SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - According to WalletHub, South Dakota is the second most gambling addicted state behind only Nevada.
Jill Gonzales says South Dakota ranks third in gambling friendliness, with plenty of options, and ranks sixth in gambling problem and treatment.
Gonzales says those including 15 parameters ranging from the presence of illegal gambling, to per capita lottery sales to the share of adults with gambling disorders. She says many of those numbers come the American Gaming Association, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, some ESPN numbers, the National Council on Problem Gambling and Gamblers Anonymous.
South Dakota is first in the nation with the number of casinos per 100,000 residents. WalletHub also looked at the number of gaming machines per 1,000 residents and the state rank third.
When it comes to establishments, WalletHub looked at land-based casinos; including video lottery places, racetrack casinos and tribal casinos.
Gonzales says South Dakota is not affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling, casino employees on the gaming floor don't have training on disorders and what to look for and there's no state provided gambling addiction program in South Dakota.
South Dakota was the third most gambling addicted state last year.
Gambling disorder affects slightly more than 2% 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 lead to addiction."
For the entire WalletHub study go to https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-addicted-to-gambling/20846/. WalletHub is a personal finance website.