In Uruguay, the National Directorate of Lotteries and Pools of Uruguay (DNLQ), an agency under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, published in its official bulletin the results of a Public Opinion Survey on games of chance and betting. The work, carried out by the consultancy Usina de Percepción between November 21 and 24, 2025, included a sample of 500 people over 18 years of age and aimed to obtain an updated overview of the situation of the sector and the social perceptions surrounding it.
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According to the DNLQ, the initiative is part of a strategy aimed at strengthening decision-making at the national level, through the analysis of data that allows for a better understanding of the industry’s evolution and its impacts.
Almost 9 out of 10 Uruguayans have played games of chance at some point
The first piece of data that emerges from the survey is striking: 84% of those consulted stated that they had participated, at least once in their lives, in games of chance or betting. The gender gap is moderate but present: 88% of men said they had played at some point, compared to 80% of women.
The highest historical participation is recorded among men over 45 years of age. At the opposite extreme, one-third of young people (33%) declared they had never played this type of activity. Socioeconomic level also influences: among people with lower incomes, 23% never participated in games of chance, while in the middle and high-class sectors, participation reaches 83% and 91%, respectively. By territory, Montevideo exceeds the interior of the country: 91% compared to 77%.
In-person gambling dominates, but online is advancing among young people
Among those who do participate, 61% prefer in-person gambling, a modality especially rooted among those over 45 years of age (76%) and in high socioeconomic sectors (66%). Online gambling, on the other hand, has a much lower frequent participation, 12% in general terms, but with a notable concentration in the youngest bracket: 17% of respondents between 18 and 29 years old play online regularly, as do 16% of the 30 to 44 age group.
These data suggest that, although the digital channel does not yet displace the in-person one in terms of total participation, the trend in the youngest segments points towards a greater adoption of online gambling in the coming years.
Gambling frequency: more sporadic than habitual
29% of respondents indicated that they participate in games of chance every six months or more, which places the majority of Uruguayan players in a profile of occasional rather than compulsive participation. This behavior is more common among those under 45 years of age (35% in the 18 to 29 group and 34% among those 30 to 44), among residents in Montevideo (36%), and among men (31%).
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Weekly gambling, on the other hand, reaches 21% of respondents, with a greater presence among people of middle socioeconomic level (25%) and those over 60 years of age (29%). A striking fact is that sectors with higher purchasing power tend to space out their bets more despite being those who participate most in global terms.
Perception of responsible gambling
Regarding responsible gambling, 43% of those interviewed strongly agreed with the idea that it is possible to bet responsibly without falling into addiction. This stance is more frequent among men (48%), people of high socioeconomic level (58%), and those over 45 years of age (48%). Among women, this view also predominates, although with less intensity: 38% fully share it.
At the opposite extreme, 14% declared they strongly disagreed with that statement. This position is more common in the low and middle socioeconomic levels (11% and 19%, respectively) and in the 45 to 59 age group.
Combating illegal gambling and responsible gambling policies
The publication of this survey is not an isolated event. The DNLQ framed it within a broader agenda that includes strengthening the oversight of illegal gambling, intensifying communication about the prohibition of advertising unauthorized sites and platforms in Uruguay, and developing comprehensive policies aimed at ensuring that the activity is carried out in a safe and responsible environment.
The survey, in short, provides concrete inputs to guide these policies based on empirical data about who plays, how they do it, how often, and why. A necessary starting point for any regulation that aims to be effective.
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