Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Gambling exists in every state, even Hawaii and Utah, where gambling is prohibited by law. But all gamblers are different. “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 also are mentally able to quit at any point and prevent catastrophic financial loss.

But when the business or pleasure gets out of control, gambling becomes a real medical condition. Gambling disorder, as it’s known, affects about 1-3 percent of all U.S. adults. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Gambling can stimulate the brain's reward system much like drugs such as alcohol can, leading to addiction.”

That addiction can lead to serious economic consequences. For example, U.S. consumers experience over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses. Individually, a male gambling addict accumulates an average debt of between $55,000 and $90,000 whereas a female averages $15,000. Most cannot afford to pay back what they owe. As a result, gambling addicts develop a high tendency to amass even more debt, suffer from other health issues, lose their jobs, strain their relationships or even commit crimes.

The gambling problem, however, is much bigger in some states than in others. WalletHub therefore compared the 50 states to determine where excessive gambling is most prevalent. Our data set of 19 key metrics ranges from presence of illegal gambling operations to lottery sales per capita to share of adults with gambling disorders. Read on for our findings, insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

With the Kentucky Derby approaching and gamblers preparing to bet on their favorite horses, WalletHub also released its 2018 Kentucky Derby infographic.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/20846/geochart-gambling-2018.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2qSKfPK>  

Most Gambling-Addicted States

Overall Rank (1 = Most Addicted)	State	Total Score	‘Gambling-Friendliness’ Rank	‘Gambling Problem & Treatment’ Rank
1	Nevada	62.43	1	10
2	South Dakota	53.11	3	8
3	Montana	52.90	2	20
4	Mississippi	51.84	7	1
5	Louisiana	44.77	6	13
6	West Virginia	44.66	5	15
7	Oregon	43.03	4	39
8	New Jersey	42.58	16	2
9	Illinois	39.57	25	3
10	Oklahoma	38.91	8	36
11	Tennessee	37.71	19	7
12	Rhode Island	36.07	14	22
13	Maryland	35.80	26	6
14	Delaware	35.63	11	25
15	Pennsylvania	35.34	9	30
16	Missouri	34.64	31	4
17	New York	34.28	10	37
18	California	33.39	15	26
19	Massachusetts	32.86	17	18
20	Colorado	32.60	20	19
21	Iowa	32.55	21	17
22	North Dakota	31.52	12	47
23	Ohio	30.90	22	23
24	Idaho	30.25	27	24
25	New Mexico	29.22	13	49
26	Virginia	29.05	18	43
27	Indiana	28.61	24	32
28	Wyoming	28.37	28	33
29	Texas	28.36	39	9
30	Minnesota	27.51	32	14
31	Michigan	26.54	29	35
32	New Hampshire	26.50	34	21
33	South Carolina	26.47	38	16
34	Hawaii	26.45	49	5
35	Kansas	24.58	41	12
36	Arkansas	24.34	33	29
37	Connecticut	23.74	23	50
38	Florida	23.23	30	46
39	Arizona	23.01	35	40
40	Vermont	22.78	36	38
41	Maine	22.08	47	11
42	Georgia	21.79	37	45
43	Wisconsin	20.50	42	42
44	Alaska	19.63	44	28
45	Washington	19.36	43	34
46	North Carolina	18.89	45	31
47	Utah	17.87	50	27
48	Kentucky	17.20	40	48
49	Alabama	17.19	46	44
50	Nebraska	16.60	48	41

 

Ask the Experts

Over the years, more advanced technology has paved the way for new forms of gambling, such as iGaming, online fantasy sports and video poker. And while the estimated $240 billion gaming industry is no doubt a major contributor to the U.S. economy, its critics argue that gambling leads to social and economic problems, including gambling disorder and regressive taxes in areas where gambling facilities are present. For more insight, we asked the following key questions to a panel of gaming-industry experts:

1. Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are its pros and cons?
2. Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?
3. On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?
4. What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling? What should friends and family do to help?

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• Mark R. Dixon Professor and Coordinator of the Behavior Analysis and Therapy Program at Southern Illinois University
• Sandra Rasmussen Professor of Psychology & Addiction Therapist at Walden University
• James P. Whelan Professor of Clinical Health and Director of the Psychological Services Center at the University of Memphis
• Jim Sherman Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington
• Rick Berman Instructor and Director of Problem Gambling Services at Lewis & Clark College

Mark R. Dixon Professor and Coordinator of the Behavior Analysis and Therapy Program at Southern Illinois University

Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?

