Where does California rank among the most gambling-addicted states?
Although online and sports betting is not legal in California, the Golden State still finished just outside the top 10 on WalletHub’s recent list of most gambling-addicted states.
WalletHub compared the 50 states to determine where excessive gambling is most prevalent. Their 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.
California finished 11th overall and is in the top 10 for Gambling Problem and Treatment Rank (7th) and in Gambling-Related Arrests Per Capita (8th), according to WalletHub’s study.
California also ranked 24th in Casinos Per Capita and 50th in Legality of Sports Gambling.
Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Gambling-Friendliness Rank | Gambling Problem & Treatment Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nevada | 72.52 | 1 | 1 |
2 | South Dakota | 66.53 | 2 | 9 |
3 | Montana | 59.45 | 7 | 4 |
4 | Louisiana | 57.29 | 3 | 22 |
5 | Pennsylvania | 55.99 | 5 | 16 |
6 | Oklahoma | 52.15 | 6 | 33 |
7 | Mississippi | 51.81 | 8 | 23 |
8 | West Virginia | 51.05 | 4 | 49 |
9 | Oregon | 50.51 | 11 | 10 |
10 | New Jersey | 47.99 | 9 | 37 |
11 | California | 44.64 | 26 | 7 |
12 | North Dakota | 44.53 | 10 | 38 |
13 | Rhode Island | 44.43 | 17 | 29 |
14 | Texas | 44.38 | 28 | 5 |
15 | Illinois | 44.35 | 18 | 28 |
16 | Wyoming | 43.47 | 23 | 12 |
17 | Michigan | 42.09 | 12 | 48 |
18 | Delaware | 41.77 | 19 | 34 |
19 | Iowa | 41.61 | 14 | 42 |
20 | New York | 41.29 | 15 | 44 |
21 | Minnesota | 41.01 | 29 | 14 |
22 | Indiana | 40.61 | 16 | 47 |
23 | Colorado | 40.56 | 24 | 26 |
24 | Missouri | 40.19 | 32 | 8 |
25 | Massachusetts | 39.99 | 22 | 32 |
26 | Virginia | 39.98 | 20 | 40 |
27 | Ohio | 39.89 | 21 | 41 |
28 | Tennessee | 39.34 | 34 | 11 |
29 | South Carolina | 38.86 | 46 | 3 |
30 | Arizona | 38.83 | 30 | 15 |
31 | New Mexico | 38.74 | 13 | 50 |
32 | North Carolina | 38.36 | 33 | 19 |
33 | Maryland | 37.79 | 25 | 36 |
34 | Idaho | 37.06 | 38 | 17 |
35 | Kentucky | 36.41 | 27 | 43 |
36 | New Hampshire | 36.09 | 45 | 6 |
37 | Washington | 35.70 | 36 | 27 |
38 | Alabama | 35.54 | 40 | 20 |
39 | Florida | 35.41 | 31 | 31 |
40 | Arkansas | 35.21 | 37 | 21 |
41 | Georgia | 34.20 | 39 | 30 |
42 | Kansas | 33.06 | 43 | 25 |
43 | Connecticut | 31.72 | 35 | 46 |
44 | Hawaii | 31.55 | 49 | 2 |
45 | Wisconsin | 31.19 | 42 | 35 |
46 | Maine | 30.40 | 41 | 39 |
47 | Nebraska | 28.78 | 44 | 45 |
48 | Vermont | 27.06 | 47 | 24 |
49 | Alaska | 26.65 | 48 | 13 |
50 | Utah | 24.14 | 50 | 18 |
Not all gamblers are the same, WalletHub writes. “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 set limits on how much they gamble and don’t cause financial harm to themselves.
When gambling gets out of control, though, it becomes a real medical condition. Gambling disorder, as it’s known, affects about 1-3% of all U.S. adults. That addiction can lead to serious economic consequences. While the gambling industry made a record $66.5 billion in revenue last year, U.S. consumers experience over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses.
Not surprisingly Nevada, the home of Sin City, topped the list of most gambling-addicted states.
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