How do the zodiac signs stack up when it comes to testing their luck in Vegas? We spoke with celebrity astrologer and psychic, Inbaal Honigman, to unpack how each zodiac sign acts on a trip to Sin City. 

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

With Aries being a fire sign, personified by confidence and gusto, we asked Inbaal to share her thoughts on the first zodiac sign of the 12 in astrology:

“Aries likes to be outdoors and keep active whenever they can. So naturally, their favorite part of Vegas is actually all the things outside of Vegas. You’ll find Aries striding uphill in the Valley of Fire State Park on a brisk hike. Those born under the sign of the Ram make their own schedule, so they suit the 24-hour nature of Las Vegas, opting for an outdoors excursion that’s bound to start at the crack of dawn.”

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Inbaal continues to the second sign of the zodiac wheel, sharing her thoughts on the dependable bull sign. 

“Taurus, out of all three Earth signs, really appreciates the good life and loves only the best that each city has to offer. With so many world-class hotels in one zip code, Vegas offers a lovely holiday for introverted travelers, like Tauruses.

Let Taurus enjoy Vegas in their special, low-key way, by curling up with a great book and a room-service cup of cocoa at the Bellagio, while the stunning view changes from day to night.

Those born under the sign of the Bull want to savor every moment, just living their best lives with their favorite person in the comfort of their hotel suite.”

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

As far as clichés go, Geminis aren’t known as the most likable sign, but Vegas is where they shine! Inbaal tells us about Geminis in Vegas by saying, 

“Gemini is an air sign that loves socializing above all else. With or without alcohol, daytime or night, smart or casual, the party never stops. For this reason, the specific details of their time in Sin City are unclear or unknown. Good luck trying to track down a Gemini once the party gets going.

The Hangover could be considered an ode to this Zodiac sign. Photographic evidence of their wild evenings is the only way for Geminis to piece together their lost weekend in Las Vegas. Those born under the sign of the Twins won’t remember much of their time in the desert, but they’ll know that they loved it.”

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Don’t go crying over spilled $30 Caesars Palace cocktails, Cancer! Inbaal finds the bright side of Vegas for Cancer signs by sharing – 

“Cancer is a water sign that appreciates spending quiet times together, checking out beautiful sites. Vegas might not be their first pick, but there’s plenty for them to love!

The Bellagio Fountain Show ticks all their boxes, as they’ll stand peacefully, holding hands with their partner, admiring the sights. As true poets, they enjoy the droplets of water, against the majestic backdrop, in the heart of the desert. They might even shed a tear at the thought.”

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

What about the sweet summer children? August babies should have a grand time in the city of the sun, right? 

“Leo is a fire sign that loves nothing more than to win. Any opportunity to hear the jingle of the slots is a great joy for Leo.

This quick-thinking fire sign doesn’t like to waste time, either, so they’ll start aiming for that jackpot the moment they’ve landed and can get to the airport terminal’s slot machines. 

Leo is an all-or-nothing sign, so if they’re in the Gambling Capital of the US, let’s just say, they’re going to go for it wherever they can. 7 am in arrivals? Midnight in the departure lounge? A wins a win. Lucky and bright, those born under the sign of the Lion will delight at the very Vegas pastime of gambling at the airport.”

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Virgos are known for their stickler nature, but it doesn’t mean they can’t let loose every once in a while to try their hand at luck. Inbaal spills on what a Virgo is like in Vegas: 

“Virgo, in all its earth-sign practicality, likes real-life successes. They’re confident that they can beat the system, and that the house doesn’t always win. They’ve got a knack for perfection, so they’re sure to try to gain the system, but not at the slots.

They’ll have a strict budget to enjoy some table games, but their true profit margin comes from having fun with all the goodies that the city has to offer.

After strategically weighing out the best options, Virgo will eat at the buffet every day.

Those born under the sign of the Virgin are sensible and organized. A regular, everyday win such as an all-you-can-eat with a set price, is Virgo’s idea of winning.”

Better yet? An all-you-can-eat buffet at the Hoover Dam so they can be efficient with their vacationing…it’s just the Virgo way!

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Is balance the true nature of Libra once they hit Vegas? Inbaal lets us know what to expect of our lovely Libra friends when they land in Sin City.

“Libra is the epitome of an air sign. Known for being elegant, graceful, and friendly, their favorite experiences must center around peace and relaxation.

The nightlife of the neon jungle of Las Vegas might be a bit much for the sensitive Libra, so a romantic Gondola Ride at the Venetian is a perfect way for them to escape the hustle and bustle.

Librans like to observe life from a different perspective – seeing the city from the water is sure to grab their attention far more than the lights and action of The Strip. Those born under the sign of the Scales take delight in listening to music, too, so being serenaded by a gondolier is high on their Vegas bucket list.”

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Is a Scorpio sure to sting in Sin City? Characterized as extreme and independent, we asked Inbaal what kind of force we’re reckoning with when taking a Scorpio on a Vegas trip.

“Sometimes misidentified as a fire sign for its enigma, Scorpios are that of water. They love living life on the edge. Their signature style is intense with a hint of sexy – a fun, but dangerous combo for Vegas.

Like other water signs, Scorpio loves being near or in water, and they love getting together with people who also love water activities.

Leaning into their watery side, you can catch a Scorpio at the Wet Republic pool party. Their ideal situation is a scandalous suit, surrounded by dozens of other ‘you only live once’ style partiers under the hot Nevada sun. Those born under the sign of the Scorpion wear their sexiness on their sleeve, so expect them to pressure (or push) you into the pool with them.”

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

A Sag on any trip is bound to be a good time. Inbaal shares what Vegas with this feisty fire sign is like. 

“Sagittarius is a fire sign that adores adventure, pushing boundaries, and taking risks – so, essentially Vegas.

Their fearlessness will cause them to not want to miss a thing, so an adrenaline ride of three minutes fits seamlessly into their itinerary. Those born under the sign of the Archer like to be surrounded by thrill. The Big Apple Coaster at New York New York will certainly feed into their adventure-seeking nature.”

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Do the Sea Goats of the zodiac have as grand of a time as Scorpios? Inbaal lets us know what to expect from Capricorns on their Vegas adventures. 

“Capricorns may be an earth sign, but they have a real lust for luxury. The opulence of Vegas as a whole delights them.

Nowhere more so, than at Caesars Palace Casino, where every location shows grandeur, and every selfie screams splendor. Focused and ambitious, Capricorn likes to try and win when they gamble. Even if they don’t walk away with the jackpot, they’ll stick to a budget and make a game plan. 

The make-believe world of richness at the Caesar’s Palace Casino is perfect for those born under the sign of the Sea-goat, as they act out their lavish fantasies for a day and gamble away just the perfect amount of cash.”

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Is an Aquarius set to have a fun time on the Strip or do they prefer the quiet luxury of their hotel room? Inbaal lets us into the vacationing world of Aquarians. 

“Aquarius is an air sign that appreciates uniqueness. If they’re in the entertainment capital of the world, its only natural that they look for phenomenal performances.

The mesmerizing artistry of a Kà by Cirque du Soleil show, makes the Aquarian feel like they’re having a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they love it. Aquarians are into otherworldly sights and experiences and prefer the extraordinary to the ordinary.

Those born under the sign of the Water-bearer love the theatrical, breath-taking approach of the Cirque du Soleil.”

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Last but not least: Pisces! How does this flowy zodiac sign plan to spend its time in Vegas according to Inbaal? 

“Pisces is the water sign that enjoys love in all its forms. You can guess where this is heading. 

Since they’re so naturally romantic, they’ll make a point to visit the Little White Wedding Chapel, just to be in the presence of all those historic celebrity vows. Pisces lets their heart run the show, so they can’t resist the lure of the nuptials. Those born under the sign of the Fish love to be in love, and are unlikely to leave Vegas single.”

And in case you’re wondering…it’s probably a Gemini standing next to them at the end of the aisle.

Star Sign Summary

Is your zodiac sign going to win zilch or hit the jackpot? Inbaal predicted wedding bells, big wins, and more – promising a fun, diverse Vegas trip for the next time you and your friends decide to go for a visit! Just be wary of your Scorpio friends or you might end up being thrown into the Mandalay Bay pool! 

