The federal government's proposal to create a platform for payroll loans aimed at workers with signed contracts (CLTs) – what can come out of the paper still this year, brings with it the promise of democratizing credit and also sheds light on a series of issues that may worsen the indebtedness of the Brazilian population and deepen structural problems related to the unchecked supply of low-cost credit – and the famous "bets", the betting site, represent one of the biggest challenges in this regard.
Add to that, також, the fact that the platform can further increase the number of fraud cases using the payroll loan mechanism – although this information has not been accounted for in the last two years, in 2022 Brazilian Procons recorded a volume of 57.874 complaints of scams involving payroll loans – what amounted to more than six reports per hour.
In this dangerous recipe, we also added the problem of the indebtedness of Brazilian families. Even though it has retreated 0,9 percentage points in a year, according to data from the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), released at the end of January, the greater exposure of workers to credit can create a debt spiral linked, justly, to bets.
The problem of bets: far from over
"Bets" are how sports betting sites became known, that ended, також, paving the way for a new type of betting site, online casinos – commonly referred to as "Tiger Game". The problem is that law 13.756/2018, that authorized the betting companies, also foresaw a maximum period of four years for the Ministry of Finance to regulate the activity, what did not happen. The result is that these companies operate within a "regulatory limbo", without clear rules.
Without clear rules, and with a considerable advertising reach, mainly on social media, gambling has become an epidemic. In 2024, Brazilian families bet around R$ 240 billion on bets – taking more than 1,8 million people in default due to virtual betting. Low-income families, according to the CNC, were the most impacted: in January of last year, represented 26% – in December, this number reached 29%.
In a context where the supply of credit is widely facilitated and risk analysis is not always thorough, many workers may be led to use payroll loans to bet on online games. Obviously, this may lead to an even greater increase in indebtedness, with workers resorting to new credit operations to settle previous debts, creating a negative spiral of financial dependency. Recent research from SPC Brazil, in partnership with the National Confederation of Shopkeepers (CNDL), points out that the percentage of default among consumers who repeatedly resort to this type of loan has increased significantly, reinforcing the idea that ease of access, without responsible financial management, can turn credit into a high-risk instrument.
More than that, some research indicates that up to 60% of users of gambling platforms may use credit money, including the consigned, for the bets. And to make the situation even more dramatic, the default volume in payroll loans for private sector workers increased 0,8 percentage points between 2023 and 2024, according to the Central Bank.
Frauds and payroll loans
Recent data from the Central Bank indicates that the volume of payroll loan operations has been growing rapidly in recent years, reaching levels that require more stringent monitoring of financial institutions and intermediary platforms.
The issue worsens when one takes into account that, for the payroll loan platform to operate on a large scale, banks and financial institutions will be required to adopt increasingly robust anti-fraud measures.
The scenario of digitization of financial services has shown, in recent years, a significant increase in cases of electronic fraud, often sophisticated and difficult to detect. Thus, the need to invest in technology and cybersecurity systems becomes imperative to mitigate risks that can compromise not only the financial health of consumers, but also the stability of the financial system as a whole.
Furthermore, the centralization of operations on a single platform can create an environment conducive to the occurrence of internal fraud and data manipulation. The automation and integration of systems, when not accompanied by a robust internal control, open space for malicious agents to exploit vulnerabilities, offering a scenario where the loss can be double: on one hand, the worker finds himself involved in debts that will compromise his income, and, on the other, the financial institution can be a victim of frauds that increase operational costs.
Besides technology, banks will also need to rely on bank credit formalization services, in which the granting and management of these loans are carried out in a transparent and secure manner. The formalization of payroll loans involves a thorough verification of the applicants' data, ensuring that loans are granted only to workers who meet specific eligibility criteria. This process includes the analysis of documents, such as proof of income and credit history, to ensure that the beneficiaries have the ability to meet the payments.
Ultimately, the path to be followed must be guided by transparency, for responsibility and for the pursuit of a balance between technological innovation and the protection of consumer rights.
The payroll loan platform can, without a doubt, offer significant benefits, but these benefits cannot be achieved at the expense of the financial well-being of workers. It is imperative that each operation is accompanied by a thorough analysis, that anti-fraud measures are constantly reviewed and updated and that consumers have access to clear and accurate information about the risks and conditions of the credit contracted.
In this way, we can transform easier access to credit into a tool for inclusion and development, and not in an instrument that, inadvertently, deepens indebtedness and economic instability. The construction of a safer and more sustainable financial environment necessarily involves dialogue among all stakeholders and the implementation of measures that meet the challenges posed by the digital age.
