In an era where digital connectivity has erased geographical boundaries, the online gambling industry presents a fascinating study of cultural and economic convergence. This article delves into the intriguing world of online gambling, comparing the landscapes in India and Brazil, two vibrant economies with distinct cultural backdrops.
The Demographic Dynamics
India’s online gambling scene is predominantly driven by a youthful demographic, with over 75% of the population below 45 years old. Urban centres like Bangalore and Hyderabad are the epicentres of this digital betting wave.
According to detailed research carried out by ENV Media, in Brazil, the average gambler is roughly 39 years old, with the largest age group being 25-40 years, accounting for over half of the gambling population. The majority of Brazilian gamblers are also located in large metropolitan areas. The biggest share of real-money players comes from the state of São Paulo – nearly a quarter (24%), followed by Rio de Janeiro with 14%. In terms of demographics, both countries have a very similar cohort of the population who partake in some form of online gambling.
Economic Influences
In India, economic disparities play a significant role. While a large segment lives below the poverty line, it’s the middle and upper classes, with their disposable incomes, that fuel the online gambling market. States like Goa and Sikkim, thanks to legal permissions and higher economic development, emerge as gambling hotspots for both online casino and sports betting alike.
In Brazil, over half of the real-money gamers come from more affluent households as well, indicating significant participation from the upper and middle classes. In Brazil, households are classified by the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria. Socio-economic brackets start from A (more affluent households), go down through B1, B2 (roughly comparable to upper- and lower-middle class), C1, C2 and finish with D–E (families or individuals with practically no disposable income).
Levels A and B make up over half of the real-money gamers (52% combined), compared to the 48% of C-level households that are still a significant share of the player pool. Considering that Level A households make up less than 3% of the country, it becomes clear that upper-class Brazilian households hold a lot of weight in online gambling.
Interest in Online Gambling Activities
India’s story of technological adoption is remarkable. With over 750 million active online users and a surge in low-cost smartphones, the country has seen a mobile gaming revolution. In Brazil, the technological landscape is equally impressive, with a majority of players engaging in online gambling through mobile platforms, reflecting a high level of digital integration in gambling habits.In terms of eSports betting and playing fantasy sports for money, the two countries show almost identical interests
However, if you are to take a look at online casinos and sports betting for both countries, it becomes clear that there is a bigger interest in both of these activities within the Brazilian market. Below is a comparison of the top generic keywords taken from Mangools for both casino and sports betting in both countries.
“Cassino Online” has an astonishing 160,000 searches each month in the South American state. Here in India, however, “Online Casino” falls much shorter with less than 15,000 searches each month.
Online sports betting shows a huge disparity – with “Aposta Esportiva” bringing in a massive 212,000 searches each month – compared to India’s 9,200 for “online betting”. Even searches around online cricket betting don’t come close to the Brazilian’s passion for sports betting.
With the legalization of sports betting in Brazil, it has become increasingly more popular over the last few years. Here in India, however, sports betting has remained mostly an illegal activity with many people opting for more unsafe, highly unregulated forms of betting in the black market – thus keeping such activities offline despite the level of technological advancements in recent years.
Brazil’s Market is Growing Rapidly
Despite the obvious difference in the population between us and our Brazilian counterparts, the online gambling industry is set to explode in Brazil’s future. While it would seem that, given the demographics and economic interests are very much aligned between the two countries, a lack of regulation in India has halted further growth.