HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Gambling exists in every state even where it is prohibited by law, but not all gambling is the same.
Recreational gamblers might buy the occasional lottery ticket, take a rare trip to the casino or bet small in fantasy sports, but when gambling gets out of control, it could turn into gambling disorder.
To determine where gambling is the most prevalent, WalletHub compared all 50 states to 20 metrics such as presence of illegal gambling, lottery sales per capita and the share of adults with gambling disorders.
The study found that Illinois was ranked as the 15th most addicted state for gambling while Indiana was ranked 22nd and Kentucky was ranked 35th.
- Illinois – 15th
- Gambling friendliness – 18th
- Gambling problem & treatment – 28th
- Indiana – 22nd
- Gambling friendliness – 16th
- Gambling problem & treatment – 47th
- Kentucky – 35th
- Gambling friendliness – 27th
- Gambling problem & treatment – 43rd
WalletHub also found as a whole, 1-3% of U.S. adults have a gambling disorder. They said the gambling industry made a record $66.5 billion in revenue last year while U.S. consumers experienced over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses annually.
"Gambling addictions can destroy lives the same way that alcohol and drug addictions can," said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. "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.”
For a full list of results, click here.
