ABMES) and Educa Insights, over 980,000 Brazilians risk not entering private higher education in 2026.
The reason is the financial commitment to the so-called bets.
The survey, conducted from March 20 to 24, 2025, interviewed 11,762 young people aged 18 to 35 in all regions.
Of this total, 2,317 fully answered the questionnaire.
Northeast and Southeast Face Greater Challenges
With the advancement of sports betting, the Northeast and Southeast are experiencing a more intense impact on access to private higher education.
In the first semester of 2025, 44% of Northeasterners and 41% of Southeasterners intending to start college postponed their studies due to betting expenses.
In the second semester, these numbers fell to 32% in the Northeast and 27% in the Southeast.
In contrast, the South and Midwest maintained lower percentages throughout the year, ranging from 17% to 18% at the beginning and dropping to 16% and 14% in the following months.
Frequent Betting and Financial Risk Grow Among Youth
As the number of bettors increases, financial risks follow this trend.
Since September 2024, the frequency of betting among young people has risen from 42.9% to 52% by March 2025.
More than 80% of respondents said they spend up to 5% of their monthly income on betting.
However, this rate increases in classes D and E, exceeding 10% of the family budget.
On average, young people in class A invest R$ 1,210 per month.
In classes D and E, the average amount is R$ 421.
At the same time, 54.2% have started to commit part of their income to bets, according to ABMES’s research.
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Consequences Affect Not Only New Students but Also Current Students
The consequences of sports betting go beyond those wishing to start a degree.
According to the study, 14% of students already enrolled in private colleges reported delays in tuition payments or even course withdrawal due to betting debts.
Among students from classes B1 and B2, this index reaches 17%.
Between September 2024 and March 2025, there was an 11.4 percentage point increase in the number of young people who chose not to start their degree due to betting expenses.
Profile of Bettors and Need for Public Policies
The most common profile of bettors includes men aged 26 to 35, with children, workers from classes C and D.
The majority have a background in public schools.
The situation demands immediate attention from public authorities.
It states that online gambling has created an additional barrier to access private higher education.
This scenario requires not only awareness but also effective actions to reduce the financial impact on Brazilian youth.
The survey, conducted in March 2025, emphasizes the urgency for both bettors and educational public policy makers to mature, as highlighted by the leader of ABMES.
Have You Noticed How Much This Trend Can Affect the Future of Thousands of Brazilian Students?
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