About the Guest Astrologist

Inbaal Honigman is a previous resident astrologer for Elle Magazine, Inbaal has given readings for many A-list celebrities. She’s known for making accurate predictions for Price Harry & Meghan Markle, The Premier League outcomes, and more.  

Fair Use    

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org

But what internet behavior isn’t very demure or mindful?  In a world of content overload, we wanted to decipher the cringe from the cool and, of course, determine the most ick-inducing social media users in the US. Following a study of 3,000 Americans, we asked about social media behavior, posts, trends, etc. that they deemed “cringe.”  

Key Findings:?

• Iowa ranked as the #1 most “cringe-worthy” social media users by 69% 

• Los Angeles named cringiest social media capital of the US 

• Americans agree that captioning cliche quotes is the most cringe social media behavior 

The cringiest social media users live in… 

According to a 2023 Statista report, the US has the most influencers globally at over 58 million. Such influence comes with its fair share of ick, of course. Another study finds that 54% of Gen Z Americans want to be social media influencers. So, as the youth (and not so youth) try to make it into the influencer circle, which ones are posting the ick? One state stands out and it’s not what you’d expect. ?

Iowa ranked as the #1 most “cringe-worthy” social media users by 69%. Nationally, social media users agreed that lip-syncing songs on stories is the cringiest behavior of all, but 85% of Iowans think it’s fine. Perhaps that’s why the rest of the nation is giving Iowa the bombastic side-eye. ?

“The Live Free or Die” state also comes into focus. New Hampshire placed 2^nd for cringiest social media usage. So, what’re they posting about if not Ivy League schools and nature? 45% agreed with the nation that lip-syncing in stories is the cringiest thing you can do, but 67% of New Hampshirites participated in other cringe-inducing social media behavior like overly filtered photos and the oh-so-original #throwbackthursday pictures.  

Headed down the East Coast, you’ll find our third contender for cringe. Georgia may be as sweet as a peach, but it’s also as cringe as its Coca-Cola brag. Georgia ranked #3 most cringe-inducing social media usage, as 64% of its residents partake in ick-like Instagram behavior. Namely, outfits of the day (OOTD) and contest reshares that, chances are, they won’t win despite tagging all 400 of their followers.?

Where do the “cool kids” of social media reside?  

Not everything online must be an eye roll.  Some users have mastered the art of entertaining the internet and they tend to live closer together it turns out. New Mexico ranked #1 for least cringe social media usage. They got the memo that gym selfies and captioning your post “Adventure awaits” is something we can leave offline as only 25% of New Mexicans participate in cringe social media behavior.  

D.C. comes in second place for its cool social media presence. Many DC residents dreamed of working on The Hill since they were in grade school, so they knew better than to post their personal lives online. Our nagging parents once told us “Everything you post online is permanent” and DC kids took that to heart. Their clean social media rap sheet helps them to earn the 2^nd spot of non-cringe social media usage. ?

This next state puts the Cajun in cool. Louisiana ranked #3 coolest social media users in the US. Think of them as the cooler older sibling to the Florida Man and you’ll understand why they rank so high. With only 35% of its users partaking in the typical cringe behavior, we can understand why they earn their cool card. 

Cities with the cringiest social media posters 

What about the social hubs of the US? With cocktail bars and photo ops abound in the more metropolitan areas, we wanted to know the cities with the cringiest social media usage.  

Movie stars and Nepo babies are no match for LA’s cringiest social media users. Coming out as the #1 most ick-inducing city for social media usage, Los Angeles takes the cringe cake. Where the top trending Twitter hashtags for the rest of the country right now are the Democratic National Convention and Joe Biden, LA is focusing on the more important stuff like #loveislandusa and #fullmooninaquarius. Maybe it’s best you keep your Erewhon haul videos to yourselves, LA.  

2nd place goes to Seattle, Washington where 78% of its social media posters participated in “cringe behavior.” The pinnacle (or should we say Pike-acle) of “basic Instagram girl” – Seattle is Starbucks’ birthplace which could clue into why it earned second place.  

Nicknamed the “Music City”, Nashville takes 3^rd place as most cringiest city on social media. 75% of its residents aren’t shy to lip-syncing on stories (hey, they’re just trying to make their big break!) or posting overused Dolly quotes like, “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”  

Special mentions go to the other cringe-worthy cities on the list: ?

4. New York City – 69% 

5. Orlando – 67% 

6. Salt Lake City – 66% 

7. Tucson – 65% 

8. Atlanta – 64% 

9. Tampa – 60% 

10. Dallas 58% 

National trends we find “cringe”  

Now that we’ve roasted half the United States, let’s talk about cringe at the national level. There are some things we all agree are “ew, why” and some that are passable. Here’s the ranking list of most to least cringe things on social media according to Americans: 

1. Captioning cliche quotes like “good vibes only”  

2. Lip-syncing to songs in their stories 

3. Overly filtered or photoshopped pictures 

4. Recreating TikTok dances 

5. Themed day posts like #motivationmonday or #throwbackthursday 

6. Gym selfies 

7. Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos 

8. People who reshare contests 

9. Boomerangs 

10. Outfit of the Day (OOTD) posts 

That’s not to say you can’t post “If he’s stupid enough to walk away, be smart enough to let him” after your break-up, just know it might be a little…cringe for your followers. As for your snazzy new ‘fit? OOTD your heart out!  

Don’t do this cringe-inducing trend while traveling 

When do we post the most on social media? Vacation of course! It’s hard to resist a humble brag about your all-inclusive Cancun vacation or a selfie during your European summer tour, but some travel posts are better in the drafts than on the feed. In ranking order, here are the most to least cringey things you can post while traveling: 

1. “Catch flights, not feelings” in the caption – 30% 

2. Posting a picture of just their legs at a pool/beach – 21% 

3. “How’s your Monday going” or “Beats a day in the office” – 20%?

4. Posting a picture of their passport on the plane/airport – 15% 

5. “Mentally I’m here” posts after their vacation – 14% 

We know it’s tempting to show your ex just how fine you are by posting your “catch flights, not feelings” selfie, but it’s probably better if you don’t. “Mentally I’m here” ranked as the least cringe, but physically you’re not, so your followers probably don’t want to hear about it. 

What is Brat? The jury is still out?

Brat summer to the internet by storm. But what is brat? We took to the masses to ask them to define “brat” and here’s what the US thinks brat is:  

1. Poor behavior, acting out – 61% 

2. Internet slang for “cool” – 18% 

3. A type of doll – 12% 

4. Brat diet: Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast – 5% 

The remaining 5% consisted of Kamala Harris, a sexual innuendo, or bratwurst. Some Americans associate it with Charlie XCX, and some think it’s a sausage – what a concept! 

Summary 

Just remember it used to be cool to “poke” people on Facebook and now the thought of it would make your stomach turn, so be who you are and post what you feel because it’s just the internet! Americans come together to agree on the most and least cringe social media behaviors, but if you and your friends “lol” and “lmao” at what you post then you should just throw caution and cringe to the wind.  

Methodology   

In August 2024, we surveyed 3,000 U.S. residents about their social media habits and what they deemed the most “cringe”. The representative sample comprised of 53.2% female, 45% male, >2% non-binary, transgender, and/or other. 

Fair Use    

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

Our latest study looked into the unconventional world of alternative investments, analyzing over 85 different products. The results? Unusual items have demonstrated staggering annual return rates, leaving the stock market far behind and uncovering how seemingly ordinary collectibles have quietly transformed into extraordinary assets.

Key Findings:

• Hot Wheels take the top spot with the highest average annual return rate across all categories
• Hot Wheels’ “Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 510” tops the charts with a jaw-dropping 5567% annual return rate?

• The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 trading card has appreciated from just 10 cents in 1952 to a staggering $12.6 million in 2024, marking it as the highest total growth in dollar value 

Top 10 Categories by Average Annual Return Rates (%):

Here are the top 10 categories with the highest average annual return rates, showcasing the surprising profitability of these unconventional investments. From Hot Wheels to LEGO, these categories have proven to deliver impressive returns year after year.

