ANJL says IBGE data undermine Abras' bets-consumption link
ANJL points to official data and macro factors that contradict Abras' claim
Key Takeaways
- ANJL stated that IBGE data and macroeconomic factors disprove Abras' claim linking increased food consumption to the betting ban.
- The IPCA-15 for October (16 Sep–14 Oct) was 0.38%, versus 0.7% the prior month, and food and beverage rose 0.88%.
- IBGE recorded price falls in basic-basket items: carrot -10.67%, fruits -1.37% and ground coffee -1.16%.
- Bolsa Família received a 15% adjustment in September, and a Quiddity–Ágora study indicates 58% of the population runs out of money by month-end.
The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) said that data from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) and macroeconomic factors disprove the narrative of the Brazilian Supermarkets Association (Abras) that linked a rise in food consumption to the ban on legalized betting in Brazil. The ANJL also pointed to a retail food sector campaign the week before the public hearing convened by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to debate the continuity of the betting market in the country.
IBGE figures cited by ANJL
The IBGE reported that the Broad Consumer Price Index 15 (IPCA-15) for October, covering the period from 16 September to 14 October, was 0.38%, compared with 0.7% in the previous month. According to the IPCA-15, the food and beverage group advanced by 0.88%, but several basic-basket items registered price declines in the same period, which includes the final days of the legal betting market and the first two weeks after its end.
The IBGE highlighted significant drops in several products: carrot (-10.67%), fruits (-1.37%) and ground coffee, cited by Abras, which fell by 1.16%. Other basic-basket components, including carioca beans, milk and meats, also showed price reductions in that span.
Macroeconomic factors and consumption
ANJL added that the Bolsa Família adjustment of 15%, announced in September by the federal government, contributes to increased consumption of staple foods and must be considered when analysing Brazilian spending behaviour. The association cited a study by Quiddity in collaboration with consultancy Ágora that indicates 58% of the population runs out of money by the end of the month or spends more than they receive.
ANJL also mentioned the impact of two major public holidays in September and October. A study by Scanntech Brasil, a market intelligence platform, showed those dates spike collective consumption and stimulate retail trade, with particular benefit to supermarkets.
ANJL reaction
For ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge, the macroeconomic figures confirm that it makes no sense to link the interruption of the legal betting market to the increase in consumption of certain foods.
“Once again, a sector that has always opposed the betting industry launches insinuations to Brazilian society about the impacts of betting. It forgets or intentionally ignores that currently millions of bettors continue to play, but on the more than 30 thousand illegal sites available and accessible in Brazil,” Plínio Lemos Jorge said.
The association leader added:
“The spread of false information, without confirmation in concrete data, seems more like an attempt to mobilise public opinion to one side. We do not know with what intentions this is done. The most harmed are not the companies, but Brazilian bettors, who, without the legalized market, will remain at the mercy of illegal sites.”
Public hearing at the STF and invited actors
Supreme Federal Court minister Luiz Fux convened a public hearing to be held on the 3rd to debate the future of the betting market; 28 entities and institutions from various sectors were invited, including ANJL. Participation by football clubs and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (Comitê Olímpico do Brasil, COB) is also scheduled.
About ANJL
The National Association of Games and Lotteries, launched in March 2023, defends the interests of its members, responsible gaming and its contribution to the country’s economic development. Its members include: Aposta Ganha Loterias, Fast Gaming, OiG Gaming Brazil, Ana Gaming Brasil, Esportes Gaming Brasil, SPRBT Interactive Brasil, Defy, LBBR Aposta de Quota Fixa, Lucky Gaming, Reals Brasil, Gamewiz Brasil, BETBR Loterias, Versus Brasil, SorteNaBet Gaming Brasil, Blow Marketplace, Sistema Lotérico de Pernambuco, Vanguard Entretenimento Brasil, Hiper Bet Tecnologia, Pocket Games, ODDSGATE Brasil, Upbet Brasil, EB Intermediações e Big Brazil Tecnologia e Loteria, EBAC, TaDa Gaming, BB Gaming Legitimuz Tecnologia and JogaJunto.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IBGE data did ANJL cite to contradict Abras?
ANJL cited the IPCA-15 for October (0.38% for 16 September–14 October) and IBGE price variations in the basic basket, including carrot (-10.67%), fruits (-1.37%) and ground coffee (-1.16%).
What other factors does ANJL say influence food consumption?
ANJL points to a 15% adjustment to Bolsa Família announced in September and the effect of two public holidays in September and October, plus a Scanntech Brasil study that attributes higher retail consumption to those dates.
What did ANJL's president say about Abras' narrative?
Plínio Lemos Jorge said that sectors opposed to the betting industry are spreading insinuations and noted that millions of bettors continue to play on over 30,000 illegal sites available in Brazil.
When is the STF public hearing scheduled?
Supreme Federal Court minister Luiz Fux convened a public hearing to be held on the 3rd to debate the future of the betting market; 28 entities, including ANJL, were invited.
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Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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