THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONLINE GAMBLING AND MENTAL HEALTH: AN ANALYSIS IN THE BRAZILIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

This article addresses the impacts of online gambling on the mental health of Brazilians, analyzing how the growth of digital platforms contributes to the rise in cases of gambling disorder (F63.0). The study aims to understand the psychological and social effects of this phenomenon, as well as its legal and economic implications in the country’s current context. The research adopted a qualitative exploratory approach, based on a literature review of materials published in recent years that deal with online casino addiction and its consequences. The results indicate that easy access to digital betting has intensified the vulnerability of socially disadvantaged groups, leading to indebtedness, social isolation, and the worsening of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. It was also found that Brazilian public policies remain uncertain regarding the regulation of the practice, with limited progress in terms of protecting users’ mental health. It is concluded that the growing popularization of online casinos demands attention, both in the psychological and legal fields, in order to mitigate social harm and prevent the expansion of this self-destructive behavior.