1.) Hot Wheels: 1178.8%

2.) Action Figures: 154.7%

3.) Funko Pop!: 151.7%

4.) Sneakers: 52.8%

5.) Trading Cards: 50.0%

6.) Video Games: 33.1%

7.) Comic Books: 28.6%

8.) Bearbrick: 27.1%

9.) First/Rare Edition Books: 25.3%

10.) LEGO: 24.6%

Top 10 Products With Highest Annual Return Rates (%):

It might be surprising, but collectibles like Hot Wheels and trading cards are delivering impressive returns. Here’s a look at other categories that are generating remarkable annual return rates.

1.) Hot Wheels “Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Datsun Bluebird Wagon 510”: 5566.7% 

2.) Hot Wheels “Super Treasure Hunt 2023 82 Toyota Supra”: 3366.7% 

3.) Hot Wheels “Super Treasure Hunt 2023 Porsche 935”: 1233.3% 

4.) Hot Wheels “Super Treasure Hunt 2022 99 Honda Civic Type R (EK9)”: 758.3% 

5.) Funko Pop! “Rides One Piece Luffy with Thousand Sunny 2022 CCXP Exclusive Figure #114”: 451.9% 

6.) Funko Pop! Marvel Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Spider-Punk Funko Shop Exclusive Figure #1231″: 366.7%

7.) Action Figures “Monster High Skullector Elvira Doll”: 360% 

8.) Action Figures “Mattel Monster High Lagoona Blue Reproduction Doll”: 248.5% 

9.) Action Figures “Mattel Monster High Haunt Couture Draculaura Doll”: 158.2% 

10.) Hot Wheels “Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt 2020 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento”: 156.6% 

Top 10 Products With Highest Total Growth (In Dollar Value):

These collectibles have truly stood the test of time, delivering impressive returns. Here’s a look at the top 10 products that have seen the highest total growth in dollar value, turning modest initial investments into remarkable profits.

1.) Trading Cards – 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC Mint+ 9.5 – 1985 Rosen Find – “Finest Known Example!” (1952)
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $12,600,000
Total Growth: $12,600,000

2.) Comic Books – Action Comics #1 Kansas City Pedigree (1938)
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $6,000,000
Total Growth: $6,000,000

3.) Trading Cards – Stephen Curry Rookie Card #206 signed (2009)
Original Price: $5.00
Current Value: $5,900,000
Total Growth: $5,899,995

4.) Comic Books – Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM+ 9.6
Original Price: $0.12
Current Value: $3,600,000
Total Growth: $3,600,000

5.) Comic Books – Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8 Story Page 25 Black Costume/Venom Original Art (1984)
Original Price: $1.25
Current Value: $3,360,000
Total Growth: $3,359,999

6.) Comic Books – Action Comics #1 Rocket Copy (1938) CGC FN 6.0
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $3,180,000
Total Growth: $3,180,000

7.) Comic Books – Captain America Comics #1 San Francisco Pedigree (1941) CGC NM 9.4
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $3,120,000
Total Growth: $3,120,000

8.) Comic Books – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 Cover Original Art (1986)
Original Price: $1.50
Current Value: $2,400,000
Total Growth: $2,399,999

9.) Comic Books – Superman #1 (DC, 1939) CGC FN/VF 7.0
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $2,340,000
Total Growth: $2,340,000

10.) Comic Books – Batman #1 (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4
Original Price: $0.10
Current Value: $2,220,000
Total Growth: $2,220,000

Conclusion & Full Data Set

This study shows that unexpected items like Hot Wheels and trading cards are outperforming traditional investments, delivering impressive returns over time. It also highlights how value can be found in the most surprising places, turning small investments into significant gains.

View full data set here.

The data set above includes release dates, original retail prices, current values, annual return rates, and total growth.  

Methodology

This data was collected in August 2024.

Following the recent stock market volatility, we explored alternative investments with higher annual return rates, than the average stock. The study looked the the following factors: Release dates, retail prices, current values, annual return rates, and total growth ($).

To find the annual return rates, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) formula was used.

Fair use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.  

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

From controversial penalties to game-changing sendoffs, we highlight the officials who have earned a reputation for strict rule enforcement and unforgiving decision-making. Although each league has strict rules, which has the most ruthless refereeing?

Taking a closer look at the referees in the 2023-24 season across the top five football leagues in Europe, we unveil the most ruthless of them all, considering how many fouls, penalties, red cards, and more they’ve dished out during the season.

The most ruthless referees in the Premier League

1. David Coote
Ruthless score: 7.13/10

David Coote is the most ruthless Premier League referee, scoring 7.13 out of 10. Starting his career as a 16-year-old in leagues such as the Northern Premier League, Coote now officiates primarily in the Premier League.

Having made 16 game appearances in the 2023-24 season, Coote awarded approximately 24.7 fouls and gave players 5.19 yellow cards per game, the highest among any other referee last season.

2. Michael Salisbury
Ruthless score: 7.13/10

The English professional football referee Michael Salisbury is in joint first place, scoring 7.13 out of 10. Salisbury was promoted to the Premier League during the 2021–22 season and made a name for himself in the famous sporting event.

Having made 14 game appearances in the 2023-24 season, Salisbury not only gave the highest number of penalties per game (0.71) but also had the third-highest number of fouls awarded per game (23.8) and fouls per tackle (0.68). Salisbury also had a lower home win percentage of over two-fifths (42.9%) compared to the league average (46.3%); therefore, it’s no surprise he is at the top of the list.

3. Thomas Bramall
Ruthless score: 6.85/10

In third place is Thomas Bramall, scoring 6.85 out of 10. Born in Sheffield, Bramall first worked as a PE teacher before his role in England’s most prestigious football league.

With 11 game appearances last season, Bramail made quite the impression after handing out an average of 0.27 red cards per game, the highest in the season. He also had the second-highest number of fouls (24.6) and yellow cards (4.91) per game, following just behind David Coote.

The least ruthless referees in the Premier League

1. Samuel Barrott
Ruthless score: 1.67/10

Samuel Barrott is the least ruthless referee in the Premier League, with a ruthless score of just 1.67 out of 10. In his 15 appearances last season, Barrott handed out the fewest fouls (20.1) and yellow cards (3.13) per game.

The English football referee had the second-lowest average for red cards per game, with just 0.07. He is also in the top five for referees with the highest home win percentage of over half (53.3%), making him the least ruthless referee of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

2. Andy Madley
Ruthless score: 3.24/10

Among those with the most game appearances (23) in the last Premier League season, Andy Madley ranks second as one of the nicest referees, scoring 3.24 out of 10. Beginning his career in local Wakefield leagues, the Huddersfield-born football referee has dramatically advanced in his role over the last decade.

Madley issued the fewest penalties per game (0.04). He is also in the top five for handing out the fewest yellow cards (3.78) and red cards (0.09) per game on average.

3. Stuart Attwell
Ruthless score: 3.71/10

Making his prominent debut almost two decades ago as the youngest-ever referee in the Premier League, Stuart Attewell completes the top three list of nicest referees of the 2023-24 season with a score of 3.71 out of 10. With a lifelong ambition for refereeing, Attwell worked his way up from leagues such as the West Midlands League and the Football League.

The professional football referee made 17 game appearances last season and has the second-lowest fouls (20.7) and red cards (0.24) issued. Attwell is also in the top five with one of the fewest fouls per tackle (0.58) and penalties per game (0.18).

The most ruthless referees in Europe

1. Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos, Spain
Ruthless score: 8.37/10

Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos was the most ruthless referee in Europe last season, scoring 8.37 out of 10. With 18 game appearances in the league, the professional football referee handed out the second-highest fouls per tackle (0.91).

Not only is the professional La Liga referee in the top three for handing out one of the highest number of fouls per game (28.1) among nearly 100 referees in Europe, but he is also in the top 10 with one of the highest number of yellow cards per game (5.22). The Spanish referee had one of the lowest home win percentages of over a quarter (27.8%).

