Following a 2018 Supreme Court decision that lifted a federal ban on sports betting, many states have rushed to create new laws to allow sports betting. There are now 32 states with at least some form of legal gambling – an increase of five states from two years earlier.
With new forms of wagering that people can access without having to go to a casino, gaming revenues are hitting all-time highs in the U.S. In nearly every state with legal wagering, revenues are up well above what they were two years ago, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit – more than doubling in a few states.
To determine the states where gambling has grown the highest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed The American Gaming Association’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. Adult population figures came from the U.S. Census Bureau. States were ranked on the change in gaming revenue from January 2020 to January 2022.
In highest of the states with some form of legal gambling, revenue increased anywhere from 0.1%-35% from January 2020 to January 2022. In five of these states, revenue declined – but typically just slightly. In two states, revenue more than doubled. The AGA found that casino visits in early 2022 were roughly equivalent to what they were in January 2020. The growth in the industry is being driven by sports betting and iGaming.
Five states – Connecticut, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming, and Montana – had no gambling revenue in 2020 but have since allowed at least one type of gambling. Other states, like New York and Ohio, already had casinos but recently enacted laws that permit sports betting as well. Gambling can produce tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for these states. These are the states that spend the highest on gambling.
Click here to see the states where gambling revenue is skyrocketing (and plummeting)
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27. Rhode Island
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: -15.5%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $45.5 million
> 18 and over population: 855,276
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $53.20 (7th highest out of 27)
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26. Illinois
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: -12.8%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $87.8 million
> 18 and over population: 9,809,562
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $8.95 (5th lowest out of 27)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
25. Kansas
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: -12.0%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $29.9 million
> 18 and over population: 2,217,059
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $13.49 (8th lowest out of 27)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
24. Maine
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: -2.3%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $11.0 million
> 18 and over population: 1,101,973
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $9.98 (6th lowest out of 27)
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23. Oklahoma
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: -2.1%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $11.0 million
> 18 and over population: 3,027,263
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $3.63 (3rd lowest out of 27)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
21. Louisiana
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +0.1%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $196.2 million
> 18 and over population: 3,564,038
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $55.05 (5th highest out of 27)
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21. New Mexico
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +0.1%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $18.1 million
> 18 and over population: 1,633,828
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $11.08 (7th lowest out of 27)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
20. Ohio
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +2.3%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $171.2 million
> 18 and over population: 9,124,576
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $18.76 (11th lowest out of 27)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
19. Massachusetts
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +2.7%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $82.4 million
> 18 and over population: 5,552,051
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $14.84 (9th lowest out of 27)
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18. Nevada
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +3.9%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $1.1 billion
> 18 and over population: 2,440,679
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $442.01 (the highest out of 27)
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
17. Missouri
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +4.7%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $145.5 million
> 18 and over population: 4,780,119
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $30.44 (13th highest out of 27)
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
16. Maryland
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +8.7%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $158.1 million
> 18 and over population: 4,721,883
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $33.48 (11th highest out of 27)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
15. Indiana
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +8.9%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $219.4 million
> 18 and over population: 5,188,514
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $42.29 (9th highest out of 27)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
14. Mississippi
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +11.8%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $202.5 million
> 18 and over population: 2,273,653
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $89.06 (2nd highest out of 27)
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13. Florida
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +15.4%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $57.6 million
> 18 and over population: 17,482,580
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $3.29 (2nd lowest out of 27)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
12. Arkansas
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +16.8%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $44.6 million
> 18 and over population: 2,330,808
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $19.14 (12th lowest out of 27)
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11. Delaware
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +21.8%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $44.6 million
> 18 and over population: 782,153
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $57.02 (4th highest out of 27)
24/7 Wall St.
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10. South Dakota
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +22.7%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $10.5 million
> 18 and over population: 674,238
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $15.57 (10th lowest out of 27)
Source: dangarneau / iStock via Getty Images
9. Iowa
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +24.8%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $144.9 million
> 18 and over population: 2,438,002
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $59.43 (3rd highest out of 27)
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8. New Jersey
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +26.9%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $381.7 million
> 18 and over population: 6,947,836
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $54.94 (6th highest out of 27)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
7. West Virginia
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +30.4%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $65.4 million
> 18 and over population: 1,428,520
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $45.78 (8th highest out of 27)
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6. Pennsylvania
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +32.4%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $408.4 million
> 18 and over population: 10,162,497
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $40.19 (10th highest out of 27)
Source: JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images
5. Oregon
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +34.7%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $2.4 million
> 18 and over population: 3,380,729
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $0.71 (the lowest out of 27)
Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images
4. New York
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +44.2%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $328.9 million
> 18 and over population: 15,348,422
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $21.43 (13th lowest out of 27)
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3. Colorado
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +62.0%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $111.4 million
> 18 and over population: 4,557,684
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $24.44 (14th highest out of 27)
Source: ShriramPatki / iStock via Getty Images
2. Michigan
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +114.0%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $256.9 million
> 18 and over population: 7,839,742
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $32.77 (12th highest out of 27)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
1. New Hampshire
> Chg. in gambling revenue, Jan 2020-Jan 2022: +388.5%
> Total gambling revenue, Jan. 2022: $8.0 million
> 18 and over population: 1,113,141
> Gambling revenue per adult, Jan. 2022: $7.19 (4th lowest out of 27)
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