As a passionate gamer myself, I believe a state’s friendliness should be judged by how welcoming its environment is for gaming culture and tech-savvy young people seeking connected communities. Fast broadband internet, thriving esport scenes, inclusive gaming legislation policies and opportunities in cutting-edge industries all enable vibrant gamer ecosystems where our tribe can feel at home pursuing our passion. Judged on these criteria vital for gamers, I’ve determined the bottom 10 states making life difficult for gamers based on infrastructure and institutional support.
10. Arkansas
Arkansas scratches the bottom when it comes to connectivity, with only about 75% of the population having access to minimum 25 Mbps broadband speeds essential for online gaming according to 2022 data from BroadbandNow. Urban corridors fair better but rural Arkansas gamers struggle with archaic DSL internet access placing multiplayer gaming and streaming out of reach. No major professional esports or gaming events take place in Arkansas presently. The state also provides no tax incentives or promotional support for rising game developer talent that could transform Arkansas into a Southern gaming hub like Georgia and North Carolina have become.
9. West Virginia
West Virginia edges up slightly from Arkansas based on BroadbandNow data showing over 80% residents can access 25Mbps high-speed internet, better suited for gaming. However the connection costs are high given limited competition among providers. On economic development grounds, West Virginia makes no apparent efforts to nurture homegrown gaming talent. No major universities offer degrees related to esports, gaming or simulation technology that could prepare students for careers at leading gaming companies. And despite its scenic locales perfect for promoting gaming tourism, no signs emerge of the state sponsoring pop culture conventions to court gamer dollars.
8. Kentucky
For a state famed as horse-racing central, Kentucky oddly offers little for equestrian sport gamers. No legislation yet recognizes competitive esports as high school varsity sports either unlike 19 other states exploring state-sanctioned esports. On broadband access critical for gamers, Kentucky ranks decent nationally but lags South Korean speeds. Bluegrass State developers have crafted the odd viral indie game hit but no policy incentives yet exist to nurture that creativity and attract major gaming firm investments. Louisville’s internet speeds can handle pro tournaments but no venue capacities yet match Big Ten college esport arenas, limiting options.
7. New Mexico
This southwestern state stands out on one gamer friendly benchmark—New Mexico does not tax video game consoles or PC gaming components, saving gamers here over $50 million annually not paying gross receipts taxes applied in most states. However glaring infrastructure gaps hamper gaming growth potential. New Mexico falls behind most states for broadband access with only 75% enjoying 25Mbps speeds suitable for quality online play. Mobile latency issues also persist on aging cell towersand 4G networks necessary for mobile esports. On the plus side, smaller gaming conventions like Albuquerque’s Retro Gamers Expo reflect grassroots gamer community passion. But absent modern infrastructure and institutional support, such groups struggle capturing attention and growth.
6. Mississippi
Like others in the Gulf South, Mississippi has yet to embrace gaming culture as a serious economic niche despite low costs of living that could entice young developers. Only 69% of residents presently get 25Mbps broadband speeds per BroadbandNow, dragging Mississippi down for game streaming and multiplayer experiences. No tax incentives exist for gaming firms either beyond some manufacturing equipment exemptions useless for digital startups. Mississippi does host the Magnolia Cup youth esports tournaments drawing regional participants. However weak infrastructure means interested gamers get left behind unable to access quality hardware or internet to nurture their talents. Until connectivity and policy consideration for gaming improve, Mississippi fails to provide gamers an environment where their passions feel viable.
5. Missouri
This Midwest state shows negligible gaming infrastructure despite successful college programs like the University of Missouri’s esports club and cybersport arena. No state recognition exists for competitive esports compared to Illinois’s robust high school league nearby that opens future scholarships. Missouri also lacks tax credits securings gaming tech investments that states like Georgia and Texas aggressively provide. St. Louis did just open a 12,000 square foot esport arena called Gameplex in partnership with Sony. But absent accompanying policy and connectivity support, such venues struggle drawing either amateur or pro events without better ecosystems benefitting gamers first. Players crave community fostered through institutional endorsement that Missouri fails delivering presently.
4. Connecticut
For the first state on my list located in tech-savvy New England, Connecticut falls short on multiple gamer-friendly indicators. Broadband adoption rates sit around average levels although costs exceed neighbors like Rhode Island and New York with more urban competition. Connecticut does partner in the innovative SNES library program lending old Nintendo games statewide. But no Connecticut universities offer degrees or scholarships tailored specifically for esports or gaming development, forfeiting gaming tech talent to regional rivals. And despite benefiting from Wall Street and hedge fund wealth, legislators grant no special incentives for gaming startups or infrastructure firms that could transform dated metros like Hartford, Bridgeport or New Haven into thriving gaming hubs.
3. Wyoming
Home already to world-famous gaming landscapes like Red Dead Redemption’s Wild West plains, Wyoming disappointingly leverages none of that potential to court gaming itself. Nearly 1/5 Wyoming residents still lack minimum 25Mbps broadband considered necessity for gamers according to 2022 FCC data, creating huge rural access gaps, Only around half of Wyoming schools meet minimum 100kbps per student connectivity thresholds suitable for one-to-one digital learning, limiting digitally literate talent pipelines necessary to nurture programmers, developers and esports athletes. No gaming-specific tax incentives or economic support programs exist either—the state cedes these opportunities to Utah, Idaho and Montana instead. cowboy state gamers keen to stay close to home presently see policies benefitting extraction far more than digital innovation essential for future growth.
2. Ohio
With premier universities like Ohio State and abundant tech talent fleeing nearby Rust Belt states, Ohio seems poised to transform into a Midwestern gaming leader. Yet legislators and regulators neglect the massive potential of esports and interactive media. Ohio was one of the last states to recognize esports programs in high schools, forfeiting years of competition growth to neighboring states. Gaming commerce tax policies also remain cloudy despite booming software sales muddling streamer income. On broadband access essential for gamers, Ohio ranks decent nationally but falls behind regional leaders like Illinois and Pennsylvania per BroadbandNow ratings. No major professional sports team has embraced esports affiliations yet either. Until leaders modernize outdated gaming policy and provide infrastructure and institutional support, Ohio fails capitalizing on gamer growth opportunities before regional rivals seize them instead.
1. New York
No state surprises and disappoints more relative to untapped gaming potential than New York. Despite ranking America’s 2nd largest tech talent hub and a historical bastion of video game commerce, New York strangely snubs gaming today policy-wise. No tax incentives exist for gaming firms or infrastructure investments that could transform aging cities desperate for growth like Buffalo, Rochester or Albany into global esports hubs. Broadband adoption sits around just 75% in New York given high costs and slow speeds, hampering high-quality streaming and multiplayer experiences standard overseas. And even hosting the headquarters of ESL, the world’s largest esports league, the state provides practically zero institutional esports support even as New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania race ahead on high school recognition. Hopefully changes arrive before New York relinquishes historic gaming media dominance to hungry upstart states willing to embrace industry trends now ignored in the Empire State.