The betting trade body is seeking to refute recent claims that bettors are sacrificing spending on necessary purchases like clothes, food and medication to fund their gambling habits.

The letter addresses a controversial study by the Brazilian Society of Retail and Consumption (SBVC) which claims 23% of those dedicating part of their salary to gambling each month had stopped purchasing clothes, while 19% had stopped shopping in supermarkets and 11% reduced their spend on healthcare and medication.