2. Simone Sozza, Italy
Ruthless score: 7.75/10

Italian football referee Simone Sozza is second with a score of 7.75 out of 10. In just his 11 game appearances of the 2023-24 season, Sozza handed out an average of 26.4 fouls per game and an average of 0.98 fouls per tackle – the highest among any other referee across the five top European leagues.

The professional Serie A referee had the second-highest penalties per game (0.82) and a home-win percentage of over a third (36.4%), significantly lower than the overall average of almost half (48.2%).

3. Benjamin Brand, Germany
Ruthless score: 7.72/10

Based in Bamberg, German referee Benjamin Brand ranks third, scoring 7.72 out of 10. Brand debuted in Germany’s top football league, the Bundesliga, and made 14 game appearances in the 2023-24 season.

Brand is the referee with the most penalties, with 0.86 per game. He also has one of the highest red cards per game, gaining a top 10 position with an average of 0.36.

The least ruthless referees in Europe

1. Samuel Barrott, England
Ruthless score: 1.24/10

With the lowest score of 1.24 out of 10, Samuel Barrott is the nicest football referee in Europe for 2023-24. The West Riding-based official appeared in 15 games and is among the top three referees with the fewest fouls per game (20.1) and the top five for both penalties (0.20) and yellow cards (3.13) per game.

With a relatively high home win percentage of over half (53.3%), it’s no wonder Barrott grabs the top spot as the nicest referee.

2. Sven Jablonski, Germany
Ruthless score: 1.73/10

Based in Bremen, German referee Sven Jablonski ranks second among the least ruthless referees in Europe after scoring 1.73 out of 10. After 16 game appearances, Jablonski not only had the lowest number of fouls per game among all other referees (19.2) but is also in the top five with one of the fewest fouls per tackle (0.57) alongside fellow German referee Christian Dingert.

The professional football official is among the top 10 European referees who handed out one of the fewest yellow cards (3.38) and red cards (0.06) per game.

3. Robert Schr?der, Germany
Ruthless score: 1.92/10

Robert Schr?der is the third nicest referee in Europe, scoring 1.92 out of 10. Schr?der issued 0.63 fouls per tackle, 21.9 fouls, and 0.21 penalties per game on average across the 14 games he has appeared during the season.

The professional German referee also had one of the highest home win percentages, under two-thirds (57.1%), which is relatively higher than the overall average.

The league with the most ruthless referees

1. La Liga, Spain
Ruthless score: 7.08/10

La Liga had the most ruthless referees among the top five football leagues in Europe, scoring 7.08 out of 10. Not only did the Spanish football league have the highest average fouls per game (25.9), but it also had the highest number of yellow cards (4.61) and red cards (0.24) handouts compared to all other leagues.

The league with the least ruthless referees

1. Premier League, England
Ruthless score: 1.67/10

Scoring just 1.67 out of 10, the Premier League takes the top spot with the nicest referees in Europe. The renowned league had the highest home win percentage, with an average of less than half (46.3%), while also having the fewest fouls (22.2) and red cards (0.15) per game, as well as fouls per tackle (0.63).

Methodology

Using WhoScored.com, we gathered data on referees with 10 or more game appearances in the top five football leagues in Europe, looking specifically at the following factors:

• Fouls per game
• Fouls per tackle (1 d.p.)
• Penalties per game
• Home win percentage
• Yellow cards per game
• Red cards per game

Data for these factors were sourced for each league, including the Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), Ligue 1 (France), and Serie A (Italy), looking only at the 2023 to 2024 season.

We gave each referee a normalised score out of 10 for each factor. We calculated an average score out of 10 for each referee, revealing the most ruthless referees in each league and Europe.

To determine the European leagues with the most ruthless and nicest referees, we calculated the overall average for each factor in each league. Then, we gave each league a normalised score out of 10 for each average factor before calculating the average score out of 10 for each league.

Data collected for all sections was sourced on 19/07/2024.

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As New York Times’s Michelle Goldberg says, “We should all know less about each other.” Some things, like your feral weekend in Vegas, should deserve some privacy, right? Right. And what’s a threat without legal recourse? Empty, of course!?

We’ve put the best minds of our legal team together to bring you: the Official Vegas NDA Agreement. Vegas just got a whole lot more “Wild West” again. The agreement is quite simple and consists of some easy components to fill out with you and a friend(s). ?

Get your free copy of the Official Vegas NDA Agreement?

You’ll find an online copy for you and your friends to use here. It’s as official as a whistle, so you can enjoy Vegas in the most divey of fashions. ?

Who’s invited? Or better said, who is most likely to snitch?  

The NDA starts with the basics: what parties (no, not that kind of party) are included. You’ll have to cite your and your friends’ full names. Remember that the names you put down are the ones sworn to secrecy so be sure that everyone in the group signs!?

Confidential information  

Now for the important stuff. What is happening and staying in Vegas? The second part of the NDA asks that you anticipate the confidential information that must be kept. Know it’s going to be a boozy evening the night you have the VIP table booked at Liv? Get ahead of it and write it in the confidential information section.  

To give you an idea, the NDA goes on to say:

“reputational value in?relation to either Party, including, but not limited to, any Chippendale shows attended (including the number of shows attended), cocktail/beer/liquor consumption, gambling losses…”

Be sure to clearly detail all the foreseeable sins of Sin City. ?

The “girlfriend/boyfriend” version of Vegas 

Any good NDA comes with an even better cover story. We can’t just tell our loved ones that we sat in the hotel the whole time after all! The NDA Agreement has you covered there too, where the “Exclusions from Confidential Information” gives you the chance to edit your story a bit. 

“We went to Coyote Ugly and Chad spent $3,000 buying the whole bar a round of tequila shots”? No. “We went to the bar and tried a delightful new cocktail”? Yes.  

Governing Law: What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas 

The NDA details some other important information, like the Time Period (we recommend forever), Notice of Immunity, and other legal jargon: but the most important part may be the Governing Law. Remember that Vegas is the wild, wild west and things run a little differently around here. That said you and your buddies’ NDA is held up by the legal powers who be and the golden rule that whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. ?

If you want to “manifest destiny” and experience Vegas discreetly, download the Vegas NDA Agreement here. Remember that this is all in the name of good, clean fun and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. ?

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Some may argue that financial hangovers are worse than physical hangovers, as it induces stress and anxiety that can linger for days. This led us to conducting a nationwide survey of 3,000 Americans and 3,000 Canadians to analyze their experiences with financial hangovers; and which states and provinces/territories experience these hangovers the most.  

Key Findings: 

• Nearly 3 in 4 Americans and Canadians experience anxiety when checking their bank accounts after a night out 

• 88% of both Americans and Canadians regret their spending decisions the morning after 

• On average, Americans wait 2.4 days before checking their bank account post-night out, while Canadians wait 2.8 days 

• US: Oregon ranks #1 for financial hangovers, with 94.4% of residents having experienced it 

• CA: Newfoundland and Labrador ranks #1 in financial hangovers, with 84% of residents having experience it

America’s financial hangover: The anxiety of post-night out spending  

3 in 4 Americans admit to feeling anxious when checking their bank accounts after a night out. Over half (52%) occasionally experience financial hangovers, stressing about their spending the next day – or 3!  

On average, Americans wait 2.4 days before checking their bank accounts, avoiding the dreaded (wallet) shock from their night out spending. With 88.7% admitting they regret their purchasing decisions the morning after and 44% forgetting how much they spent, it’s no wonder they dodge those bank statements.  

Our respondents say spending about $250 would make them anxious when checking their bank accounts. While half (50.7%) set a budget for their night out expenses, 35% don’t stick to it. Regardless of their budgeting habits, 68% actively avoid checking their bank accounts during the night to stall the financial hangover.  

So, what’s causing Americans’ financial hangovers after a night out? Food is the #1 culprit, as it’s gobbling up 41.4% of their spending. Drinks rank #2 place overall, followed by activities (group events, games, etc.) in #3 place. Transportation (Ubers, etc.) comes in #4 place at 4.6%. And for the ‘other’ category of respondents (3.3%), their night was such a blur that they can’t remember!  

