The United States and casinos go hand in hand, with Las Vegas, Nevada, the perfect representation of this relationship. However, Sin City and the Silver State aren’t the only places that enjoy a wager.
The United States boasts one of the most diverse and expansive casino industries in the world, allowing customers to sample a unique cultural experience.
Despite different and ever-changing levels of legality, states across the country have dipped their respective toes into the world of gambling. And our study has found two states that clearly lead the way when it comes to casinos per capita, if we exclude the obvious nationwide winner/outlier, Nevada.
And although Nevada, and Las Vegas more specifically, is synonymous with gambling and casinos, Gambling.com wanted to find out which other states have the most casinos per 100k residents.
South Dakota crowned America’s ‘King of Casinos’ (Outside Nevada)
According to our research, South Dakota is America’s King of Casinos, outside of the Silver State. Located in the heart of the United States, South Dakota has 3.80 casinos per 100,000 residents with 35 casinos serving a population of around 920,000.
Considered one of the happiest states in America, South Dakota has a range of boutique, traditional casinos that attract gamblers from across the state and further afield. The city of Deadwood, South Dakota, offers Vegas-style casino games in a unique environment that transports visitors back to the Wild West.
Closely following the Mount Rushmore state is Oklahoma. The Sooner State boasts the most casinos overall, with 143. However with a population of 4.1 million, it sits just behind South Dakota with 3.49 casinos per 100,000 residents.
In third place we have North Dakota with 1.38 casinos per 100,000 residents. In fourth place we have Montana (1.23). New Mexico (1.22) is in fifth place. These states offer smaller populations and a healthy number of casinos, giving them strong showings in the rankings.
Big States, Few Slots: New York and California
According to our research, the grand states of California and New York languish in 23rd and 27th, respectively. Although California has the second most casinos behind Oklahoma, with 86, its large population of 39.4 million means the Golden State only has 0.22 casinos per 100,000 residents.
In New York’s case, the state has 34 casinos, but similarly, its large population of 19.8 million results in only 0.17 casinos per 100,000 residents.
Other large states that miss out of the Top 5 and even the Top 10 are Florida (#T35) with 0.06, Michigan (#21) with 0.26 and Washington (#13) with 0.43.
There are a host of other states that sit on 0 casinos for 100,000 residents, mainly due to their legality of gambling. Here are the results of research at a glance:
- South Dakota is ‘America’s King of Casinos,’ excluding Nevada. They scored 3.80 casinos per 100,000 residents.
- Nevada would reign supreme if they were included in the ranking, with over 7 casinos per 100,000 residents.
- Oklahoma sits just behind South Dakota with 3.49 casinos per 100,000 residents.
- In third place is North Dakota with 1.38 casinos per 100,000 residents. In fourth place is Montana (1.23) and then, in fifth place, is New Mexico (1.22).
- According to our research, the grand U.S. states of California and New York languish in 23rd and 27th, respectively.
- Other large states that miss out of the Top 5 or even Top 10 are Florida #T35 with 0.06, Michigan #21 with 0.26 and Washington #13 with 0.43.
For more information and to read more about the original research on the Gambling.com website, please click here.
