NEW JERSEY — New Jersey ranks as the eighth most gambling-addicted state in the nation, according to a new study released by personal finance website WalletHub.
The report comes as the U.S. gambling industry generated a record $78.7 billion in revenue last year, highlighting the growing scale of the industry and concerns about addiction.
WalletHub compared all 50 states using 20 metrics, including illegal gambling activity, lottery spending per capita and the percentage of adults with gambling disorders.
In the rankings, New Jersey placed particularly high in several categories, including third for the percentage of adults with gambling disorders and first for gambling-related arrests per capita. The state also ranked first for the legality of sports gambling, reflecting its broad access to betting options.
However, New Jersey ranked 18th in lottery sales per capita, placing closer to the national average in that category.
The study assigned each state an overall score to determine its ranking, with New Jersey placing eighth nationwide.
WalletHub said the analysis aims to shed light on where gambling addiction is most prevalent and encourage policymakers to address the issue.
The full report is available on WalletHub’s website.
