With gambling being a larger and more significant part of American society during the 21st century, one would think that gaming addiction would be on the rise, or would it? Regardless of what you might believe, although online and sports betting is not legal in California, the Golden State still finished just outside the top 10 on WalletHub’s recent list of most gambling-addicted states. Per the study and another report, WalletHub compared 50 states to determine where excessive gambling is most prevalent. Their data set of 20 key metrics ranges from the presence of illegal gambling operations to lottery sales per capita to the share of adults with gambling disorders. California finished 11th overall and is in the top 10 for Gambling Problem and Treatment Rank (7th) and in Gambling-Related Arrests Per Capita (8th), per the report.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from the Golden State along with more news and updates regarding the current state of California sports betting.
As noted in the article, California also ranked 24th in “Casinos Per Capita” and 50th in “Legality of Sports Gambling.” Of course, many states would rank 50th in the latter category where gaming is still illegal across the state. According to a table in the report, California had a total score of 44.64 per the study and a gambling-friendliness rank of 26. Moreover, not all gamblers are the same, WalletHub writes. For instance, “recreational” or “social” gamblers buy the occasional lottery ticket, take the rare casino trip, or bet small stakes in fantasy sports. However, they set limits on how much they gamble and don’t cause financial harm to themselves.
When gambling gets out of control, though, it becomes a real medical condition per the report. Gambling disorder, as it’s known, affects one to three percent of all U.S. adults. That addiction can lead to serious economic consequences. While the gambling industry made a record $66.5 billion in revenue last year, U.S. consumers experience over $100 billion per year in total gambling losses. Also, the report shares a variety of insights into other states across the country. For instance, Nevada, as you might assume, topped the list with an overall score of 72.52 along with a gambling-friendliness rank of one and a gambling problem and treatment rank of one as well. South Dakota finished second on the list as well with a score of 66.53 with the second-best gambling-friendliness rank of all states. Montana rounded out the top three on the WalletHub study.
Per a recent article, many residents in the Golden State are proponents of gambling even with its broadly illegal status in the state. This includes college students at San Diego State University for instance, who engage in sports betting throughout the year and continue doing so throughout this year’s March Madness, despite its illegal status. One student in the article acknowledges the illegality of sports gambling in the state but highlights that there are some apps, such as Underdog Fantasy, that provide him and his peers with legal avenues for betting on both collegiate and professional sports.
Echoing this stance, another student underscores the appeal of potential profits and the heightened excitement that sports betting adds to watching games. “Games that would typically not interest me before now became much more interesting because of this aspect,” the student was quoted as saying.
For these students, Underdog Fantasy and other daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms operate legally in California due to the absence of direct laws categorizing DFS as gambling. DFS, unlike traditional fantasy sports leagues, involves drafting virtual teams of real athletes and competing based on their actual game performances – typically lasting just a day or week. These contests offer more frequent drafting and betting opportunities and differ from traditional leagues in roster management, waivers, payouts, and scoring criteria as noted in the article.
The article also notes the current state of gaming as it pertains to collegiate athletics. The NCAA’s restrictions on sports betting are straightforward, yet despite this clarity, some student-athletes still choose to take the risk and engage in illegal sports betting. Last year, revenue from legalized sports betting exceeded $10 billion, underscoring the significant expansion of this industry. While many view gambling as a source of entertainment, for some, it may escalate into addictive habits with physical and psychological harm.
Once you are all squared away in terms of the latest news coming from the Golden State, SBS has even more awesome info for you to check out over at its site. For even more information as it pertains to the state covered here, check out the California sports betting guide where you can peruse all of the latest gaming updates coming to the area. Also given the size of the state, another awesome page to have bookmarked is the best betting apps rundown. On this page, you can learn more about the nuances of mobile betting sites and how you can always stay on top of the action. Finally, if you are interested in some higher-stakes wagering then check out the VIP sports betting sites breakdown which covers an awesome array of information and if VIP betting is right for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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