The increase in online gambling options and the COVID-19 pandemic have created the perfect storm for gambling addiction. The Mayo Clinic and other organizations are still studying the effects of COVID-19 on gambling addiction.
However, American gamblers lose over $100 billion a year. Experts suspect that the pandemic will increase the number of Americans losing money from gambling.
Gambling across the US
WalletHub recently compared excessive gambling rates across America. They used over 21 metrics to rate each state. We’ve broken down their findings from lowest rates of excessive gambling to highest. Scores closer to one for each category means the state is closer to optimal conditions for avoiding gambling addiction.
50. Utah
- Total score: 23.69
- Gambling-friendliness: 50
- Gambling problem & treatment: 20
49. North Carolina
- Total score: 25.41
- Gambling-friendliness: 48
- Gambling problem & treatment: 24
48. Maine
- Total score: 29.28
- Gambling-friendliness: 47
- Gambling problem & treatment: 36
47. Michigan
- Total score: 30.15
- Gambling-friendliness: 44
- Gambling problem & treatment: 45
46. New Mexico
- Total score: 31.32
- Gambling-friendliness: 40
- Gambling problem & treatment: 50
45. Idaho
- Total score: 32.73
- Gambling-friendliness: 46
- Gambling problem & treatment: 17
44. Alaska
- Total score: 34.3
- Gambling-friendliness: 45
- Gambling problem & treatment: 19
43. Hawaii
- Total score: 34.54
- Gambling-friendliness: 49
- Gambling problem & treatment: 2
42. Wisconsin
- Total score: 35.45
- Gambling-friendliness: 38
- Gambling problem & treatment: 41
41. Arizona
- Total score: 35.65
- Gambling-friendliness: 42
- Gambling problem & treatment: 33
40. Florida
- Total score: 35.92
- Gambling-friendliness: 26
- Gambling problem & treatment: 49
39. Kentucky
- Total score: 35.98
- Gambling-friendliness: 35
- Gambling problem & treatment: 44
38. Washington
- Total score: 37.22
- Gambling-friendliness: 41
- Gambling problem & treatment: 27
37. Connecticut
- Total score: 37.33
- Gambling-friendliness: 23
- Gambling problem & treatment: 48
36. New York
- Total score: 37.34
- Gambling-friendliness: 24
- Gambling problem & treatment: 47
35. Maryland
- Total score: 38.75
- Gambling-friendliness: 34
- Gambling problem & treatment: 29
34. Nebraska
- Total score: 38.76
- Gambling-friendliness: 37
- Gambling problem & treatment: 22
33. Ohio
- Total score: 38.79
- Gambling-friendliness: 27
- Gambling problem & treatment: 42
32. Tennessee
- Total score: 39.91
- Gambling-friendliness: 43
- Gambling problem & treatment: 12
31. Arkansas
- Total score: 40.65
- Gambling-friendliness: 36
- Gambling problem & treatment: 14
30. Vermont
- Total score: 40.86
- Gambling-friendliness: 33
- Gambling problem & treatment: 18
29. Georgia
- Total score: 41.13
- Gambling-friendliness: 21
- Gambling problem & treatment: 38
28. Indiana
- Total score: 41.14
- Gambling-friendliness: 19
- Gambling problem & treatment: 43
27. Iowa
- Total score: 41.91
- Gambling-friendliness: 12
- Gambling problem & treatment: 46
26. Virginia
- Total score: 42.13
- Gambling-friendliness: 22
- Gambling problem & treatment: 32
25. Kansas
- Total score: 42.42
- Gambling-friendliness: 30
- Gambling problem & treatment: 16
24. Pennsylvania
- Total score: 42.67
- Gambling-friendliness: 17
- Gambling problem & treatment: 40
23. New Hampshire
- Total score: 42.9
- Gambling-friendliness: 39
- Gambling problem & treatment: 7
22. California
- Total score: 42.96
- Gambling-friendliness: 32
- Gambling problem & treatment: 13
21. Alabama
- Total score: 43.27
- Gambling-friendliness: 20
- Gambling problem & treatment: 31
20. Delaware
- Total score: 43.77
- Gambling-friendliness: 16
- Gambling problem & treatment: 35
19. South Carolina
- Total score: 43.82
- Gambling-friendliness: 31
- Gambling problem & treatment: 11
18. Missouri
- Total score: 44.43
- Gambling-friendliness: 29
- Gambling problem & treatment: 9
17. Illinois
- Total score: 44.68
- Gambling-friendliness: 18
- Gambling problem & treatment: 23
16. Colorado
- Total score: 44.76
- Gambling-friendliness: 28
- Gambling problem & treatment: 8
15. Rhode Island
- Total score: 44.77
- Gambling-friendliness: 11
- Gambling problem & treatment: 39
14. Wyoming
- Total score: 45.33
- Gambling-friendliness: 14
- Gambling problem & treatment: 28
13. Massachusetts
- Total score: 45.37
- Gambling-friendliness: 13
- Gambling problem & treatment: 30
12. Texas
- Total score: 45.4
- Gambling-friendliness: 25
- Gambling problem & treatment: 10
11. North Dakota
- Total score: 48.3
- Gambling-friendliness: 8
- Gambling problem & treatment: 34
10. Oregon
- Total score: 48.35
- Gambling-friendliness: 10
- Gambling problem & treatment: 25
9. West Virginia
- Total score: 50.23
- Gambling-friendliness: 7
- Gambling problem & treatment: 26
8. Minnesota
- Total score: 50.45
- Gambling-friendliness: 15
- Gambling problem & treatment: 6
7. New Jersey
- Total score: 51.46
- Gambling-friendliness: 9
- Gambling problem & treatment: 15
6. Oklahoma
- Total score: 51.58
- Gambling-friendliness: 4
- Gambling problem & treatment: 37
5. Louisiana
- Total score: 53.26
- Gambling-friendliness: 5
- Gambling problem & treatment: 21
4. Montana
- Total score: 60.3
- Gambling-friendliness: 3
- Gambling problem & treatment: 3
3. South Dakota
- Total score: 61.93
- Gambling-friendliness: 2
- Gambling problem & treatment: 4
2. Mississippi
- Total score: 61.96
- Gambling-friendliness: 6
- Gambling problem & treatment: 1
1. Nevada
- Total score: 65.04
- Gambling-friendliness: 1
- Gambling problem & treatment: 5
Related:
______________________
SPONSORED: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
1. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes.
2. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals get started now.
______________________
This articlewas produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
