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Gaming Edge’s TL;DR
- WalletHub’s new ranking puts Nevada, South Dakota, and Montana at the top for gambling addiction, citing high concentrations of casinos, gaming machines, and permissive betting laws.
- The 20‑metric analysis highlights where Americans face the most exposure to gambling.
WalletHub compared all 50 states using 20 weighted metrics across two categories – Gambling‑friendliness (70% of the score) and Gambling problem & treatment (30%).
The study measured several factors, including:
- Casinos and gaming machines per capita
- Gambling revenues
- Lottery sales
- Legality of betting activities
- Gambling‑related arrests
- Availability of counselors and Gamblers Anonymous meetings
Nevada ranked first overall, leading the nation on casinos and gaming machines per capita and reporting about 2.7% of adults with gambling disorders. It also ranked first for gambling‑related arrests per capita for illegal gambling.
South Dakota placed second, driven by a high concentration of casinos and strong lottery participation, while Montana came third, with roughly 2.5% of adults estimated to have gambling disorders and limited counseling and staff‑training requirements.
WalletHub quoted analyst Chip Lupo:
“People with a gambling addiction may find it helpful to live in states where places to gamble are less prevalent and laws against betting are stricter.”
Gambling losses much higher than gambling revenue
The findings underline where availability and access translate into greater risk. States that score high on WalletHub’s scale tend to have more retail and electronic gambling options, legalized sports and fantasy betting, and higher per‑capita exposure to games – all of which correlate with larger populations facing problem gambling.
WalletHub also notes national context: The gambling industry reported a record $78.7 billion in revenue last year while consumers faced over $100 billion in total gambling losses.
For operators and regulators, the study is a reminder of the trade‑offs between revenue and responsibility. High‑ranking states often show more Gamblers Anonymous meetings per capita, but some (like Montana) lack formal counseling services or mandatory employee training.
Metrics such as self‑exclusion programs, treatment spending, and arrests may become focal points for compliance and harm‑minimization efforts. Practical takeaway: Increased access raises both convenience and risk – use self‑exclusion tools, budget limits, and support responsible gaming resources where available.
Top and bottom
After Nevada, South Dakota, and Montana, the next seven states in order were:
- (4) Mississippi
- (5) Louisiana
- (6) West Virginia
- (7) Pennsylvania
- (8) New Jersey
- (9) Oregon
- (10) Oklahoma
The bottom 10 in WalletHub’s list contained just one state (Connecticut) that has legalized online casinos:
- (41) Maryland
- (42) Connecticut
- (43) Florida
- (44) Wisconsin
- (45) Nebraska
- (46) Hawaii
- (47) Kansas
- (48) Alaska
- (49) Vermont
- (50) Utah
Based on reporting by Joe Edwards for Newsweek.
