Brazil is facing a worsening gambling addiction crisis, with nearly 340,000 people requesting voluntary self-exclusion from betting platforms during the 2022 World Cup period alone, and the government having blocked access for nearly 941,000 individuals in total, according to the Ministry of Finance. Research by Brazil's National Industry Observatory found that 51% of regular bettors report increased anxiety, while mental health officials warn that gambling disorder — classified as a recognised psychiatric condition since 1980 — may be affecting up to 8.5 million Brazilians, or roughly 4% of the population. Marcelo Kimati, director of mental health at Brazil's Ministry of Health, has raised particular alarm over the role of social media influencers in promoting betting apps to vulnerable groups, warning that the addiction makes sufferers five times more susceptible to suicide and risks worsening inequality in already marginalised communities, including Black Brazilians and those living in urban peripheries.