Which state experiences financial hangovers the most?

Oregon or Oh-No-regon? Oregon ranks #1 for financial hangovers, with 94.4% of residents admitting they have felt anxious when checking their bank accounts. Unlike the national average, Oregonians can’t wait more than a day before facing the music, with 92.3% regretting their spending decisions. Over half (55.5%) wake up with no clue how much they dished the night before and seeing $104.20 spent will make them cringe. Their biggest wallet busters? It’s a tie between food and drinks!  

Kansas and Virginia tie for #2 place in financial hangovers, with 81.8% of residents feeling that post-spending pain. Kansans tend to wait an average of 1.7 days to peek at their accounts, while Virginians procrastinate a tad bit longer, holding off for 3.3 days. Despite the delays, both Kansans (88.9%) and Virginians (87.9%) regret their spending choices the morning after. For Virginians, a hefty $255.67 is enough to send shivers down their spine; for those in Kansas, just $109.54 can trigger major anxiety. Perhaps it’s time for Kansas to curb their late-night munchies and cocktails for Virginians. 

Just above Oregon, Washington ranks #3 in financial hangovers. About 81.6% of Washingtonians experience the dreaded anxiety of looking at their bank accounts, typically after waiting 2.2 days. With 8 in 10 residents regretting their choices, it’s no wonder why they suffer from a strong case of financial hangovers. Maybe it’s time for them to start ‘Watching(ton)’ their night out spending habits to avoid those morning-after regrets!  

I’m the problem, it’s me: Canada’s night out aftermath  

About 74% of Canadians admit they get anxiety when checking their bank accounts after a night out. Half (50.4%) of our respondents occasionally experience financial hangovers, while 15% deal with these feelings every single night out! Bit rough out here, eh?  

Canadians tend to wait an average of 2.8 days before mustering up the courage to view their bank accounts post-night out. Why? 88.4% typically regret their spending decisions the morning after; and 6 in 10 Canadians wake up forgetting how much they spend the night before! No wonder they’re willing to wait up to 3 days for their reality check!??

The magic number that makes Canadians feel anxious about their previous night’s spending is $232 (CAD). Unlike their American neighbors who do set a budget, 54.6% of Canadians don’t! Despite their budgeting habits, 3 in 4 Canadians avoid checking their bank accounts all throughout the night.  

Food is the #1 financial hangover culprit for Canadians, according to 44.6% – can’t resist the late-night poutine, eh? Drinks follow #2 at 37.5%, with activities in #3 place. Transportation ranks #4, while those in the ‘other’ category (2.2%) simply can’t remember due to all the drinks they’ve had!  

Provinces and territories financial hangover rankings  

Ranking #1 for financial hangovers is Newfoundland and Labrador, where 84% of residents admit to feeling the pain. Their hangovers are so intense that they wait an average of 4 days to peek at their bank accounts after a big night out, leaving 89% in deep regret. Over half (52%) have woken up with no memory of how much they spent – probably for the best, as $246 can send shivers down their spines. Unlike the rest of the nation, drinks are the top culprit for N.L.’s spending sprees, according to 48%. Talk about a brew-tal hangover!  

Coming in at #2, New Brunswick residents know the sting of morning-after financial regrets all too well. About 83.9% have experienced financial hangovers, plus 100% admit to regretting their spending decisions. Like their neighbors in N.L., they wait 4 days before facing their bank accounts. It only takes a night of spending $186.77 (-20% less than the national average) for N.B. to dread checking their balance. Evidence points to food taking up 42% of their night out spending. Can’t resist a midnight Harvey’s burger, eh? 

Taking the bronze in financial hangovers is Alberta, where 81.4% of residents have faced the dread morning-after woes one too many times. Unlike N.L. and N.B., Albertans wait an average of 2.8 days to tackle their financial regrets. With 95% admitting to regretting their night-out choices, it’s no surprise that spending an average of $233.08 gives them serious anxiety the next day. Almost half (45%) of Albertans blame food as the main source of their pricey hangovers.  

Financial hangovers (Viva Las Vegas edition) 

It’s all fun and games in Sin City until the bill comes due! Of the 48% of Americans who have been to Las Vegas, 35% woke up with a strong case of financial hangover after a night of slot machines. Similarly, of the 34% of Canadians who made the trip down to the Strip, 34% faced the same bank account woes. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas – sometimes it follows you home to your bank account!  

The final coin-clusion 

While a physical hangover hurts for a day or two, the financial hangover has proven to sting longer. In the end, our two nationwide surveys reveal the painful truth: 3 in 4 Americans and Canadians experience financial hangovers when checking their bank accounts after a night out. So, next time you hit the town, maybe think twice before ordering that extra round – your bank account and future self will thank you!  

Methodology 

In July 2024, we surveyed 3,000 Americans and 3,000 Canadians about their financial hangover experiences through a series of questions.  

The average age of American respondents was 36.6 years old. The representative sample comprised of 60% female, 37.4% male, 1.7% non-binary, and 0.8% transgender.  

The average age of Canadian respondents was 33.8 years old. The representative sample comprised of 52.5% female, 44.9% male, 2.4% non-binary, and 0.2% transgender. 

The following states were not accounted for due to an insufficient amount of data: Alaska, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming.

The following territories were not accounted for due to an insufficient amount of data: Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.

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Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.  

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

So, which cities have seen the biggest price increase over the last two years?

We’ve delved into the data to find out, looking at the prices of public transport, a round of drinks, the average price of a nightclub ticket, the average price of a McDonald’s meal, taxi fares and a weekend night in a hotel.

The cities with the biggest increase in the cost of a night out

The cost of a night out in the UK has shot up drastically over the past two years, rising from an average of ￡121 in 2022 to ￡146 this year, an increase of 20.4%. The biggest culprit for this price increase is hotels, with prices rising by nearly a quarter for a single weekend night’s stay. This is followed closely by the price of a late-night McDonald’s at 22%. But which cities are raising their prices the most?

1. Oxford
127.6% increase since 2022

Oxford has seen the highest overall increase in the cost of a night out, rising by a whopping ??127.6% since 2022. Prices in Oxford have risen drastically over the last two years, especially in the hospitality sector. Hotel prices rose by 160% thanks to the rising costs of operating in the industry, including higher labour costs due to a shortfall in staff numbers.

2. London
98.5% increase since 2022

The cost of living crisis has forced people to reconsider their finances, prioritising living expenses over a night out. In response, many businesses serving the nighttime economy have had to up their prices. London takes second place, with its cost of a night out nearly doubling since 2022. Hotel prices have seen the biggest increase in London of the factors we looked at, rising by 120%.

3. Dundee
51% increase since 2022

Third place is Dundee, where the cost of a night out has increased 51% over the last two years. The city’s nighttime economy has struggled with post-Brexit supply issues and reduced consumer spending power, forcing businesses to increase prices, such as the price of a McDonald’s meal rising by 21% since 2022.??

The cities with the smallest increase in the cost of a night out

1. Norwich
0.5% increase since 2022

Norwich has seen the lowest overall increase in the price of a night out, only rising by 0.5% since 2022. The city’s low population density means the cost of living hasn’t increased as much as other more populated areas, with taxi fares seeing the biggest price rise of 18% and hotel prices dropping by 3%.

2. Swindon
1.9% increase since 2022

Next up is Swindon, with only a 1.9% increase in total price. The city’s biggest price increase is the cost of a McDonald’s meal, which has risen by 18% over the last two years. Swindon’s economy has seen a low level of job creation over the last few years, and this lack of economic activity could explain the small increase.??

3. Wolverhampton
2.9% increase since 2022

Taking third place is Wolverhampton. The city suffers from high urban deprivation, which could explain why the total cost of a night out has only increased by 2.9% since 2022. The price of a pint has seen the biggest increase in Wolverhampton since 2022, rising by 32%.

The cities with the biggest decrease in the cost of a night out

1. Cardiff
26.5% decrease since 2022

Cardiff bucks the trend for the rising cost of a night out, with prices decreasing by 26.5% over the last two years. The cost of a hotel has seen the biggest decrease, dropping by 32%, followed by taxi fares at 9%.?

