The Most Superstitious U.S. States | BetMGM

Are you a sports fan who wears the same lucky jersey for a big game? Or do you knock on wood when someone mentions something that you really don’t want to happen? You’re not alone! Superstitions have been around for thousands of years and continue to play a role in our lives today.

In this blog, we explore superstitions in each state and how superstitions relate to sports. We surveyed people from all 42 states to see which states are the most and least superstitious and which superstitions are the most popular across the country. Based on these answers, we developed a “superstition score” that took into account the percentage of respondents from each state who said they believed in each superstition we asked about.

We also surveyed a group of sports fans to see just how much superstitions impact their game-day rituals. So, whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just someone who likes to wish on a star occasionally, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of superstitions!

• The most commonly held superstitions, in general, are that knocking on wood reverses a jinx (56% of respondents), bad luck (or news) comes in threes (48%), and crossing fingers brings good luck (43%).
• Texas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina are the most superstitious states in the country. Maryland, Colorado, and Washington are the least superstitious.
• When it comes to sports fans, the most widely held superstition is that the announcer’s curse is real (58% of respondents believe so).
• Even if they don’t believe in them, 48% of sports fans will follow a superstition just in case it works.

It turns out that Texas takes its superstitions very seriously. With a superstition score of 73.96 out of 100, the Lone Star State earned the title of “Most Superstitious.” According to Texans, finding a four-leaf clover is the ultimate lucky charm in Texas. But, let’s be real, who wouldn’t feel lucky stumbling upon one of those elusive little leaves? Beyond that, 65% of Texans will knock on wood to ward off a jinx and 47% will cross their fingers for good luck.

Oklahoma came in as the second most superstitious state, with a score of 68.5 out of 100. Residents in the Sooner State believe in lucky numbers more than any other common good luck charm. Their superstition score was helped thanks to the relatively large number of Oklahomans who believe wishing on star works (45%) and finding a heads-up penny is a good omen (43%).

With so many superstitious fans on both sides of the divide, it’s no wonder that those red river rivalries heat up so much. The unseen forces fans put out are having a battle of their own! Meanwhile, Maryland seems to be a state of realists. Its superstition score of 28.59 comes in as the lowest in the country making it the “Least Superstitious State.” Maybe the good people of Maryland just believe in creating their own luck!

Colorado and Washington are the second and third least superstitious states, respectively. While Washingtonians might not carry around a lucky rabbit’s foot, half of them believe that wishing on a star works from time to time. Similarly, over half of our respondents in Colorado will knock on wood to reverse a jinx and turn a bad day around.

 

When it comes to cheering on their favorite teams, few are more superstitious than sports fanatics. Many sports fans believe that certain actions or phrases can directly impact the outcome of a game. For instance, over half of the sports fans we surveyed (58%) say they grimace whenever the announcer remarks on how well their team is doing out of fear that it will jinx their team’s chances of winning. Similarly, over four in ten baseball fans (45%) think an announcer talking about a no-hitter will jinx the pitcher throwing it– talk about shooting the messenger!

For many fans, winning is a team effort on and off the court, as some superstitious sports fans feel a sense of responsibility for the outcome of the game. Three in ten sports fans (30%) feel responsible for their teams losing when they don’t follow their pre-game rituals, while one in four (26%) will even condemn other fans for losses if they didn’t participate with them.

Sports fans may even take one for the team by putting their own enjoyment of the game aside if they believe their superstitious behavior can impact the game. For example, nearly one-third (32%) will stop watching the game altogether if their team scores when they’re away from the action. This highlights the extent to which superstitious beliefs can impact how fans engage with the game and the lengths they will go to secure their team’s victory.

Even sports fans who aren’t typically superstitious become slightly superstitious whenever a big game is on the line. We found that nearly half of sports fans (48%) will participate in a silly superstition even if they don’t think it will work (you know, just in case). Over half of sports fans (59%) are more superstitious when their team is playing well, with Gen Z being the only generation that says they’re most superstitious when their team is performing poorly. 

Nearly four in ten sports fans ramp up their superstitious beliefs when money is on the line, as we found that 37% of betting sports fans are more likely to be superstitious when placing a bet versus when they’re just enjoying the game.

Closing Thoughts

Superstitions are deeply ingrained in our culture, particularly when it comes to sports. From knocking on wood to crossing our fingers, many of us have our own rituals that we believe can affect the outcome of a game.

Superstitions aren’t just limited to pre-game rituals – they can also have real consequences for sports bettors. For those who place bets on BetMGM, placing a “lucky wager” can be equally important as wearing a lucky jersey or carrying a lucky charm. So, if you’re a sports bettor looking for a little extra luck, why not try your hand at BetMGM? With a wide range of sports and betting options, sports fans are sure to find something that suits their superstitions.

Who knows? Maybe that lucky wager will be the one that brings you a big win!

Methodology

To determine the most superstitious states, we surveyed over 2,800 people in total from 42 U.S. states and asked them ‘select all that apply’ questions regarding common superstitions. The survey took place over a two-week period in April 2023.

Our “superstition score” is based on the percentage of respondents from each state who said they believed in each superstition we asked about. We put the percentage of respondents for each superstition on a scale of zero to five, with five being the state that had the most people believing in it. We equally weighted each superstition and totaled them to give a “superstition score” to each state.

We also surveyed a population of sports fans to find out how superstitious they are when it comes to cheering on their favorite teams by asking questions about the superstitions they believe in, the impact they think they have on games, and when they’re most likely to buy into a superstitious activity.