10 Best, Worst States on Gambling Problems

From Nevada to Nebraska
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 24, 2018 11:27 AM CDT
10 States With Most, Least Gambling Problems
A gambler plays a slot machine at the Tropicana in Atlantic City NJ.   (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

One state stands alone when it comes to residents with gambling problems—and yes, it's Nevada. It's the only state to crack 60 out of a total score of 100 in a new ranking by WalletHub of "gambling-addicted states," though three others did surpass 50. Essentially, the ranking looked at the availability of legal and illegal gambling (including lottery sales), along with the prevalence of people with gambling problems. On the opposite end of the scale from Nevada is Nebraska, which didn't even have a score of 20. Details:

States with the worst scores, out of 100:

  1. Nevada, 62.4
  2. South Dakota, 53.1
  3. Montana, 52.9
  4. Mississippi, 51.8
  5. Louisiana, 44.8
  6. West Virginia, 44.7
  7. Oregon, 43.0
  8. New Jersey, 42.6
  9. Illinois, 39.6
  10. Oklahoma, 38.9

States with the least gambling problems:

  1. Maine, 22.1
  2. Georgia, 21.8
  3. Wisconsin, 20.5
  4. Alaska, 19.6
  5. Washington, 19.4
  6. North Carolina, 18.9
  7. Utah, 17.9
  8. Kentucky, 17.2
  9. Alabama, 17.2
  10. Nebraska, 16.6
Click for the full ranking and methodology. (More gambling stories.)

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