Brazil’s sports betting preferences: soccer leads

A new study offers a detailed snapshot of how Brazilians engage with sports betting and the results underline both tradition and transformation in the country’s landscape. 

The online survey, which included 1,000 participants over the age of 18 (both bettors and non-bettors), shows a clear hierarchy among preferred markets with a significant gap between the top-ranked sports and the rest of the list.

At the top, men’s soccer remains the undisputed leader, chosen by 76% of respondents. The sport’s cultural weight, media presence and year-round calendar continue to secure its primacy across all platforms. 

Women’s soccer, however, stands out for its rapid growth, now the second most popular option at 31%, it highlights a broader pattern of increased visibility, professionalisation and engagement.

Traditional sports round out the next positions in the ranking, with basketball preferred by 23% of bettors and volleyball by 19%.

These categories maintain strong audiences in Brazil and consistently appear on regulated betting platforms due to their structured competitions and steady match frequency.

Beyond the established favourites, the survey reveals the solid rise of segments strongly tied to digital and entertainment ecosystems. 

Poker appears with 17%, MMA with 15%, and e-sports with 12%,  figures that reflect the behaviour of younger demographics who are more familiar with online platforms, influencers and streaming environments where these events thrive. 

The data also indicates an ongoing diversification of the betting market as consumers look for formats that offer immediacy and community-driven engagement.

Further down the ranking, sports with considerable global fanbases appear less central to betting habits. Motorsports, including Formula 1 and Rally, registered only 9%, tied in 13th place and far from the top ten. 

While these categories maintain passionate followings, their betting volumes remain modest, likely due to fewer events, limited domestic representation and more complex competitive structures.

David Thompson

Editor

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