I do not believe that sports betting is in any way different than the other forms of gambling that are now legal in those same states. If any sort of gambling (lotto, bingo, slots, etc.) is legal in a state, then there is nothing that I believe should be considered riskier or more concerning with regards to sports betting. The pros -- none really, except additional revenue for the state. Cons -- all the same challenges with gambling as a legal vice (addiction, income-related crime, etc.).

Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?

Yes, if money is involved.

On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?

They are a good idea to bring revenue into a state without additional forced taxation. However, this revenue comes at a public health cost in which more people are exposed to the potential for addiction to gambling. Additionally, relying on revenues from gambling losses to manage a state budget allows for mismanagement of more traditional revenue streams that do not include the risk of public harm (taxes, budget cuts, etc.).

What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling? What should friends and family do to help?

There are a variety of signs that someone may be addicted to gambling. The outcome is most obviously one or two things -- financial loss, and/or allocation of an inappropriate amount of time to gambling at the expense of other opportunities or experiences in life. Oftentimes, we find that when people are addicted to gambling, it is not because they don't understand that the odds of winning are against them or that they are in fact really losing a lot of money that they cannot afford to lose. Instead, most gambling addiction is the outcome of something amiss with the individual person. Perhaps a bad relationship, history of abuse, or lack of a social support structure. In other words, gambling is the outcome, not the cause of the problem. People that are gambling addicts don't have perfect lives, except for this one thing -- their gambling problem. Instead, gambling is the way other problems manifest themselves. Get rid of the gambling, and oftentimes, such people will pivot to another form of self-destructive behavior.

What can a family member do to help? Work with the person and try to understand what the real reason behind their gambling is in the first place. Not too many addicted gamblers believe they are going to hit it big and turn their lives around. Rather, the gambling is something that gives them escape, or maybe a rush, or maybe the opportunity to feel like they belong. Whatever it is -- this cause is the first step to understanding what is wrong. The next step is to seek help that can assist the addict with development of the tools necessary to find alternative and less destructive ways to escape, get a rush, or develop social relationships. Not all addicts are the same, and therefore an individualized treatment program is the way to go.

In the end, do I think gambling should be more regulated or restricted in access, given that people can fall into addiction? My surprising answer is -- no. Although there are many ways in which gambling machines and casinos can lure you in and tempt you to play longer than you really should, these are not that different from a department store hooking you into too many purchases on your credit card. Or a website that suggests you order yet another unneeded item. Gambling provides an immediate hope (albeit tiny) that in just one roll of the dice or pull of a slot machine handle, that your life will change forever. That all the pain of life will be swept away, and a happier tomorrow is right around the corner.

It never happens, and teaching people that happiness is not found at the race track, the casino, or at Amazon.com, is probably going to be more effective than trying to further regulate gambling, when states have unfortunately become financially dependent on the revenue generated. It is a sad thing, however, that a great deal of such money is most likely the contribution from people who can least afford to provide it.

Sandra Rasmussen Professor of Psychology & Addiction Therapist at Walden University

Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?

Yes. Illegal sports betting abounds; legal sports betting thrives in some states.

Pros -- legal sports betting in all states could increase the likelihood of reasonable regulation, with possible revenue benefits to the states.

Cons -- legal sports betting in all states increases access to gambling by more people with a higher incidence of gambling disorder. Legalization of sports betting implies acceptability: much like the belief that prescription drugs can do no harm.

Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?

Yes. However, this may take time with more education, research, press needed about the adverse consequences of fantasy sports play. Note: internet gaming disorder was a condition for further study in the 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).

On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?

Lotteries have a long history and are here to stay. Unfortunately, in the U.S., poor people and minorities sustain state lotteries. Lotteries reinforce the false hope that financial well-being will come from change, luck, or fate rather than through personal accountability and responsibility. Lotteries are a popular, but not a cost-effective source of revenue for states, especially when one considers the social harm. Yet, who cares?

James P. Whelan Professor of Clinical Health and Director of the Psychological Services Center at the University of Memphis

Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?

From my perspective, it is not whether sports wagering should be legalized. It is about whether that legalization includes appropriate regulations which promote responsible gambling. However, legalization should include requirements for meaningful and effective public awareness efforts, such as warning messages, which have been empirically demonstrated to be effective. In addition to public awareness, the regulations need to address prevention of underage gambling, advertising wager activities, and consider other responsible gambling activities.

It would be optimal if legislation called for the inclusion of funds for responsible gambling research. Gambling research remains a relatively new research area, and there is a need in the U.S. for research to understand how to create an effective safety net for those who have gambling problems.