2. Newcastle upon Tyne
22.1% decrease since 2022

Newcastle is next up. The Toon takes second place, with a 22.1% decrease in the cost of a night out since 2022. Average hotel prices have dropped by nearly 30%, and public transport by 8%. The city famous for its trebles bars has only increased its pint prices by 13%, only slightly more than the UK average.??

3. Bournemouth
4.8% decrease since 2022

Bournemouth is in third place. Prices for a night out in the town on the South Coast have decreased across the board, with the biggest drop being taxi fares, which dropped 21%, and a one-way trip on public transport by 18%.??

The cheapest cities for a night out in 2024

1. Bradford
￡94 per night out

Bradford can be crowned the cheapest city for a night out, costing just ￡94 in total, ￡52 less than the UK average. The city has the lowest hotel prices for a weekend night at ￡67, a 3.1% increase since 2022. It’s also one of the cheapest cities for taxi fares, taking second place at ￡3.55 for a one-mile journey, a 13% decrease over the last two years.

2. Huddersfield
￡99 per night out

In second place is Huddersfield, where the cost of a night out stands at ￡99. This West Yorkshire town has the cheapest taxi fares, costing ￡2.87 for a mile-long trip, a drop of 18.5% since 2022. Huddersfield also has some of the lowest average alcohol prices, ranking third with three pints costing ￡10.05. It also costs ￡77 for a weekend night in a hotel in Huddersfield, making it the fifth cheapest city for the factor with only a 5.5% price increase since 2022.????

3. Milton Keynes
￡100 per night out

Rounding out the top three is Milton Keynes, where it costs ￡100 for a night out. The Buckinghamshire city ranks relatively well across the board, scoring in the top 20 for four of the five factors we looked at. Milton Keynes also has the third cheapest hotel prices, at ￡73 per weekend night, a 37.7% increase since 2022.

The most expensive cities for a night out in 2024

1. London
￡351 per night out

It comes as no surprise that the capital takes the top spot as the most expensive city for a night out. London has the highest prices for three factors we looked at, with an average McDonald’s meal costing ￡8, three pints setting you back ￡19.50, and a hotel stay costing ￡314,165.5% higher than the national average.

2. Oxford
￡303 per night out

Oxford is second, averaging ￡303 for a night out. The city has the second-highest hotel prices after London, at ￡270 per night. It’s also the third most expensive city for a round of drinks, costing ￡17.16 for three pints, and ranks fourth for taxi prices, at ￡5.99 for a one-mile journey.?

3. Edinburgh
￡265 per night out

Edinburgh takes third place. The city has the third-highest hotel prices at ￡235 per weekend night. It also has the fifth most expensive McDonald’s meal price, averaging ￡7.80 and ranks seventh for its drinks prices, with a round of three pints costing ￡15.?

The cities with the biggest increases in…

Average public transport cost – Leicester (34.8%)

Using public transport on a night out means you can get to nightlife hotspots quickly, easily, and usually much cheaper than other forms of transport. Leicester has seen the biggest increase in the cost of public transport, rising from ￡2.30 in 2022 to ￡3.10 over the last two years, a 34.8% increase.?

The average price of a pint – Bradford (45%)

Supply chain issues and rising VAT on alcohol have led pubs, clubs and bars to raise their alcohol prices. Bradford holds the unfortunate title of the city with the highest increase in the price of a pint, costing an average of ￡4.35 in 2024, a rise of 45% over the last two years.

The price of a McDonalds meal – Gloucester, Huddersfield, Peterborough (40%)

After your night out, you’ll want to head straight for the nearest takeaway to fill up after a night on the dancefloor and keep the party going with your friends. Three cities, Gloucester, Huddersfield and Peterborough have seen the highest price rises for McDonald’s meals, an average of 40% since 2022.

Taxi fare (per mile-long journey) – Birmingham (45.8%)

After a night out, you’ll want an affordable and safe way to travel home, especially if public transport isn’t available. The best way to do this is by taxi. Birmingham has the biggest increase in taxi fares on our list, rising by 45.8% for a mile-long trip, including the starting fee.??

A night in a hotel – Oxford (159.6%)

If you’re travelling to your chosen city for a night out, you’ll need a safe place to stay, relax and recharge after a night of partying. Unfortunately, if you’re planning a night out in Oxford, you’ll be paying a premium, with the average hotel price for a weekend night costing ￡314, an increase of 159.6% since 2022.?

Methodology

Beginning with the 50 biggest cities in the UK for which data was available, we analysed each city on the following factors before adding them together to find the total cost of a night out in 2024. We then compared this to data from the same sources in 2022 using the Wayback Machine to find the percentage change over the past two years.

• Average public transport cost: The average price of a one-way ticket on public transport, according to Numbeo.
• The average price of a pint: The average price of a pint of domestic beer, according to Numbeo. This was multiplied by three to find the cost of a round of drinks.
• Average nightclub ticket price: The average ticket price of each city’s ten most popular club nights, sourced from Fatsoma.
• The price of a McDonald’s meal: The average cost of a McMeal at McDonald’s (or equivalent combo meal) in each city, according to Numbeo.
• Taxi fare: The average taxi fare for a mile-long journey, including the starting price, according to Numbeo.??
• A night in a hotel: The average price of a weekend night in a hotel in each city, according to Kayak.

All data correct as of 04/07/2024.

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We’ve delved into the data to determine how often these fortunes go unclaimed and where this is most common in the UK. Additionally, we’ve looked into the stats around buried treasure to reveal which British counties could be hiding the most wealth beneath our feet!

So, which areas could be the UK’s biggest untapped gold mines?

Cambridgeshire is England’s biggest gold mine county, scoring 6.45/ 10

1. Cambridgeshire
Gold mine score: 6.45

Cambridgeshire has the highest gold mine score at 6.45, scoring highly across all factors. There are 131 unclaimed estates in the county, with potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds, or even millions, just waiting for the rightful heirs to be uncovered. There have also been a considerable number of treasure cases recorded in the area since 2012, with forgotten valuables being unearthed on 238 separate occasions.

2. Lincolnshire
Gold mine score: 5.99

Lincolnshire has the second-highest gold mine score in England, sitting at 5.99. This largely rural county on the border between Yorkshire and the East Midlands has seen 686 cases of treasure being found over the past decade. While the number of unclaimed estates in the area is relatively low at just 56, Lincolnshire has two unclaimed lottery wins waiting for their lucky ticket-holders to realise they’ve won.

3. Kent
Gold mine score: 5.87

Kent has the third-highest gold mine score in our study, 5.87. Kent is also home to a large amount of buried treasure, with 634 examples found since 2012. The county has a rich cultural history, having been settled by several different conquering groups, including the Romans, Jutes, and Normans, all of which could have left exciting treasures forgotten beneath the dirt.

London has the highest number of unclaimed estates, with over 1,700 in the past 50 years

1. London
Number of unclaimed estates: 1,756

London has the largest number of unclaimed estates, with as many as 1,756 estates with no apparent heir. With so many people passing through London from all parts of the UK and beyond, it’s easy to imagine how inheritance can become confused, and tracking down rightful heirs could be much more complicated.

2. Surrey
Number of unclaimed estates: 291

Surrey had the second-highest number of unclaimed estates, with 291 cases over the last 50 years. This wealthy county borders South East London and has become a popular commuter area for the capital. Due to the area’s prosperity, unclaimed estates in Surrey could be worth a fortune, especially if they include land or property.

3. West Midlands
Number of unclaimed estates: 265

The West Midlands county, not to be confused with the broader region of the same name, has the third-highest number of unclaimed estates at 265. As the country’s second-largest city, Birmingham has welcomed migrants from all corners of the British Isles, the Commonwealth and beyond. This complex movement of people can make it especially difficult to track down relatives and heirs of the deceased, leaving some fortunes unclaimed.

