Report: Neighbor State High In Gambling Addiction
- A WalletHub report ranks South Dakota among the most gambling-addicted states, with Minnesota landing in the middle. - The key finding: South Dakota placed No. 2, while Wisconsin ranked near the bottom of the list. - The rankings could affect regional policy and treatment funding discussions across the Upper Midwest (patch.com).
South Dakota ranks as the nation’s No. 2 most gambling-addicted state in WalletHub’s 2026 analysis, while Minnesota sits 25th and Wisconsin lands near the bottom. (wallethub.com) WalletHub put Nevada first and South Dakota second, with South Dakota posting a total score of 65.09. Minnesota scored 38.56 at No. 25, and Wisconsin scored 30.23 at No. 44. (wallethub.com) The ranking combined two buckets: “gambling-friendliness,” which measures how available betting is, and “gambling problem and treatment,” which tracks signs of harm and access to help. South Dakota ranked No. 2 for gambling-friendliness and No. 13 for gambling problem and treatment, while Minnesota ranked No. 32 and No. 17 in those categories. (wallethub.com) That gap lines up with how differently gambling is built into the region. South Dakota runs a statewide video lottery system and says players must be 21 or older to play video lottery, while the state lottery directs people with gambling problems to a confidential helpline at 1-888-781-HELP. (lottery.sd.gov ) (lottery.sd.gov) Minnesota’s state response is more treatment-focused. The Minnesota Department of Human Services says it pays for inpatient and outpatient problem-gambling treatment for residents who qualify and operates a 24-hour confidential helpline at 800-333-HOPE. (mn.gov) Minnesota’s human services agency also says it supports counties, tribes and providers in delivering substance use disorder, tobacco and problem-gambling services. That means the state already has a funding and service structure in place as neighboring states debate how much gambling access should expand. (mn.gov) Patch’s Minnesota report highlighted the regional contrast by noting South Dakota near the top of the list, Minnesota in the middle and Wisconsin near the bottom. In the Upper Midwest, where residents can cross state lines for casinos, lotteries and sports betting options, those differences can shape treatment demand and policy arguments. (patch.com)
