South Dakota named US top casino state after Nevada in new study

When it comes to gambling in the United States, Nevada is the undisputed champion. With over 7 casinos per 100,000 residents, the Silver State — home to Las Vegas — dominates the national gaming scene.

But if you remove Nevada from the equation, which U.S. state wears the crown? According to new research from Gambling.com, the answer is clear: South Dakota.

South Dakota boasts 3.80 casinos per 100,000 residents — the highest per capita rate in the country outside of Nevada. Despite a relatively small population of around 920,000, the state is home to 35 casinos, many of them concentrated in the historic gambling town of Deadwood.

Known for its Wild West charm and welcoming regulatory environment, South Dakota has quietly built a robust casino industry that attracts visitors from across the Midwest and beyond. The combination of tradition, accessibility, and nostalgia has given it a unique position in the U.S. gambling map.

Hot on South Dakota’s heels is Oklahoma, with a staggering 143 casinos — the most of any state. However, when factoring in its population of 4.1 million, the Sooner State ranks second with 3.49 casinos per 100,000 residents.

The tribal gaming boom in Oklahoma has fueled this growth, turning it into a regional powerhouse and a go-to destination for gamblers in the South Central U.S.

Rounding out the top five states for casinos per capita are:

• North Dakota – 1.38 per 100K residents

• Montana – 1.23 per 100K

• New Mexico – 1.22 per 100K

These less-populous states have managed to punch above their weight by offering a dense casino presence relative to their size, creating strong local gaming ecosystems.

In stark contrast, some of America’s most populous states lag far behind in the rankings:

• California, with 86 casinos, ranks #23, due to its population of 39.4 million. That translates to only 0.22 casinos per 100,000 residents.

• New York places at #27, with just 0.17 per 100K, despite having 34 casinos.

• Florida (tied at #35) posts a mere 0.06 per 100K, showing that high population doesn’t always mean high casino access.

There are a host of other states that have 0 casinos for 100,000 residents, mainly due to their legality of gambling.

Casino counts were sourced from World Population Review, and population figures from Statista, as of June 9, 2025. For more information, visit Gambling.com’s Casinos page.