Norfolk has had the most treasure unearthed since 2012, with over 1,200 buried items found

1. Norfolk
Total treasure cases: 1,201

X marks the spot in Norfolk, as it has seen the most cases of buried treasure since 2012, with 1,201 recorded finds. The county has an exciting history, stretching back to the Iceni tribe of ancient Britons that lived in the area before the Roman conquest. Norfolk is often regarded as one of the world’s metal-detecting hotspots, with enthusiasts travelling from all over the world to scour the county’s expansive fields.

2. Suffolk
Total treasure cases: 776

Suffolk recorded the second-highest number of treasure cases, with 776 since 2012. Combined with Norfolk, the two neighbouring countries once formed the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of East Anglia, which was frequently raided by Vikings and later became part of the Norse-occupied Danelaw under the Danish King Guthrum. With such a rich history of different cultures in the area, there’s no telling what treasures one might find.

3. Essex
Total treasure cases: 709

Essex is the third most lucrative area for finding treasure, putting all three top locations in the East of England. These counties’ flat and rural nature makes them perfect for treasure hunting, which could explain why so much loot is unearthed here. Essex even featured as the location for the popular British comedy series The Detectorists, which follows the many japes of two metal detectorists scouring the local fields for historical artifacts.

Three counties have eight unclaimed big lottery wins each

Greater Manchester, Greater London, and West Midlands
Unclaimed lottery wins: 8

Three counties tied for the most unclaimed big lottery wins over the past 10 years, accounting for millions of pounds in missed prize money. Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and Greater London all have eight unclaimed lottery wins from tickets purchased locally, meaning there are some very lucky (and forgetful!) people out there who could be in line to receive vast sums of money.

If you’ve ever played the lottery in these top counties, you may want to search the house for any old tickets you might have forgotten. After all, finding a winning ticket down the back of the sofa could change your life forever!

Smith is the surname associated with the most unclaimed estates, with 100 estates available

Having analysed which areas could be the country’s biggest gold mines, we also wanted to see which names are most commonly linked to unclaimed estates. If you see your name featured on our list, you may want to scour your family tree for distant relatives who may have passed without a clear heir.

1. Smith
Number of unclaimed estates: 100

The most common name associated with unclaimed estates is Smith, with 100 estates listed. Possibly the most common surname in the UK, with “John Smith” even being a commonly used pseudonym for the everyman, it’s understandable that so many unclaimed estates belonged to Smiths.

2. Jones
Number of unclaimed estates: 65

The second-most unclaimed estates are associated with the name Jones, with 65 in total. Jones is a common name in the UK, though it is most prominent in Wales, where it originated. While these figures only represent unclaimed estates in England, there could be some Welsh relatives whose distant cousins moved to England and left no discernable heirs.

3. Brown
Number of unclaimed estates: 46

Brown is the third most common surname linked to unclaimed estates, with 46 recorded in England. Brown is an old and common name in the UK, shared by many famous Brits, such as ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown and world-renowned magician Derren Brown. If you have distant relatives with this surname, it might be worth checking in on them to see if they’re still around!

Methodology

The GOV unclaimed estates list was used to find the number of unclaimed estates by UK county between 1974 and 2024. This data was also used to find the surnames of those with the most unclaimed estates. This data is correct as of 28/06/2024.

The Wayback Machine was used to find the number of unclaimed lottery prizes on the National Lottery website over the last ten years. This data is accurate as of 28/06/24.

The GOV Reported Treasure Finds reports were used to take the total reported treasure finds in UK counties between 2012 and 2022. This data is accurate as of 01/07/2024.

Google Keyword Planner was used to find the number of searches using the term ‘how to claim lottery win’ in each county between June 2023 and May 2024. This data is accurate as of 03/07/2024.

The PERCENTRANK formula in Google Sheets assigned each county a normalised score out of 10. With so few unclaimed lottery wins, each county with unclaimed wins was given a 10 for this factor and a 0 for no unclaimed lottery wins.

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Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.     

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Testing the monument knowledge of Americans, we quizzed 5,000 participants to see if the Vegas copies passed for the real thing. Using picture choices, we asked Americans to decide between the real and the Vegas replica. Let’s just say, Cleopatra wouldn’t be impressed.  

Key Findings: 

• Americans had the hardest time identifying the Statue of Liberty with 95.5% thinking the Vegas replica was the real thing 

• The best state for identifying the fake from the authentic monuments was New Jersey at 62.5% 

• The worst state for identifying real v. replica was Wyoming with 30% accuracy 

• Americans distinguished the Empire State Building with ease at 94% accuracy 

The Statue of Liberty… or Lady Las Vegas? 

A shining image of the Patina Green statue, bravely holding a torch and tablet is etched into the mind of every American, but maybe not to perfection. Americans didn’t exactly pass with shining colors when it came to identifying our very own Lady of Liberty. 

The Statue of Liberty was the #1 hardest monument for Americans to decipher between real v. Vegas. A painful 95.5% of Americans misidentified the Las Vegas Statue of Liberty for the real thing. Oof. Only 4% were able to correctly identify the difference between the New York Statue of Liberty and the Vegas replica. If it helps to lessen the blow, in 2010, the US Postal Service lost $3.5 million dollars when they accidentally printed stamps showing the Vegas Statue of Liberty instead of the real thing. Hats off to the New York-New York Casino Hotel for such stellar Big Apple imitations! 

Arc de Triomphe 

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that holds true with the Arc de Triomphe. There are over 15 famous Arc de Triomphe fakes with many more scattered across the globe. Of course, Vegas couldn’t resist hopping in on the fun and made their own version at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.  

Not all of us have had the Oh là là experience in the real Paris, France so the Vegas one is a close second. The question is: can Americans tell the difference? The Arc de Triomphe ranked as the 2^nd most difficult to identify. 39% were able to identify the real Arc de Triomphe. Another 38% thought photos of the Chinese replica were the real thing. The Barcelona Arc de Triumf also had her time to shine with 15.8% thinking (despite its red brick appearance) that maybe that was the original. Fortunately, only a small percentage, 8%, thought that the Vegas version was legitimate.  

Trevi Fountain – Falling for the fakes  

The Lizzie McGuire Movie is largely to thank for the average Millennial’s knowledge of Roman infrastructure. Lizzie led us to believe that the Trevi Fountain was largely empty and that everyone in Italy was named Paolo – not exactly historical accuracy.  

Americans were stumped when it came to the Trevi Fountain. When presented with 3 options (Rome, Las Vegas, and Seoul) the results were split three ways. This Italian classic ranked #3 worst identified monument when it came to the Vegas version and the real deal. The majority, 40%, thought the Vegas replica was the real thing. Another 37% thought Seoul’s version in Lotte World was the original. Interestingly, the smallest percentage of people, 24%, were able to identify the real Trevi Fountain. 

St. Mark Campanile Bell Tower 

Bell towers aren’t exactly the most recognizable monuments (bar Big Ben), but the St. Mark Campanile Bell Tower should be up there in fame. That said, Americans weren’t nearly as familiar with this Italian landmark as they were with others.  

When given three photo options, the original and 2 replicas in Ontario, Canada, and Las Vegas, Americans were torn. The St. Mark Campanile Bell Tower was ranked the 4^th hardest monument for Americans, with the majority thinking the Vegas replica was real. 58% thought the Vegas one was real. Another 27% believed the Canadian copy was authentic. The smallest percentage, 15%, was able to identify the actual St. Mark Campanile Bell Tower in Italy. 

Erawan Shrine 

We’ll cut Americans a break on this one, as the Erawan Shrine replica in Vegas is quite intricate. The Erawan Shrine came in 5^th place for monuments Americans can identify. 55% thought the Vegas version of the Erawan Shrine was the real thing. 45% were able to identify the actual Bangkok monument. To be fair, the giant billboard behind the actual shrine can be a bit deceiving.  

Eiffel Tower – Can Americans identify the fake from the French?  

The Eiffel Tower in all its iconic glory, isn’t all that difficult to sham. It’s believed that there are around 80 Eiffel Tower replicas all over the world. Of those replicas, Vegas prides itself on a realistic rendition. The replica was built fairly true to form but at half the height of the Paris version.  

