Report shows Arkansans in the top 10 for spending the most on casino gambling

Written By ApurbaDa September 9, 2024 Add Comment

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A recent report shows being in the Land of Opportunity has led many Arkansans to try their luck at betting.

Casino news site Casino Reports analyzed the American Gaming Association’s annual State of the States report for 2024 to show Arkansas is sixth in the nation for per-capita gambling spending. Compared to the average American spending $56.51 yearly at casinos, the study shows an Arkansas average of $102.86 per resident, which is 82% above the national average.

Adam Small, founder of Casino Reports, said the findings reflect the differences in gambling nationwide.

“Rhode Island stands out, with people there spending more than seven times the national average, while Delaware follows with almost four times the national average spend per person,” Small said. “This points to different levels of casino activity across the country, with some states seeing a lot more gambling than others.”

Revenues indicate casino gambling continues to grow in Arkansas. According to Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin, the state moved from $186 million in wagers in 2022 to over $400 million in 2023.

“We are on track to reach $500 million this year,” Hardin said.

Hardin continued that in-state versus out-of-state gambler are not tracked, but any Arkansas casino sports betting app requires the user to be in-state.

Despite the high per-capita spending and growing revenues, Arkansas ranks near the bottom for problematic gamblers. According to an April study by the consumer finance site WalletHub, Arkansas is 40th out of 50 for per-capita residents with gambling addiction.

Arkansas voters approved four casinos for the state in the 2018 election, with 54.1% of the vote in favor.

from KARK https://ift.tt/G5xCus2