The iGaming market and digital influencers

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Digital Consumer

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March 26, 2025

The iGaming market and digital influencers

Online betting and casino games have attracted millions of people, driving a type of opaque advertising

The iGaming market, which includes virtual casinos, sports betting, and online gambling, has been growing exponentially in recent years. With this, digital influencers have been key players in promoting these games, bringing the topic to the center of ethical and legal discussions.

In 2023, a famous online betting house was accused of default for not paying clients who profited from its games. Many influencers and celebrities who did campaigns for this house were questioned about their stance regarding the advertising made, as they did not consider the reputation of the brand.

The referred gaming platform has several problems every day. The user who makes money faces many difficulties in withdrawing the prize. Many cases reported on the internet mention winnings that never reached the account, in addition to several situations where the site freezes at the moment the player is about to win a bet.

At the end of 2023, a report was broadcast on a TV channel about a network of influencers and an online betting scheme, more specifically, about a game that functions as an online casino, a kind of slot machine.

In this game, the bettor needs to hit a combination of three equal figures in three rows to receive money. The game became a phenomenon on social media, and became part of digital influencers’ advertising.

In 2024, we saw new scandals. Digital influencers were investigated for promoting fraudulent schemes in online gambling that did not pay out the promised prizes. This led to investigations for fraud and the identification of fake accounts used by influencers to simulate false winnings.

These scandals reveal the challenges faced by a market that, although lucrative, is surrounded by controversies and fraud. The iGaming encompasses a series of activities such as sports betting and online casinos and has attracted millions of people around the world, including in Brazil, which has led to an increase in the number of digital influencers interested in participating in the advertising of these games — a fact that further fuels the controversy surrounding the topic.

The Igaming market

The COVID-19 pandemic also boosted the consumption of these games, reinforcing the search by people, who had more free time, for entertainment. The iGaming market is one of the fastest growing in the digital environment in Brazil. This growth reflects a global phenomenon, with Brazil ranking 5th in the number of online bets, according to the iGaming Brazil portal. According to research by the Central Bank, in the first eight months of 2024, about 24 million individuals placed bets and participated in gambling in the country. Another study, released in 2024 by GWI on the iGaming Brazil portal, showed that the share of the Brazilian population that bets on online platforms is 22%, compared to 19% of Britons.

The growth of this industry is also due to the ease of internet access, technological evolution, the popularity of mobile devices, and the regulation of games in sports betting houses, known as bets. iGaming is a combination of technology, legislation, and player participation. The market is dominated by large operators, and many operate internationally, meaning their platforms are registered in other countries, as casinos are prohibited in Brazil.

According to the Macro Visão Report, from Itaú, released in August 2024, 0.22% of Brazilian GDP in the preceding 12 months was allocated to online betting — another important piece of data about the segment. However, this market is full of controversies and challenges related to advertising, digital securityand ethical issues. In the realm of advertising, what we have seen in the last two years is an undeniable growth of the famous “publis” made by digital influencers, who receive considerable amounts to promote electronic games.

It is important to note that there is a difference between bets and online gambling. Bets are sports bets based on real events, such as football games, basketball etc. They involve an element of skill, such as knowledge about teams and players. They have been regulated in Brazil since 2018. In 2025, the operation of online betting houses based in Brazil was authorized, stimulating the growth of online sports betting.

Online gambling, such as slots, roulette, and blackjack, depends exclusively on luck. There are no skill elements that can significantly influence the outcome. These games are conducted on virtual platforms controlled by operators, with algorithms that determine the results. And there is no official regulation for them in the country.

In 2023, in response to the growth of this market, bill 3.915/23 was presented, which aims to prohibit digital influencers and artists from promoting unregulated betting houses. The justification is to protect the public against financial risks and mental health.

It is also relevant to remember that there is a guide, published by Conar (National Council of Advertising Self-Regulation) in 2024, which lists the rules for the advertising of sports betting and online gambling.

Deinfluencing and ethical responsibility

The promotion of iGaming market services by influencers has not been transparent nor ethical. They appear promoting games as if the money they earned came from betting, and not from the advertising they do. Many of these influencers flaunt luxurious lives, trips, expensive clothes, jewelry, creating an idea that this wealth came from online betting gains.

As in any gambling game, the user’s chance of losing is greater than their chance of winning. However, most influencers hardly address the dangers and negative consequences of these games.

Most messages are created around the promise of making easy money. And many of these influencers promote the games as an opportunity for extra income. Thus, in content created to promote these companies, there is no mention of the possibility of losing, nor of the ease with which the game can become an addiction (ludopathy), when bets turn into diseases. This is aggravated when the influencer has an audience predominantly composed of young people, which is the most frequent profile in online betting, according to data revealed by Datafolha: 30% of young people aged 16 to 24 reported having already placed a bet online.

Many people who use social networks are unemployed or want to have a second source of income. Online gaming ends up becoming a tempting promise of easy money, and this minimizes not only the risks of dependency, but also the probability (always very high) of falling for scams.

The dissemination of these schemes on social media demands a more critical and aware attitude from consumers. The desire for quick enrichment and the influence of famous figures can lead many people to make hasty and risky financial decisions. Education and awareness in the digital environment about the risks of betting and investments are fundamental to protecting consumers and combating illegal practices.

To access the references of this text click here.

Who wrote this column

Silmara Regina de Souza

Mestre em Administração, consultora pelo Sebrae SP. Palestrante, conteudista, especialista em marketing e comunicação digital. Entusiasta da produção de conteúdo e do uso estratégico das redes sociais como canais de relacionamento e comunicação.

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