Brazilian companies are facing a growing problem: employees burdened by debt and absenteeism due to addiction to online sports betting, known locally as bets. Maurício Nishimori, the owner of a restaurant in São Paulo, told Folha that one of his employees would disappear for an entire day after payday because he was gambling. Nishimori urged him to seek help, warning that he "would lose his job, his family and his home if he continued down that path."According to the Brazilian Association of Human Resources (ABRH), reports of debt and family crises linked to gambling are increasingly reaching human resources departments. Abrasel, the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants, says frequent requests for salary advances and inattentiveness at work are warning signs. Companies including Ypê, Gerdau and Whirlpool have launched awareness campaigns and support programs for affected employees.
In 2025, medical leave related to gambling addiction rose 59.8% compared with 2024, increasing from 425 to 679 cases—still a small number compared with the 4.5 million total leave claims registered by Brazil's social security agency (INSS) during the same period. Specialists say gambling addiction is often accompanied by other mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, which are the main causes of workers becoming unable to perform their jobs.
