Gambling exists in every state, even Hawaii and Utah, where gambling is prohibited by law. But not all gamblers are the same. “Recreational” or “social” gamblers, for instance, buy the occasional lottery ticket, take the rare casino trip or bet small stakes in fantasy sports. But they also are mentally able to quit at any point and prevent catastrophic financial loss.
But when the business or pleasure gets out of control, gambling becomes a real medical condition. Gambling disorder, as it’s known, affects about 1-3 percent of all U.S. adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Gambling can stimulate the brain's reward system much like drugs such as alcohol can, leading to addiction.”
That addiction can lead to serious economic consequences. While the gambling industry made a record $60 billion in revenue last year, U.S. consumers experience over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses annually. Individually, a male gambling addict accumulates an average debt of between $55,000 and $90,000 whereas a female addict averages $15,000. Most cannot afford to pay back what they owe. As a result, gambling addicts develop a high tendency to amass even more debt, suffer from other health issues, lose their jobs, strain their relationships or even commit crimes.
The gambling problem, however, is much bigger in some states than in others. WalletHub therefore compared the 50 states to determine where excessive gambling is most prevalent. Our data set of 20 key metrics ranges from the presence of illegal gambling operations to lottery sales per capita to the share of adults with gambling disorders.
With the Kentucky Derby approaching and gamblers preparing to bet on their favorite horses, WalletHub also released its 2023 Kentucky Derby infographic.
Main Findings
Most Gambling-Addicted States
|
Overall Rank* |
State |
Total Score |
Gambling-Friendliness |
Gambling Problem & Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 72.59 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | South Dakota | 67.33 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Montana | 60.26 | 7 | 2 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 56.85 | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 56.85 | 8 | 4 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 53.38 | 9 | 12 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 53.10 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | West Virginia | 53.00 | 4 | 40 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 49.42 | 6 | 46 |
| 10 | Oregon | 47.63 | 11 | 22 |
| 11 | California | 47.17 | 21 | 5 |
| 12 | Texas | 46.31 | 26 | 3 |
| 13 | North Dakota | 44.65 | 10 | 39 |
| 14 | Illinois | 43.82 | 16 | 30 |
| 15 | Colorado | 42.93 | 23 | 13 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 41.98 | 29 | 11 |
| 17 | Delaware | 41.88 | 17 | 36 |
| 18 | Iowa | 41.86 | 12 | 48 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 41.82 | 18 | 34 |
| 20 | New York | 41.30 | 15 | 42 |
| 21 | Tennessee | 41.13 | 33 | 7 |
| 22 | Michigan | 40.63 | 14 | 47 |
| 23 | Ohio | 39.84 | 19 | 43 |
| 24 | Virginia | 39.76 | 27 | 20 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | 39.56 | 22 | 32 |
| 26 | Wyoming | 39.43 | 25 | 29 |
| 27 | Missouri | 39.24 | 31 | 15 |
| 28 | South Carolina | 38.25 | 45 | 6 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 38.11 | 13 | 50 |
| 30 | North Carolina | 37.61 | 34 | 19 |
| 31 | Indiana | 37.53 | 20 | 45 |
| 32 | Maryland | 37.42 | 24 | 38 |
| 33 | Idaho | 37.23 | 37 | 16 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | 36.17 | 46 | 8 |
| 35 | Arizona | 36.07 | 32 | 26 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 36.03 | 38 | 17 |
| 37 | Washington | 35.69 | 36 | 25 |
| 38 | Georgia | 34.65 | 39 | 28 |
| 39 | Alabama | 33.85 | 40 | 27 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 33.85 | 30 | 44 |
| 41 | Connecticut | 33.63 | 28 | 49 |
| 42 | Florida | 32.87 | 35 | 41 |
| 43 | Nebraska | 32.49 | 42 | 31 |
| 44 | Kansas | 32.42 | 43 | 23 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | 31.88 | 41 | 35 |
| 46 | Maine | 29.50 | 44 | 37 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 27.85 | 49 | 10 |
| 48 | Alaska | 26.66 | 48 | 14 |
| 49 | Vermont | 25.05 | 47 | 24 |
| 50 | Utah | 24.01 | 50 | 18 |
Note: *No. 1 = Most Addicted
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Most
- T-1. Nevada
- T-1. South Dakota
- T-1. Oklahoma
- 4. North Dakota
- 5. Montana
- Fewest
- T-42. Georgia
- T-42. Hawaii
- T-42. Kentucky
- T-42. New Hampshire
- T-42. South Carolina
- T-42. Tennessee
- Most
- T-1. Nevada
- T-1. Oklahoma
- T-1. South Dakota
- T-1. Montana
- 5. New Mexico
- Fewest
- T-44. Georgia
- T-44. Hawaii
- T-44. New Hampshire
- T-44. South Carolina
- T-44. Tennessee
- Highest
- T-1. Rhode Island
- T-1.Massachusetts
- T-1. Maryland
- T-1. West Virginia
- T-1. Delaware
- Lowest
- T-46. Alabama
- T-46. Alaska
- T-46. Hawaii
- T-46. Nevada
- T-46. Utah
- Highest
- T-1. Mississippi
- T-1. Minnesota
- T-3. Kansas
- T-3. New Jersey
- 5. Nevada
- Lowest
- T-43. New Mexico
- T-43. New York
- T-47. Connecticut
- T-47. Florida
- T-47. Kentucky
- 50. Michigan
- Most
- T-1. California
- T-1. Louisiana
- T-1. Delaware
- T-1. Nevada
- 5. New Jersey
- Fewest
- T-37. Alaska
- T-37. Idaho
- T-37. Illinois
- T-37. Kentucky
