We’ve all got those habits that we know are bad for us, whether it’s having a couple drinks too many to unwind or not walking away from a slot machine that we’ve already sunk a little too much money into. But it seems like some people are more prone to these vices than others. To determine where sinners run rampant, we’ve put together an index of common "bad" habits—gambling, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and lust—to figure out which state has the most vices in America.
First, we used WalletHub’s ranking of gambling problems and treatment by state, where 50 is the state where gambling is the least problematic and 1 being the state with the worst gambling addiction. We also included the site's "lust index," a look at how much time and money each state spends on adult entertainment websites, again with 1 being the most lustful and 50 being the least. Then, we used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the percentage of adult smokers in each state.
Next up, we used data shared by WalletHub on the number of adult residents who consume ready-to-drink coffee to get an idea of where people are most reliant on their caffeine fix. (This measures buying pre-made coffee products from grocery stores, as opposed to making coffee at home or purchasing it from coffee shops.) Finally, we looked at CDC data on the prevalence of adult binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks on an occasion for men and four or more for women). We then gave each metric a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Vice Index.
As you'll see by the gaps in scores, both the most and least vice-prone states claimed their titles by quite some margin. Ultimately, the highest-ranking state wasn’t the single most vice-gripped in any category, but had ranked high for lust, gambling, alcohol, and caffeine, while earning a moderate score for nicotine. Read on to find out how your home state ranked in comparison to the state with the most vices in America. And for the state that's sinning in another way, This Is the Kinkiest State in America.
50 | Utah
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 22
WalletHub lust rank: 40
Adult smokers: 9 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.74 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 11.4 percent
Vice Index Score: 0.00
49 | Connecticut
DenisTangneyJr / iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 48
WalletHub lust rank: 46
Adult smokers: 12.2 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.31 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 18.3 percent
Vice Index Score: 9.27
48 | New Mexico
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 50
WalletHub lust rank: 26
Adult smokers: 15.2 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.69 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 13.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 10.70
47 | Vermont
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 28
WalletHub lust rank: 50
Adult smokers: 13.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.92 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 19.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 12.17
46 | Rhode Island
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 40
WalletHub lust rank: 48
Adult smokers: 14.6 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.00 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 13.06
45 | Idaho
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 18
WalletHub lust rank: 45
Adult smokers: 14.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.94 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 14.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 15.11
44 | Iowa
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 35
WalletHub lust rank: 39
Adult smokers: 16.6 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.39 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 21.3 percent
Vice Index Score: 24.04
43 | Washington
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 31
WalletHub lust rank: 33
Adult smokers: 12 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.92 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 24.74
42 | West Virginia
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 32
WalletHub lust rank: 30
Adult smokers: 25.2 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.16 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 11.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 25.20
41 | Alabama
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 34
WalletHub lust rank: 16
Adult smokers: 19.2
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.63 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 12.2 percent
Vice Index Score: 26.60
40 | Indiana
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 45
WalletHub lust rank: 27
Adult smokers: 21.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.97 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 30.45
39 | Nebraska
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 30
WalletHub lust rank: 34
Adult smokers: 16 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.63 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 20.4 percent
Vice Index Score: 31.31
38 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 12
WalletHub lust rank: 49
Adult smokers: 15.6 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.16 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 31.34
37 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 43
WalletHub lust rank: 25
Adult smokers: 17 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.21 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 18.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 31.80
And for the state that's green with envy, check out The Most Jealous State in America.
36 | Oregon
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 27
WalletHub lust rank: 36
Adult smokers: 15.6 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.46 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.7 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.01
35 | North Dakota
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 39
WalletHub lust rank: 44
Adult smokers: 19.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.33 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 24.9 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.38
34 | Wyoming
Aerial Archives / Alamy Stock PhotoWalletHub gambling problem rank: 25
WalletHub lust rank: 35
Adult smokers: 18.8 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.80 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.9 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.55
33 | Massachusetts
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 36
WalletHub lust rank: 42
Adult smokers: 13.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.80 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 18.7 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.77
32 | Maine
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 17
WalletHub lust rank: 47
Adult smokers: 17.8 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.50 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 20.2 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.92
31 | Kentucky
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 47
WalletHub lust rank: 22
Adult smokers: 23.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.67 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.1 percent
Vice Index Score: 33.97
30 | Florida
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 49
WalletHub lust rank: 7
Adult smokers: 14.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.75 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.2 percent
Vice Index Score: 38.20
And for the state that's full of disdain, check out The Most Hateful State in America.
