Americans lose roughly $100 billion gambling each year, and with fans expected to wager more than $100 million during Kentucky Derby weekend, May 6-7, the personal-finance website WalletHub released an in-depth report on 2016’s Most Gambling-Addicted States as well as a collection of fun facts about the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Below are some highlights from each report:
| Most Gambling-Addicted States | Least Gambling-Addicted States | ||||
| 1 | Nevada | 41 | North Carolina | ||
| 2 | South Dakota | 42 | Alaska | ||
| 3 | Mississippi | 43 | Kentucky | ||
| 4 | Montana | 44 | Wisconsin | ||
| 5 | Oklahoma | 45 | Indiana | ||
| 6 | West Virginia | 46 | Kansas | ||
| 7 | New Jersey | 47 | Arizona | ||
| 8 | Oregon | 48 | Alabama | ||
| 9 | Delaware | 49 | Nebraska | ||
| 10 | North Dakota | 50 | Utah | ||
142nd Kentucky Derby By The Numbers:
- 127,000: The number of Mint Juleps, containing 1,000 pounds of fresh mint, to be served throughout Kentucky Derby weekend.
- 90 percent: Percentage of female spectators who will wear a hat.
- $300,000: The 2016 fee for the world’s most valuable stud, Tapit.
- $194.3 million: The total dollar amount wagered on the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the most in history, with $154.3 million ultimately being paid on winning tickets.
- $200,000: The estimated value of the Kentucky Derby trophy, which includes an 18-karat gold horse and rider, 350 rubies and 12 emeralds.
By Richie Bernardo and John S Kiernan, For a WalletHub News Release for SouthFloridaReporter.com, May 1, 2016
