“We’re all about the casino life,” BetMGM writes in a summer blog entry listing the “15 Best States for Casino Tourism.”
It looks like “The Roar” researchers delved into the statistics, including the number of casinos and the number of casino employees per capita in 43 states.
They also considered Airbnb rates, airfare costs, rideshare fees, and Wi-Fi speeds.
The result? Not shocking. With a score of 87.3, Nevada tops the list of best states for casino tourism, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Authors call it the “undisputed king of casino destinations.”
Louisiana (81.9) comes in at No. 2 because of budget-friendly airfare and lodging. BetMGM said the state offers more than just world-class Mardi Gras celebrations.
Oklahoma (81.9) doesn’t have online sports betting or iGaming options, but the American Gaming Association counts 141 casinos in the Sooner State. Oklahoma’s strong casino per capita score, low Airbnb rates, and the top spot in affordable Uber and Lyft rides helped the Sooner State match Louisiana’s overall score.
Rounding Out the Casino Tourism List
4. South Dakota (75.2)
5. North Dakota (69.4)
6. Iowa (68.6)
7. Mississippi (68.1)
8. New Mexico (66.8)
9. Colorado (63.0)
10. Washington (60.1)
11. Arizona (60.0)
12. Indiana (59.8)
13. Florida (59.5)
14. Montana (58.7)
15. Minnesota (57.3)
What are the Worst States For Casino Tourism?
Visitors to the Bay State will find Massachusetts betting apps, but BetMGM scores it the lowest on its casino tourism list, with a score of 26.0 (No. 43 overall). Massachusetts is ranked in the bottom five for casinos per capita and among the worst seven in Tripadvisor’s casino ratings. Massachusetts has the most expensive Airbnb rates as well.
Other states near the bottom include:
42. Arkansas (28.5) — three casinos
41. Nebraska (30.4) — seven casinos
40. Rhode Island (31.3) — two casinos
39. New York (33.3) — 34 casinos
BetMGM notes that Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are not included on the list. Some states have casinos, but BetMGM may lack adequate data to perform a calculation.
Altogether, the US started 2024 with 1,011 casinos, according to the American Gaming Association. Tribal casinos (525) outnumbered commercial casinos (486). The venues combined for:
- A $328.6 billion economic impact.
- 1.8 million employees.
- $52.7 billion in taxes and tribal revenue share.
- Almost $109 billion in gross gaming revenue.
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