- T-37. Pennsylvania
Ask the Experts
Over the years, more advanced technology has paved the way for new forms of gambling, such as iGaming, online fantasy sports and video poker. While the gaming industry is no doubt a major contributor to the U.S. economy, its critics argue that gambling leads to social and economic problems, including gambling disorder and regressive taxes in areas where gambling facilities are present. For more insight, we asked the following key questions to a panel of gaming-industry experts:
- Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?
- Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?
- On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?
- What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling? What should friends and family do to help?
- Will the current economic downturn impact in any way the gambling industry?
Ask the Experts
Visiting Professor of the Practice, Sports Law, Cornell Law School – Cornell University
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Professor of Law, Salmon P. Chase College of Law – Northern Kentucky University
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Endowed Chair, Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming; Professor, L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management – San Diego State University
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M.D. – Professor & Executive Vice Chair, Menninger Department of Psychiatry – Baylor College of Medicine
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Professor, Department of Telecommunications, The Media School – Indiana University Bloomington
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Professor Emeritus of Law, Notre Dame Law School – University of Notre Dame
Read More
Methodology
In order to determine where gambling addiction is most prevalent and harmful in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key dimensions, “Gambling-Friendliness” and “Gambling Problem & Treatment.”
We evaluated those dimensions using 20 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest dependency on gambling.
We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Gambling-Friendliness – Total Points: 70
- Commercial & Tribal Casinos per Capita: Triple Weight (~13.13 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. “Commercial casinos” are defined as land-based, riverboat and racetrack casinos. - Gaming Machines per 1,000 Residents: Double Weight (~8.75 Points)
Note: “Per 1,000 residents” considers adults aged 18 and older. - iGaming Revenues per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. - Limited-Stakes Gaming Revenues per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. - Commercial Casinos Revenues per Capita: Double Weight (~8.75 Points)
Note: “Per 1,000 residents” considers adults aged 18 and older. - Lottery Sales per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. - Presence of Retail/Convenience Gaming: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
Note: This metrics measures the presence of slot machines in retail or convenience locations. - Presence of Illegal Gambling Operations: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
- Legality of Daily Fantasy Sports: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
- Legality of Sports Gambling: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
- Legality of Horse-Race Gambling: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
- Google Search Interest Index for “Gambling”: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
Note: This metric measures Google search interest for the terms “Lottery,” “Casino,” “Slots,” “Blackjack,” “Sport Betting” and “Horse Racing Betting.”
Gambling Problem & Treatment – Total Points: 30
- Share of Adults Aged 18 and Older with Gambling Disorders: Triple Weight (~9.00 Points)
- Gambling Counselors per Capita: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: “Per 1,000 residents” considers adults aged 18 and older. - “Gamblers Anonymous” Meetings per Capita: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. - Presence of NCPG Affiliation: Half Weight (~1.50 Points)
Note: “NCPG” is an acronym for National Council on Problem Gambling. - Employee Training on Disordered- & Problem-Gambling Statuses & Regulations: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
- Spending on Problem Gambling Services per Capita: Half Weight (~1.50 Points)
- Statewide Self-Exclusion Statute: Full Weight (~3.00 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of self-exclusion policy in a state. Self-exclusion (or self-banning) is a voluntary process where a person with a gambling concern excludes themselves from areas of specific gambling venues, or online providers. It can provide a concrete tool to help keep you safe from excessive gambling. - Gambling-Related Arrests per Capita: Double Weight (~6.00 Points)
Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Gaming Association, RubinBrown, National Council on Problem Gambling, North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Legal Sports Report, Google Ads, Gamblers Anonymous, National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services, Legal Sports Betting, PlayUSA and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Dr. Jay S. Albanese.