Finally, the key advantage to legalizing sport wagering across the U.S. is that it would greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the risks associated with illegal bookmaking.

Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?

Gambling is defined as wagering money on a game or event where the outcome is in part determined by chance. Most forms of daily fantasy sports fit this definition and, therefore, should be regulated as gambling. Some will argue that fantasy sports are about skill. Like many forms of gambling, there is a skill component, but the outcome is still driven by chance. Is an entry fee actually a wager? Yes. The world of gambling options continues to expand and change. Daily fantasy sports and eSports are relatively new options. These options provide an entertaining option for most people and are a harmful activity for some.

What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling?

A clinician can diagnose someone as having a gambling disorder if they have four or more of nine symptoms. However, there are two simpler ways to decide if someone is at risk. One of these options is assessed by one's response to a simple set of three questions. If an individual answers yes to any of the following questions about their gambling over the past three months, then they are at risk for a gambling problem.

• Have you become restless, irritable or anxious when trying to stop/cut down on gambling?
• Have you tried to keep your family or friends from knowing how much you gamble?
• Did you have such financial trouble as a result of your gambling that you had to get help with living expenses from family, friends, or welfare?

The other option for assessing if one has a gambling problem occurs when one has problems related to their gambling, and they continue to gamble despite these problems.

What should friends and family do to help?

The popular myth is that family members and friends need to confront the addicted individual in order for them to commit to treatment. However, this strategy is very likely to backfire, cause conflict, and reduce the likelihood that the individual will seek treatment.

In contrast, the best strategy for friends and family is to be patient and express concern. Most importantly, friends and family can be more effective when they enter in a dialog and listen, learn and support the gambler when they show any possibility of considering changing their gambling. Building a supportive relationship and exploring change options, rather than labeling and criticizing, will more likely lead to the gambler to initiate self-directed change.

Jim Sherman Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington

Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?

My feeling is that, if it is legal in some states, it should be legal in all states. After all, the main reason that states want gambling is money. Horse tracks, casinos, etc. Why not make sports betting legal? Gamblers will gamble anyway. Bookies are everywhere. Betting on the web is easy. So, revenue is the big pro for states. Cons? I suppose that, if it induces more people to gamble, that is a negative. Just as with lotteries (only reason is money), those who are more inclined to gamble on sports will be poorer. It will probably be a negative for families and relationships. Even when a game is decided, bettors will keep watching if winning the gamble is still possible.

Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?

There is a cost to playing. One can then win money or lose. To me, that's the definition of gambling. Just because the teams aren't real doesn't mean that the money isn't real. Regulation would also ensure that no funny stuff is going on.

On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?

State lotteries are a terrible idea. First, the odds are awful -- far worse than a Las Vegas gamble (craps, black jack, even roulette). More importantly, as you point out, poorer folks will be far more likely to waste money on lotteries. There is always the hope of a big win to change your life. On HGTV, they have a show where lottery winners buy dream homes. So, viewers will now be even more likely to play the lottery. I don't see how one could make it less regressive. Poor folks gamble (especially on lotteries) in order to change their level of monetary worth. People with means gamble for other reasons -- addiction, the "sweat" of the process (especially sports betting), escape.

What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling? What should friends and family do to help?

For me, there are a couple of signs of gambling addiction: betting more than you can afford to lose is a big indicator. More importantly, like any addiction, if it interferes with your work or home life, it is an addiction. This is true for alcohol and drug addiction, but also for "positive" addictions like running or exercise. If it gets in the way of other parts of your life, it's an addiction. Gambling (especially sports betting) has a great capacity for interfering with the rest of life.

Rick Berman Instructor and Director of Problem Gambling Services at Lewis & Clark College

Should sports betting be legal in all states? What are the pros and cons?

In my opinion sports betting, like other forms of gambling, should be legal. From a scientific perspective, gambling is a normal human activity, evident in almost every culture and dating back thousands of years. Sports betting has a long history in North America, going back to indigenous peoples. No one knows how much is spent on illegal sports betting in the U.S. each year but it's substantial -- estimates range from $50 billion to $400 billion. Legalizing sports betting allows it to be regulated, taxed and provides more opportunities for developing enhanced public health measures to minimize potential harms. As it is legalized in more jurisdictions, it's critical to take measures to substantially increase resources for prevention and treatment of disordered gambling. A separate question is whether or how much state governments should be in the business of sponsoring sports betting as opposed to the private gambling industry.

Should daily fantasy sports be regulated as gambling?

