CASPR Shares Gambling Safety Report Cards For All 50 States

The Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research (CASPR) is hoping to help responsible gaming advocates create safer betting markets.

The research center has released its report cards on gambling safety in each state, grading each state on a 1-100 scale and assigning a corresponding letter grade. The scoring focused heavily on the gambling markets available in each state, resulting in the lowest grades for states that offered sports betting and casino games. However, the responsible gaming factors considered by CASPR provide a clear picture of where each legal market stands.

CASPR also offered its model legislation for states looking to improve the safety of their gambling markets.

Delaware Finishes Last

All markets offering online casino and sports betting scored at the bottom of CASPR’s report. Of those markets, Delaware finished at the bottom with a score of just five out of 100. 

On top of offering both gambling markets, Delaware was penalized for allowing state promotion of online gambling. With responsible gaming advocates pushing for advertising restrictions for the gambling industry, Delaware's promotion of them on government platforms has become even more controversial.

The only saving grace for Delaware was its 50% tax rate for online sportsbooks. The rate is the second-highest in the US, resulting in higher tax revenue. 

The state also added a couple of points to its score for its problem gambling hotlines.

CASPR Not Impressed With Missouri

One of the most surprising takeaways from CASPR’s report cards involved the new Missouri sports betting market, which received an F (49/100). The state chose a framework that was very friendly to operators, setting a low 10% tax rate and few restrictions on advertising. That includes the ability for operators to offer bonuses to all players, including those showing signs of gambling addiction.

Missouri was also hurt by its refusal to take action against sports prediction markets. It has refused to engage in lawsuits to stop operators like Kalshi and Polymarket. Missouri has also welcomed operators who offer prediction markets in some US markets. 

This, combined with its liberal deduction requirements for operators, has led to the market disappointing after its first few months. Given how much time Missouri had to learn from other US markets, its risky framework remains a surprise.

The report card lends more weight to fears that Missouri wasn't ready for the spike in problem gambling that sports betting would bring. 

CASPR Proposes Changes to Protect Bettors

In addition to supplying report cards for all 50 states, CASPR also provided its model legislation to help fight problem gambling.

Below is a table showing some of the research center’s top recommendations:

• Establish a statewide Responsible Gaming Limit System to limit losses and improve monitoring
• Require operators to intervene when customers show signs of problem gambling
• Ban all credit card deposits 
• Add a mandatory waiting period for when deposits are available to wager with
• Ban promotional bonuses and VIP programs
• Raise the minimum gambling age to 25
• Restrict when and where operators can advertise, and require language on the risks of gambling