Brazil: Senator Humberto Costa links betting to rising household expenses
During a Senate speech, Costa highlighted inflation progress but warned of the impact of online gambling on family budgets.
Key Points
- Humberto Costa pointed to bets as the fastest-growing household expense in inflation preview
- He argued that betting has surpassed items like health and electricity in inflationary impact
- Costa has previously defended raising the betting tax rate and tightening sector rules
Brazilian Senator Humberto Costa used a Senate speech to balance optimism over economic indicators with concern about the role of online betting in household finances.
Costa celebrated the latest data from the IPCA-15, the country’s inflation preview, which showed a 0.14% decline in August, marking Brazil’s first deflation since 2023.
Despite those improvements, Costa pointed to the “personal expenses” category of the IPCA, which includes online betting, as a cause for concern.
He has consistently defended stricter measures for the sector, arguing that while regulation is in place, further steps are needed to mitigate what he described as a “growing social challenge.”
He said that betting rose 1.09% last month, making it the highest contributor in the group, above health and personal care (0.64%).
Good to know: Costa has previously introduced legislation to increase the betting age limit to 21, impose monthly wagering caps and limit advertising hours
Costa described the trend as a sign of the “damage” that excessive betting can cause to Brazil’s economy and public health.
In July, digital betting had already been flagged by the national statistics agency IBGE as a driver of inflation, marking the first time wagers surpassed electricity in weight within the index.
His stance aligns with ongoing legislative debates around responsible gambling measures and the financial risks of unlicensed operators.
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