- A new WalletHub analysis found Nevada the most gambling-addicted state.
- Utah, which bans all forms of gambling, is the least gambling-addicted state.
- Online sports betting has become more prevalent across the country.
Gambling is legal in all but two states — Hawaii and Utah. But that doesn’t mean people in those states don’t buy the occasional lottery ticket, take a casino trip or bet on sports.
Still, when it comes to problem gambling, the Aloha State and the Beehive State are among the least addicted.
The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that 2.5 million Americans, or 1% of the population, have gambling disorder or gambling addiction. Another 5 million to 8 million, or about 2-3%, have mild or moderate gambling problems.
In 2025, the commercial gambling industry generated $78.7 billion in revenue, a record high, according to the American Gaming Association. That figure includes about $51 billion in traditional gambling, nearly $17 billion in sports betting and $10.7 billion on internet gaming.
A new WalletHub study compared the 50 states to determine where excessive gambling is most prevalent. Its 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.
Most gambling-addicted states
It’s no surprise that the analysis found Nevada the most gambling-addicted state, with about 2.7% of adults having gambling disorders. The Silver State ranks No. 1 in Gamblers Anonymous meetings per capita. It also has the most arrests for illegal gambling per capita, according to WalletHub.
Nevada ranks first for both casinos per capita and gaming machines per capita. The state also has the highest overall gambling revenues in the country, according to the analysis. Retail and convenience stores have electronic gambling machines for customers to play, and it has legalized both sports betting and gambling on horse races.
“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,” said WalletHub analyst Chris 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.”
Following Nevada, South Dakota, Montana, Mississippi and Louisiana rounded out the top five most gambling-addicted states.
South Dakota came in as the second-most gambling-friendly state. It has some of the most casinos and gambling machines per capita, according to WalletHub. Its lottery sales rank 11th highest in the country. It has legalized betting on fantasy sports, regular sports and horse races, and it allows gambling machines to be put in stores.
In Montana, about 2.5% of residents have a gambling disorder, third highest in the country. It does not have gambling counselors and doesn’t require businesses to train their employees on disordered and problem gambling, per the analysis. It also has a large number of casinos and gaming machines, which it allows in retail and convenience stores. Sports betting is also legal.
Least gambling-addicted states
The WalletHub analysis found Utah the least-gambling-addicted state, followed by Vermont, Alaska, Kansas and Hawaii. Utah also is the second-least gambling-friendly state, while Hawaii is the least friendly.
Utah prohibits all forms of gambling, including sports betting, casino games, horse racing, lotteries and even bingo or raffles for charity. The ban is written into the state’s constitution. Utah also passed a law in 2012 allowing it to opt out of any federal law permitting internet gambling.
But that doesn’t mean Utahns don’t gamble. Friday night poker games, quick trips to casinos in Mesquite or Wendover and Idaho for lottery tickets as well as online sports betting aren’t uncommon.
A February Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found about 3 in 10 Utah adults say they’ve placed a bet on a sporting event using a sports book, online platform or mobile app — the same share as nationwide
A new Utah law specifically targeting what are known as proposition bets will take effect in May. It outlaws wagers placed on specific players or events during sporting contests that are not directly connected to the outcome of a game, such as who will score the first touchdown or how many points a player will score.
The law isn’t just aimed at online sports betting. It comes amid the rapid rise of prediction markets where users can “trade on futures” ranging from who will win the Oscars to who will win a presidential election.
“Gambling has no place in Utah, and our laws should reflect that,” Cox said in a statement on the bill signing. “We’ve seen the damage this gambling technology can cause, including addiction and financial loss for individuals and families.”
Signs of problem gambling
Betting on both professional and college sports has exploded since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban in 2018. At least 38 states now allow commercial sports wagering in some form.
Chris Douglas, a economic professor at the University of Michigan-Flint, said there are clear downsides to legalized sport betting.
“Sports betting can be highly addictive, the odds are structured against the bettor, and there are many documented cases of people losing large sums of money and ruining their finances,” he said in a WalletHub press release.
“The primary benefit is entertainment value and the tax revenue states collect. The challenge for policymakers is balancing those benefits against the social costs of problem gambling as well as determining whether the benefits of sports betting even outweigh the cost.”
Douglas said one warning sign of problem gambling is unusual activity in financial accounts, including frequent transfers, unexplained withdrawals, or repeated charges from betting platforms.
“Losses from online gambling can accumulate quickly, so it is important to catch this early before losses become severe,” he said.
Economic pressures do not appear to have significantly slowed the growth of online gambling, Douglas said.
“The convenience of betting through apps has made gambling much more accessible than in the past,” he said.
“However, traditional gambling destinations such as Las Vegas have faced some challenges. A slowing economy, higher travel costs and rising prices in Las Vegas have discouraged some visitors, while at the same time, online betting allows people to gamble without traveling.”