MINNEAPOLIS, MN — One of Minnesota's neighbors ranks among the most gambling-addicted states in the country, according to a new report from WalletHub, while Minnesota itself landed squarely in the middle of the pack.
South Dakota came in at No. 2 in WalletHub's 2026 ranking of the most gambling-addicted states, trailing only Nevada.
Minnesota ranked No. 25 overall, suggesting it is far less gambling-addicted than some nearby states but nowhere near the bottom of the list either.
Wisconsin ranked No. 44, putting it among the least gambling-addicted states in the country.
WalletHub said its ranking was based on 20 metrics tied to gambling access and addiction, including lottery sales, illegal gambling arrests and the share of adults with gambling disorders.
The report says gambling disorder affects about 1 percent to 3 percent of U.S. adults, and that Americans lose more than $100 billion per year from gambling.
Minnesota's middle-of-the-pack finish could make it stand out less than South Dakota's high ranking or Wisconsin's low one, but it still shows gambling problems are not limited to the usual hotspots.
Minnesota ranked No. 32 for gambling-friendliness and No. 17 for gambling problems and treatment, according to the report.
The 10 states ranked most gambling-addicted were:
The 10 states ranked least gambling-addicted were:
South Dakota ranked especially high because of its large number of casinos and gaming machines per capita, along with relatively broad legal gambling options.
The report also noted the state has a high prevalence of lottery gambling and a high number of Gamblers Anonymous meetings per capita.
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