• Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has strongly refuted a study linking online betting to students dropping out of or delaying higher education.
• The study, conducted by the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Providers (ABMES), claimed nearly 2.9 million potential students were at risk due to gambling expenses.
• The ANJL stated there is “no direct relationship” and criticised the study for “constructing narratives” that blame the industry for wider socio-economic issues.
• Pointing to the study’s own data, the ANJL noted that 79% of respondents denied that betting had compromised their investment in higher education.
• This public dispute comes as Brazilian gambling bodies formalise a partnership to navigate the challenges of the newly regulated market.

Industry Condemns Educational Study

Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) has issued a robust clarification note, criticising a recent study that suggested a direct link between online gambling and a decline in university enrolment. The report, titled “The Impact of Betting on Higher Education” and published by the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Providers (ABMES), has been denounced by the trade body as misleading.

The ABMES study put forward several headline-grabbing figures. It estimated that 2.9 million potential students are at risk of not enrolling in private higher education during the first half of 2026 because of financial difficulties attributed to online gambling. Furthermore, the study alleged that 14% of currently enrolled students had either delayed tuition payments or dropped out of their courses entirely due to betting expenses.

ANJL Presents Counter-Arguments

In its response, the ANJL firmly rejected the conclusions, stating, “There is no direct relationship between gambling two to three times a week and dropping out of or continuing a higher education programme, as the survey and report suggest.” The association argues that the online betting sector should not be blamed for broader social and economic challenges facing Brazilians.

The ANJL pointed to a significant omission and a contradictory finding within the ABMES study itself. The trade body highlighted that a direct question in the survey found 79% of respondents answered “no” when asked if their income, compromised by sports betting, had prevented them from investing in a university course. The ANJL also claimed the report strategically omitted data from the same study which indicated that over 70% of respondents recouped money they had spent on gambling.

Emphasising that gambling is a form of entertainment that competes with other leisure activities, the ANJL believes the issue is being overstated, noting that most individuals surveyed across all social classes spend less than 5% of their income on gambling. “Constructing narratives that propagate the misguided behaviour of a minority as if it were widespread only harms the sector and Brazilian society itself,” the note concluded.

Trade Bodies Unite Amid Regulatory Pressure

The public rebuttal of the study coincides with a significant strategic move within the Brazilian gambling sector. The ANJL has formalised a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), uniting the two largest gambling trade bodies in the country.

This alliance is particularly timely as the industry faces considerable regulatory headwinds in the market, which only officially launched on 1st January 2025. Key challenges include new advertising restrictions and a recent increase in the gambling tax rate. The shared objective is to ensure the long-term viability of the regulated market.

Fernando Vieira, president of the IBJR, commented on the partnership, stating, “The consolidation of this partnership is a concrete response to the challenges that threaten the regulated environment in Brazil. Joining forces with ANJL is a way to strengthen our efforts against illegal operators, promoting greater security for bettors and sustainability for the sector.”