New York sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to gambling addiction, even as the industry continues to surge nationwide with record-breaking revenue.
A new report from personal finance site WalletHub ranks New York 13th overall among the most gambling-addicted states in 2026, reflecting a mix of high participation and relatively lower rates of diagnosed addiction.
The analysis compared all 50 states across 20 metrics, including gambling prevalence, accessibility, and the share of adults with gambling disorders. In New York, the data shows strong engagement in certain areas, particularly lottery play, while other indicators suggest less widespread addiction than in top-ranked states.
New York ranked sixth in the nation for lottery sales per capita, signaling high participation, but fell to 43rd for the percentage of adults with gambling disorders. The state also ranked first for gambling-related arrests per capita and is among those with the broadest legal access, including fully legalized sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
Despite that access, the report suggests New York has not reached the same level of overall addiction risk seen in states like Nevada, which topped the list. Analysts pointed to Nevada’s concentration of casinos and gaming machines, along with higher rates of gambling disorders, as key drivers of its ranking.
Experts say the rapid expansion of legal sports betting since a 2018 Supreme Court decision has changed how Americans interact with gambling, making it more accessible than ever.
“Sports betting can be highly addictive, the odds are structured against the bettor, and there are many documented cases of people losing large sums of money and ruining their finances,” said Chris Douglas, a professor at the University of Michigan-Flint. “The challenge for policymakers is balancing those benefits against the social costs.”
Others warn that the modern betting environment — driven by mobile apps and constant engagement — is intensifying the risks.
“The ‘casino’ is in your pocket 24/7,” said Mike Lorenc, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan. “We are witnessing the total ‘gamification’ of sports.”
The report also highlights ongoing concerns about state-run lotteries, which critics say disproportionately impact lower-income households, as well as the difficulty of regulating a rapidly evolving industry that blends entertainment with financial risk.
As states continue to expand access to gambling, analysts say the key question moving forward is whether revenue gains can be balanced with stronger consumer protections and awareness around addiction.
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