New study names Montana as the ‘most bingo-mad’ state in the US

Montana has been named the "most bingo-mad" state in the US, according to a new report by Gambling.com ahead of World Bingo Day on June 27.

The study analyzed the number of bingo halls per 100,000 residents across all 50 states. Montana took the top spot with a 28.4 bingo halls per 100,000 people—more than triple the figure of its closest competitor.

With a population of just 1.14 million, Montana boasts 324 bingo halls, many of which are located within casinos. The state's largest clusters of bingo activity are found in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls.

Vermont claimed second place with 8.2 bingo halls per 100,000 residents, followed by West Virginia (6.9), North Dakota (6.4), and New Mexico (5.5) to round out the top five.

Nevada, despite its reputation for gambling, ranked 45th with just 0.7 bingo halls per 100,000 people. The state has only 24 bingo halls, most of them in Las Vegas.

The report also found that Hawaii and Tennessee have no registered bingo halls. In Tennessee, declining attendance has led to closures, while Hawaii’s stringent gambling laws prevent bingo operations entirely.

New York and California, two of the most populous states, ranked 43rd and 46th, respectively. Despite having a combined 390 bingo halls, their large populations mean each state has fewer than one bingo hall per 100,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has the highest number of bingo halls overall with 702 locations, but ranks only 6th by density due to its population of 13 million—resulting in 5.4 bingo halls per 100,000 residents.

World Bingo Day, celebrated annually on June 27, honors the enduring popularity of a game that has brought generations together in bingo halls and now increasingly online.