29 | Kansas
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 19
WalletHub lust rank: 29
Adult smokers: 17.2 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.90 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 39.70
28 | Michigan
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 46
WalletHub lust rank: 19
Adult smokers: 18.9 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.91 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 19.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 39.85
27 | Arizona
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 33
WalletHub lust rank: 15
Adult smokers: 14 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.00 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 15.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 40.08
26 | South Dakota
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 46
WalletHub lust rank: 19
Adult smokers: 18.9 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.91 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 19.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 41.58
25 | Delaware
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 16
WalletHub lust rank: 32
Adult smokers: 16.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.39 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 15.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 41.72
24 | Wisconsin
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 37
WalletHub lust rank: 31
Adult smokers: 16.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.75 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 24.4 percent
Vice Index Score: 42.84
23 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 26
WalletHub lust rank: 17
Adult smokers: 19.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.00 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 13.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 43.00
22 | Virginia
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 29
WalletHub lust rank: 21
Adult smokers: 14.9 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.69 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 43.13
21 | Montana
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 13
WalletHub lust rank: 43
Adult smokers: 18 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.39 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 21.3 percent
Vice Index Score: 43.49
20 | Georgia
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 38
WalletHub lust rank: 5
Adult smokers: 16.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.34 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 15.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 44.38
19 | Ohio
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 42
WalletHub lust rank: 18
Adult smokers: 20.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.00 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 19.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 48.69
18 | New York
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 44
WalletHub lust rank: 23
Adult smokers: 12.8 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 13.66 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 48.99
And for more on how people across the country like to blow off steam, This Is the Hardest-Partying State in America, According to Data.
17 | North Carolina
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 21
WalletHub lust rank: 12
Adult smokers: 17.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.04 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 14.6 percent
Vice Index Score: 49.13
16 | Minnesota
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 8
WalletHub lust rank: 38
Adult smokers: 15.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.99 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 20.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 49.36
15 | Alaska
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 23
WalletHub lust rank: 37
Adult smokers: 19.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.47 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 20.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 52.32
14 | Louisiana
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 41
WalletHub lust rank: 6
Adult smokers: 20.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.95 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 18.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 54.73
13 | South Carolina
f11photo / ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 14
WalletHub lust rank: 14
Adult smokers: 18 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.82 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.3 percent
Vice Index Score: 57.66
12 | Colorado
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 10
WalletHub lust rank: 28
Adult smokers: 14.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.84 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 18.1 percent
Vice Index Score: 57.80
11 | Maryland
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 15
WalletHub lust rank: 11
Adult smokers: 12.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.37 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 14.7 percent
Vice Index Score: 58.87
10 | Tennessee
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 5
WalletHub lust rank: 9
Adult smokers: 20.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.77 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 10.9 percent
Vice Index Score: 59.70
9 | Arkansas
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 20
WalletHub lust rank: 10
Adult smokers: 22.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.7 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 15.2 percent
Vice Index Score: 63.65
8 | Mississippi
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 1
WalletHub lust rank: 8
Adult smokers: 20.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.76 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 12.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 68.37
7 | Nevada
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 11
WalletHub lust rank: 4
Adult smokers: 15.7 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 11.89 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 14.5 percent
Vice Index Score: 70.48
6 | Missouri
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 3
WalletHub lust rank: 20
Adult smokers: 19.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 10.87 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.7 percent
Vice Index Score: 70.76
5 | New Jersey
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 7
WalletHub lust rank: 24
Adult smokers: 13.1 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 13.44 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 17.0 percent
Vice Index Score: 76.57
4 | California
Shutterstock/Sundry PhotographyWalletHub gambling problem rank: 24
WalletHub lust rank: 2
Adult smokers: 11.2 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 13.67 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.7 percent
Vice Index Score: 77.74
And for the most precarious part of the U.S., This Is the Most Dangerous State in America.
3 | Texas
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 9
WalletHub lust rank: 1
Adult smokers: 14.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.37 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 16.1 percent
Vice Index Score: 82.28
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2 | Hawaii
iStockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 2
WalletHub lust rank: 13
Adult smokers: 13.4 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.39 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 19.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 87.00
1 | Illinois
ShutterstockWalletHub gambling problem rank: 4
WalletHub lust rank: 3
Adult smokers: 15.5 percent
Adults who drink pre-made coffee products: 12.17 percent
Adults who report binge drinking: 20.8 percent
Vice Index Score: 100.00
And for another vice to measure states by, check out The Most Stoned State in America.
