The volume of transactions made through Pix registered an approximate drop of 10% in the three days following the publication of the Provisional Measure (MP) that establishes the prohibition of online sports betting, known as bets. This government measure was released late Friday afternoon, the 25th.
Data provided by the Central Bank (BC) indicates that on Saturday, the 26th, 229.6 thousand Pix transactions were recorded, representing a reduction of 11.0% compared to the average of the previous four Saturdays. On Sunday, the 27th, the number fell to 165.9 thousand transactions, a decrease of 12.0% relative to the comparison period. On Monday, the 28th, there was a record of 213.0 thousand transactions, constituting a retraction of 7.4%.
When considering these three days together, a 10.0% decrease in the total number of transactions was observed compared to the average recorded in the preceding four weeks. It is important to note that these figures reflect only the quantity of operations, not the financial amount moved.
Various financial sectors expressed differing opinions on the restriction on bets. While part of the financial sector evaluates the determination positively, a sector leadership points out that it is not possible to attribute all the observed reduction in Pix solely to the prohibition of betting. A commentator told Valor that, although it is impossible to attribute the drop solely to bets, it highlights the dimension of the problem, classifying it as a public health issue.
Additionally, a banker from a medium-sized institution also endorsed the government's decision, stating that he considers the measure correct and that he does not appreciate betting in any aspect.
In the fintech segment, the general perception is that the betting ban was already an expectation. An industry interlocutor argues that the negative impacts of betting on society outweigh the benefits. This representative also points out that certain fintechs operate exclusively for the betting market, and others, even without a direct focus on bets, have a significant portion of their revenue linked to them. These companies may be involved in both the flow of betting and international remittances, suggesting that a sudden change in activity could generate economic consequences for this subsegment.