Investimentos e apostas: um estudo realizado entre acadêmicos investidores e/ou apostadores do curso de Ciências Contábeis da UFAL - Unidade Santana do Ipanema

Abstract

This work seeks to identify the predominant profiles among students of the Accounting Sciences course at the Santana do Ipanema Educational Unit of UFALwho carry out financial practices such as investments and betting. The research is based on the significant increase in the involvement of Brazilians in these two activities, driven both by the advancement of financial education (Cruz Neto et al., 2022) and by the recent regulation of betting in Brazil (Sameer El Khatib, 2024). The methodological approach was quantitative, with a descriptive character. A questionnaire with 26 questions was used, applied to 127 students. Sampling was for convenience, and the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, organized into five thematic dimensions: personal data, financial aspects, knowledge about investments, behavioral aspects in investments and behavioral aspects in betting. Based on the answers to key questions about investing and gambling, participants were classified into four groups: (1) non-investor/non-gambler, (2) investor only, (3) gambler only, and (4) investor and gambler. The largest group was made up of students who performed both practices (43.3%). The data reveal that the investor profile is associated with the presence of a formal employment relationship and greater financial knowledge. Gamblers, on the other hand, generally have lower income and greater risk propensity. The group that combines both practices shows active behavior and familiarity with financial and gambling strategies. It is concluded that there is overlap between the universes of investing and gambling, indicating that many students move between these practices, despite their conceptual and operational differences. Finally, this study contributes to the understanding of the financial behavior of university students by identifying different profiles and patterns of action regarding investing and gambling.