Yes. Any reasonable definition of gambling would include daily fantasy sports (DFS). While DFS companies argue in U.S. courts that DFS is not gambling, in the U.K. and other jurisdictions, these same companies advertise it as gambling. Compared to other forms of sports betting, daily fantasy sports has characteristics that make participants more vulnerable to developing gambling problems by making the process continuous and more absorbing for the player. To reduce potential harm, there needs to be regulation. For example, the "cash out" feature which allows bettors to withdraw a bet during the event with a financial penalty attached -- keeps the player tied closely to the action and likely promotes problematic play. This feature is available in some jurisdictions but, in my view, should be prohibited.

On balance, are state lotteries a good idea? Is there a way to make them less regressive?

For hundreds of years, governments have raised money through lotteries, going back to ancient China. In recent years, the trend is for more and more jurisdictions to adopt lotteries as a way of raising revenue. By their very nature, using lotteries to fund government obscures who pays for government services and who doesn't, which is part of the attraction for politicians, so I'm not sure there's a way to make them less regressive. Whether state lotteries are a good idea depends on your own political, moral or religious outlook. At this point, they are so entrenched, that I believe it would require a social revolution to eliminate them. Currently, states provide only $60 million a year for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling and the federal government provides no funding at all. This represents a tiny fraction of the funds needed. As long as state lotteries exist, it's crucial that states create and fund targeted public health services that are adequate to reduce the damage caused by problem gambling.

What are the signs someone is addicted to gambling? What should friends and family do to help?

Signs include hiding the amount of time or money spent gambling from people close to you; borrowing money to pay bills that can't be paid due to gambling losses; after a gambling loss, going back to play again with the intent to win back your money; using gambling to cope with uncomfortable thoughts or feelings; trying to cut back or stop gambling and not succeeding at it; relationship, job or school problems connected to gambling; over time, needing to gamble with larger amounts of money in order to get the same enjoyment as before; spending a lot of time thinking about gambling or planning gambling episodes; feeling anxious, irritable or frustrated when unable to gamble.

Family members and friends can help by being compassionate, but honest and direct with the individual who has a gambling problem. They have to learn the difference between supporting the person and supporting the problem. For example, it's almost always counter-productive to give the individual money or pay their debts or bills. Contacting the national helpline can be a way to access resources and support -- 1-800-522-4700 or the chat line at ncpgambling.org/chat

Methodology

In order to determine where gambling addiction is most prevalent and harmful in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key dimensions, “Gambling-Friendliness” and “Gambling Problem & Treatment.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest dependency on gambling.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Gambling-Friendliness – Total Points: 70

• Commercial & Tribal Casinos per Capita: Triple Weight (~13.13 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older. “Commercial casinos” are defined as land-based, riverboat and racetrack casinos.
• Gaming Machines per 1,000 Residents: Double Weight (~8.75 Points)Note: “Per 1,000 residents” considers adults aged 18 and older.
• iGaming Revenues per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.
• Limited-Stakes Gaming Revenues per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.
• Commercial Casinos Revenues per Capita: Double Weight (~8.75 Points)
• Lottery Sales per Capita: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.
• Presence of Retail/Convenience Gaming: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)Note: This metrics measures the presence of slot machines in retail or convenience locations
• Presence of Illegal Gambling Operations: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
• Legality of Daily Fantasy Sports: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
• Legality of Sports Gambling: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
• Legality of Horse-Race Gambling: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)
• Google Search Interest Index for “Gambling”: Full Weight (~4.38 Points)Note: This metric measures Google search interest for the terms “Lottery”, “Casino”, “Slots”, “Blackjack”, “Sport Betting” and “Horse Racing Betting”.

Gambling Problem & Treatment – Total Points: 30

• Share of Adults Aged 18 & Older with Gambling Disorders: Double Weight (~7.50 Points)
• Number of Gambling Counselors per Capita: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
• “Gamblers Anonymous” Meetings per Capita: Full Weight Weight (~3.75 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.
• NCPG Affiliation: Half Weight (~1.88 Points)Note: “NCPG” is an acronym for National Council on Problem Gambling.
• Employee Training on Disordered- & Problem-Gambling Statuses & Regulations: Full Weight (~3.75 Points)
• Presence of Gambling-Addiction Treatment Programs: Half Weight (~1.88 Points)
• Gambling-Related Arrests per Capita: Double Weight (~7.50 Points)Note: “Per capita” considers adults aged 18 and older.

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Gaming Association, RubinBrown, National Council on Problem Gambling, North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pew Charitable Trusts, ESPN, Gamblers Anonymous, The Plaid Horse and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Dr. Jay S. Albanese.

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