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 $71.9 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.
Top 10 Most Gambling-Addicted States
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Pennsylvania
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- West Virginia
- Oregon
- New Jersey
Oklahoma tied with Nevada and South Dakota for the most Casinos per capita and the most gaming machines per capita.
“Gambling addictions can destroy lives the same way that alcohol and drug addictions can. While some people may be able to enjoy casual gambling from time to time, others need to avoid temptation altogether. 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.”Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
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.”
Gambling-Friendliness was weighted for 70 points and Gambling Problem & Treatment with 30.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of March 25, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Gaming Association, RubinBrown, National Council on Problem Gambling, National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services, North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Legal Sports Report, PlayUSA, Google Ads, Gamblers Anonymous and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Dr. Jay S. Albanese.