Online betting companies based in São Paulo posted revenue totaling R$1.4 billion in February 2026, according to FecomercioSP’s Pesquisa Conjuntural do Setor de Serviços. The PCSS uses information from São Paulo’s municipal finance department.
In addition, the sector saw growth by 21.2% in the first two months of 2026. FecomercioSP said this was close to double that of the average growth rate for the broader service sector in the city during the same period.
Betting Revenue Enters the Service Map
Online betting services were added to the PCSS survey only in January 2026 by FecomercioSP. This gives the federation a more precise picture of digital services with high user recurrence.
February revenue was 2.8% lower year-on-year. FecomercioSP said the drop likely reflected the calendar effect of Carnival falling in February.
Spending Shift Raises Pressure on Retail
Revenue is not the only problem. The survey suggests that money spent on betting could otherwise go to savings, household bills, food, and other expenses.
Based on a different FecomercioSP survey, 26% of residents in São Paulo City would put away the funds they spend on online betting if there were no gambling sites available. In 2024, this number was only 19%. Another 14% said that they would use their funds for household expenses, and 13% said they would use the funds to buy groceries.
According to the aforementioned study, 35% of respondents bet online to increase household income. This number was 25% in 2024. In households with income up to two minimum wages, the number is even higher and makes up 40%.
The investment rationale is becoming less convincing. Only 5% reported that they placed bets for investment purposes, a drop from 9% two years prior. According to FecomercioSP, another 7% said they consider themselves addicted to online games.
Small Tickets, Large Reach
Despite the fact that monthly expenditure is still relatively low, FecomercioSP reported that 54% of respondents spend up to R$50 per month. Another 16% spend between R$50 and R$100, while 12% spend between R$100 and R$200.
Even though the amounts spent may look insignificant, frequent betting does create scale. Half of the respondents said they bet frequently, with frequency similar to that noted in a prior poll two years ago. FecomercioSP linked the spread of betting with mobile access, social media exposure, and instant payments. According to the survey, 96% said they use Pix to make betting payments.
The household backdrop is not positive either. FecomercioSP’s April PEIC survey found that 72.9% of families in São Paulo’s capital were in debt, the highest level in three years. Of those, 21% were behind on payments.
Bottom Line
For operators, the São Paulo data confirms a large urban market with recurring demand. For regulators and consumer groups, it points to a harder question: betting is now visible in service-sector growth, but part of that growth may come from budgets already under pressure. The next policy test is whether Brazil can track legal market expansion while limiting the pull of unauthorized platforms and high-risk spending.
