A review of betting policies in 11 countries found that restrictions did not end gambling and were followed by increased activity on illegal platforms and a shift of bettors to foreign services, according to a study by Ranking dos Políticos. The countries examined include China, the United States, India, Switzerland and Norway. Some banned betting outright, while others introduced limits such as advertising restrictions.
The report says every case involved lost tax revenue, growth in the illegal market, movement of betting activity overseas and capital leaving the country.
In Brazil, the Lula government issued a provisional measure shortly before an election that banned betting companies and gave them 30 days to close their operations. The measure prompted a wave of court actions. Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday the 3rd to discuss its effects.
The study estimates that about US$307 billion left China illegally in a single year for overseas betting. In Indonesia, despite a decline in online betting activity, 12 million people deposited money on illegal platforms over the past year. In India, after online cash games were banned in 2025, roughly one in three users began using foreign platforms.
“The ban reduces the legal supply, but it does not eliminate demand, which shifts to foreign and clandestine sites,” said Luan Sperandio, operations director at Ranking dos Políticos.
Sources: Folha Poder.