Published on: December 11, 2025, 12:05h.

Updated on: December 11, 2025, 12:05h.

It’s unsurprising that in the only state in the U.S. predominantly fueled by casino revenue, the population faces a heightened risk of problem gambling. What is shocking is just how significant that risk is.

A recent study from UNLV reveals that 15% of adults in Nevada are classified as problem gamblers, defined as those who have encountered significant harm from their gambling behavior “many times” within the last year.

This rate is a staggering 7.5 times the national U.S. average of 2% for severe gambling disorder (around 2 million adults), as reported by the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Moreover, among the 65% of Nevadans who gambled in the last year, 21% fell into the “highest risk category” for problem gambling. On average, those seeking help carry $32,000 in gambling debt.

“We’re seeing financial consequences that manifest as everything from bankruptcy and savings depletion to foreclosure, reliance on payday loans, difficulties paying rent, and struggles to buy food,” explained Andrea Dassopoulos, the lead author of “Gambling Behaviors, Perceptions, and Risks Among Nevada Adults,” during her appearance on the City Cast Las Vegas podcast.

As the project manager for the Nevada Problem Gambling Project at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, Dassopoulos emphasized that the Las Vegas population, which makes up 75% of Nevada’s residents, faces greater vulnerability because they are “used to it.”

“This constant exposure has created a kind of numbness; we often fail to recognize it as a pressing issue,” she shared with City Cast.

The study found that casino employees are nearly twice as likely to find themselves in the severe risk category, with heightened risks also noted among individuals under 24, as well as Black and Latino communities.

Reasons Behind Gambling

Participants in the study revealed that they engage in gambling for troubling reasons.

“The industry promotes responsible gambling with slogans like ‘Gambling should be fun and entertaining,’” Dassopoulos noted. “However, the main motivation for problem gamblers is the desire to win money. This was a surprising finding from our survey,” she added.

Even more surprising is the lack of extensive research on gambling behaviors in the U.S. gambling epicenter. It’s been over twenty years since a thorough study like this has been conducted in Las Vegas.

“I believe such studies should be conducted annually,” Dassopoulos argued. “Unfortunately, we are not prioritizing this kind of research. In the broader context of our problem gambling fund, which encompasses treatment, prevention, workforce training, and research, the latter often receives the least attention.

“But I would contend that effective treatment and prevention efforts cannot be built without robust research.”

While Dassopoulos’ study was recently published by UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, it is not yet available online.