ANJL says IBGE figures refute Abras link between food spending and betting ban
ANJL cites IBGE IPCA-15 data and macroeconomic factors to dispute Abras claims.
Key Takeaways
- ANJL said IBGE IPCA-15 for 16 Sept–14 Oct was 0.38%, undermining Abras' claim tying higher food consumption to the betting ban.
- IBGE showed the food and beverage group rose 0.88% while key staples fell: carrot -10.67%, fruits -1.37% and ground coffee -1.16%.
- ANJL cited a 15% Bolsa Família increase in September and holiday-driven retail demand as drivers of higher supermarket consumption.
- Supreme Court Minister Luiz Fux convened a public hearing on day 03 with 28 invited entities, including ANJL.
The Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) said on 30 October 2026 that official data from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) and broader macroeconomic factors dismantle the narrative advanced this week by the Associação Brasileira de Supermercados (Abras) that the increase in food consumption is linked to the prohibition of legalised bets in Brazil. ANJL pointed to the IBGE's October IPCA-15 figure of 0.38% for 16 September to 14 October and cited item-level price movements and a recent Bolsa Família adjustment as alternative explanations.
ANJL's rebuttal and the IBGE numbers
ANJL highlighted that the IBGE's Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo 15 (IPCA-15) for October was 0.38%, a slowdown from the 0.7% recorded in the previous month. The IBGE report showed the food and beverage group rose 0.88%, but ANJL noted that many individual items, including staples, fell in price over the same period. The IBGE recorded declines in carrot (-10.67%), fruits (-1.37%) and ground coffee, cited by Abras, which fell 1.16%. Other basic basket items such as feijão-carioca, milk and meats also registered price drops during the IPCA-15 period.
ANJL also emphasised timing: the IPCA-15 window covers both the final days of the legal betting market's operation and the first two weeks after its suspension, meaning price movements cannot be straightforwardly attributed to the betting sector's status.
Macroeconomic and seasonal drivers cited by ANJL
ANJL pointed to a 15% increase in Bolsa Família announced by the federal government in September as a contributor to higher consumption of basic foods. The association also referenced a Quiddity study in partnership with the Ágora consultancy that found 58% of the population ends the month with no money left or spending more than they receive. ANJL named two large holidays in September and October, and cited a Scanntech Brasil study which showed such dates typically boost collective consumption and retail activity, especially in supermarkets.
Leadership comment and illegal market warning
"More once, a sector that has always opposed the betting industry launches conjectures to Brazilian society about the impacts of bets," said Plínio Lemos Jorge, president of the Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias.
He added that "millions of bettors continue playing, but on the more than 30,000 illegal sites available and accessible in Brazil," and argued that spreading unverified information appears aimed at mobilising public opinion. "The most harmed are not companies, but Brazilian bettors, who, without a legal market, will remain at the mercy of illegal sites," he said.
Public hearing at the Supremo Tribunal Federal
Supreme Court Minister Luiz Fux convened a public hearing scheduled for day 03 to debate the future of the market; 28 entities and institutions from diverse sectors were invited, including the ANJL. The agenda includes participation from football clubs — among the sectors directly affected by the abrupt ban — and the Comitê Olímpico do Brasil (COB).
About the ANJL and its membership
The Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias was launched in March 2023 to represent its members' interests, promote responsible play and support contributions to the country's economic development. Members listed by ANJL 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 figure did ANJL cite to dispute Abras' claims?
ANJL cited the IBGE's IPCA-15 for October — **0.38%** for the period 16 September to 14 October — and contrasted it with the prior month's **0.7%** to argue the data do not support Abras' narrative.
Which food items' price changes did ANJL point to from the IBGE report?
ANJL pointed to IBGE-recorded declines in carrot (-**10.67%**), fruits (-**1.37%**) and ground coffee (-**1.16%**), and noted that other basket items such as feijão-carioca, milk and meats also fell in the IPCA-15 period.
What other factors did ANJL say could explain higher supermarket consumption?
ANJL cited a **15%** Bolsa Família adjustment announced in September and two large holidays in September and October, supported by a Scanntech Brasil study showing those dates boost retail and supermarket spending.
When is the Supreme Court hearing on the betting market and who was invited?
Supreme Court Minister Luiz Fux convened a public hearing scheduled for day **03**; 28 entities and institutions were invited, including the Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias, football clubs and the Comitê Olímpico do Brasil.
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Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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