A new study published by WalletHub revealed that Nevada ranked first in its 2019’s Most Sinful States in the country.
Using 43 indicators of immorality based on the seven deadly sins: anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity, and laziness, the personal finance website determined the ranking of the 50 states in America. WalletHub used key metrics in its study, including hate crimes per capita, excessive drinking, share of smokers, and bully incidents.
According to the North American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help, approximately 2.6% of Americans, or 10 million people, struggle with some type of gambling problem in 2016.
According to the report, here are the top 10 most sinful states in America:
1. Nevada
2. Florida
3. California
4. Texas
5. Tennessee
6. Louisiana
7. Georgia
8. Illinois
9. Michigan
10. Arizona
The least sinful states are:
41. South Dakota
42. New Hampshire
43. Utah
44. Wyoming
45. Iowa
46. Idaho
47. Nebraska
48. North Dakota
49. Maine
50. Vermont
Nevada lives up to its name as “Sin City” as it topped the list because of greed and lust. Famous for its casinos and extravagant hotels and resorts, Nevada tempts a person to indulge, may it be in gambling, eating, or sex.
According to the North American Foundation for Gambling Addiction Help (NAFGAH), approximately 2.6% of Americans, or 10 million people, struggle with some type of gambling problem in 2016. A gambling disorder not only affects the person and his family, but also the country’s economy as “compulsive betting behavior costs about 6 billion dollars per year for U.S. economics.”
However, Jill McCracken, associate professor of verbal and visual arts at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, doesn’t agree with categorizing activities as ‘sinful,’ reports Newsweek.
“Sin is typically associated with a Christian moral code that clearly defines what is and is not allowed. I do not subscribe to that worldview, nor do I think it is helpful,” she said.
McCracken added that, “I think many people categorize actions as ‘sinful’ in order to have them achieve greater power, according to a divine framework, than they would in stating that this act is ‘wrong’ or ‘unethical.”