Playtech, in partnership with the research platform Toluna, has produced a new edition of its Responsible Gaming Report in Latin America to analyze the current scenario of online gambling, given that the sector is getting closer to regulation.
A study by Zion Market Research projects that sports betting sites move between BRL 7 and BRL 10 billion per year, if the sector is regulated soon – including not only sports betting, but other types of online betting. Although football bets are the most expressive among Brazilians, the study showed that 55% of bettors also have fun betting on entertainment.
The online survey interviewed 2,500 people in five Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Its main purpose was to assess the public’s favorite betting categories as well as the most unusual types of bets they have ever made.
In addition to betting on entertainment, such as awards, reality shows and soap operas, virtual sports (such as football simulation, horse racing, etc.) appear in third place with 52% of preference. In fourth, with, 48%, are eSports (online gaming competition) and, in fifth place, political movements, with 20% of the public’s preference.
Unusual betting categories
Playtech’s research also revealed the most unusual types of bets promoted by Brazilians. According to the company, 35% have already bet on pool games, 29% on reality shows, 26% on Formula 1, 16% on tennis matches, 14% on darts (the most common bet category in European countries like England ), 12% in swimming, 10% in athletics, 9% in baseball and rugby and another 7% in softball matches.
“It is interesting for the betting industry to create and offer a variety of types of games focused on the entertainment of the Brazilian public, whose interest in the betting segment makes the market pulsating and very promising. Thinking about players who engage in this type of online fun, it is also necessary to reinforce the importance of supporting and producing technologies to protect players. Playtech is dedicated to ensure that more and more Brazilians, especially those who are more vulnerable and with risky behavior, are protected by responsible gaming actions”, explains Francesco Rodano, Chief Policy Officer of Playtech.
On this topic, the company also estimated in its survey that half of Brazilians (46%) consider themselves responsible gamblers when it comes to online betting. 45% believe they are responsible because gambling does not directly affect their everyday life. On the other hand, 4% believe that their gambling habits may be becoming problematic, 3% do not know what responsible gambling is, 1% are sure that their gambling behavior is risky and 1% cannot say how they identify.
About Playtech
Founded in 1999 and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s premier market premium listing, Playtech is a technology leader in the gaming and financial trading industries with over 6,600 employees in 26 countries. Playtech is the betting industry’s leading technology company providing business intelligence-driven gambling software, services, content and platform technology across the industry’s most popular product verticals including casino, live casino, sports betting , virtual sports, bingo and poker.
It pioneered omni-channel gambling technology through its integrated platform technology, Playtech ONE. Playtech ONE offers data-driven marketing expertise, unique wallet functionality, CRM and responsible gaming solutions on a single platform across product, retail and online verticals.
Playtech partners and invests in the leading brands in regulated and newly regulated markets to deliver its data-driven gaming technology across the retail and online value chain. Playtech provides its technology on a B2B basis to the industry’s leading retail and online operators, land-based casino groups and government-sponsored entities such as lotteries. Playtech owns and directly operates Snai, Italy’s leading online and retail sports betting and gaming brand.