The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported record revenue last month.
It may come as no surprise, then, that Pennsylvania was ranked by a separate report among the most gambling-addicted states in the country.
WalletHub conducted and published a study which found the states most addicted to the pastime by first establishing two key dimensions: “Gambling-Friendliness” and “Gambling Problem & Treatment.”
All of the 50 were then given grades in these categories after relevant metrics were factored in, “Commercial & Tribal Casinos” and “Lottery Sales per Capita” among them.
Pennsylvania ranked among the top 10 in ninth overall, coming in sixth when it came to just the “Gambling-Friendliness” category.
“According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system much like drugs such as alcohol can, leading to addiction,’” reads the study. “The addiction can lead to serious economic consequences.
“While the gambling industry made a record $60 billion in revenue last year, U.S. consumers experience over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses annually. Individually, a male gambling addict accumulates an average debt of between $55,000 and $90,000 whereas a female addict averages $15,000.”
The top three states were Montana in third; South Dakota in second; and, unsurprisingly, Nevada — home to Las Vegas — in first. Nevada actually managed to come in number one in both separate categories as well, having the most casinos and gaming machines per capita in the U.S.
The state that was found to be the least addicted to gambling was Utah.