So, were Americans able to tell the difference? Parisians be warned: it’s a real faux pas on our part. When ranked worst to best for identifying monuments, the Eiffel Tower comes in 6^th place. When shown a picture of the Las Vegas Eiffel Tower (with the hotel swimming pool in the frame, mind you) 54% thought it was the real thing. Only 40% were able to correctly identify the Vegas version. Another 4% thought it was the replica found in Paris, Texas. Not exactly the pièce de résistance we thought it was! 

The Great Sphynx – How do Americans fare Egyptian artifacts? 

Amidst pharaohs, mummies, and pyramids – Americans have a general sense of Egyptian culture, but it’s far from meeting King Tut’s standards. The Sphynx statue does a decent job competing with the real deal, but there are some stark differences. Namely, the bright blue paint and its unscathed structure. 

Despite its rather new appearance, 51% of Americans had mistaken the Sphynx Statue in front of the Luxor Hotel for the real one – located in Giza, Egypt. 46% did recognize this to be a rendition or rather homage as it’s not all that similar to Giza’s Sphynx Statue. The real Great Sphynx is lacking much of its face, probably from the 4,500 years of wear and tear, but Americans must have assumed she had a facelift as only half could identify the real thing. 

The Statue of David’s Doppelganger 

Michelangelo left his mark with an unforgettable Renaissance work. But is it as unforgettable as it is unforgeable? We’ll give some credit to the Americans on this one – they didn’t do half bad. 82% were able to tell the real Statue of David apart from its fakes. Interestingly, 58% were more likely to believe the other replica in Piazza della Signoria in Florence was the real version when compared to the Vegas replica. All in all, 93.6% knew that the Vegas Statute of David was a dupe. Perhaps the “CAESAR’S” plaque at the base was a bit of a tip-off. 

Venice’s Grand Canal – Gondola or Gondo-nah? 

Americans seem to know their Italian icons. Like the Statue of David, respondents were able to successfully decipher the Venice from the Vegas. 89% recognized photos of the real Venice Grand Canal while 7% confused the Venice Canal with the Vegas Canal. The Vegas Grand Canal is indoors and is enclosed by a fake blue sky, allowing respondents an easy in spotting the fake. 

Empire State of Mind – Do Americans recognize this building? 

The Empire State Building has long been the symbol of New York – finding its way on postcards, t-shirts, key chains, and the like. Does its recognition live up to its popularity? Las Vegas has its very own New York City skyline, much like that of the real deal, but Americans weren’t so easily fooled. 

Americans were the best at identifying their very own, Empire State Building. Unlike the Italian and French landmarks, where we were a bit shakier, Americans felt confident on the home field. The Empire State Building was recognized with 94% accuracy. Only 3% confused a photo of the New York skyline for the Las Vegas dupe and another 3% thought it was the Miniland in Billund, Denmark.  

Best states for recognizing Las Vegas replicas vs. The real ones 

If you’re from New York, you might have the luxury of being able to identify a monument or two more than, say, Idaho. We put all Americans to the test, but some states came out stronger than others. We ranked in order the best-performing states when it came to identifying Las Vegas replicas and the real things as well as their success rate. 

1. New Jersey 62.5% 

2. Connecticut 60% 

3. Oregon 59% 

4. Michigan 58.18% 

5. Pennsylvania 56.67% 

6. Florida 56.62% 

7. California 56.36% 

8. Illinois 56.36% 

9. North Carolina 55.45% 

10. New York 55% 

A real surprise that New York falls into 10^th place being that 2/10 monuments are on their home turf!  

The Worst States to Recognize Real from Replica 

Replicas are tricky and some states found it to be more of a challenge than others. When we look at the bottom four, we see that respondents from these states were only able to get less than 50% correct. Ranked in worst order of quiz accuracy, the results were as follows- 

1. Wyoming 30% 

2. Vermont 40% 

3. Delaware 45% 

4. Colorado 46.67% 

5. West Virginia 50% 

It’s worth noting that there are no monuments from these states in Vegas, so they had it extra hard! 

Summary 

From best to worst, Americans identified: The Empire State Building, Venice Grand Canal, the Statue of David, the Great Sphynx of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Erawan Shrine, St. Mark Campanile, the Trevi Fountain, the Arc de Triomphe, and, finally, the Statue of Liberty that fooled us the most. 

The good news? We all equally suck at identifying which Las Vegas replicas are the dupes. The highest achieving state, New Jersey, still only got 62.5% correct. The lowest, Wyoming at 30%, didn’t venture that far off either. At the national level, Americans got around half correct which, if we were to be graded, would be a big fat F!  

Vegas doesn’t make it easy for us, when it comes to calling out the fakes, but at least we can rest easy knowing the knockoffs are just about as good as the real thing. Sorry Italy!  

Methodology 

In July 2024, we quizzed 5,000 Americans asking them to identify monuments and their Vegas equivalents using photos. Participants were asked about the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Erawan Shrine, Sphynx of Giza, St Mark Campanile, Trevi Fountain, Statue of David, Venice Grand Canal, and Arc de Triomphe. 

The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 61% — were male, 38% were female, less than 1% identified as trans, non-binary, or “other”. 

Fair Use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.     

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

We’re honoring Canada’s “Love Story” with their favorite artist by uncovering which cities boast the most Swifties (per capita). We analyzed cities Taylor Swift has performed in by looking at the following factors: Google Search volumes when Toronto and Vancouver Eras Tour Tickets were announced, search volumes for “The Tortured Poets Department” (TTPD) album release, and the number of Taylor Swift-themed events.  

Key Findings: 

• Montreal, QC is Canada’s ‘Swiftie Capital’, with a “End Game” score of 87.5/100 

• Winnipeg, MB ranks 2^nd place overall (84.8/100), with Halifax, NS following in 3^rd place (77.7/100) 

• Ottawa, ON ranks last overall, with a “This Is Me Trying” score of 23.2/100 

“…Ready For It?” Cities with the most Taylor Swift fans 

Montreal, Quebec wins “The Great War” and crowns itself as Canada’s ‘Swiftie Capital’ (87.5/100). Scoring 100/100 in Google Search popularities for when Toronto and Vancouver Eras Tour tickets were announced, and when the TTPD dropped, Montrealers were eager to get their hands on tickets and the latest album. Furthermore, residents can “Shake It Off” at the “22” (coincidence, we think not) Taylor Swift-themed events hosted in Montreal – the highest number in the nation. The city has clearly found its place in Taylor Swift’s Canadian “Love Story”!  

Often known as the ‘Gateway to the West’, this city may want to reconsider renaming themselves the ‘“Getaway Car” to Taylor Swift’. Winnipeg, Manitoba has the 2^nd most Swifties per capita, with a score of 84.8/100. Like Montreal, they hit 100/100 in Google Search popularity for Eras Tour tickets and TTPD. However, they dropped the “Mirrorball” when it came to events, as the city only planned 5 Taylor Swift-themed events for 2024. Despite the lack of events, their passion for Tay Tay burns “Forever & Always”. 

Halifax, Nova Scotia ranks 3^rd place in our Swifties per capita ranking, with a score of 77.7/100. While Haligonians scored 100/100 in Eras Tour tickets searches, they hit 76/100 when TTPD released. The city of Halifax will also be hosting 3 Taylor Swift-themed events this year, hopefully enough for Swifties to live their “Wildest Dreams”!  

Ironically, the capital of Canada is nowhere close to claiming the ‘Swiftie Capital’ title. 

Ottawa, Canada ranks last overall, with a “This Is Me Trying” score of 23.2/100. When Eras Tour tickets were announced, Toronto tickets only hit 37/100 in search popularity; with Vancouver tickets only at 6/100. However, Ottawan Swifties make up for its score as they’re hosting 12 Tay Tay-themed events this year – the 4^th highest in the nation. Despite their low search popularity, Ottawa’s dedication to hosting events shows their love for Taylor, truly shining like a “Starlight”. 

Honourable Mentions (Swifties’ Version)

Calgary, Alberta: Not only does Calgary rank 4^th in Swifties per capita, they also strike gold with Taylor’s lucky number, hosting 13 themed events this year. Could they be “The Lucky One” overall?  

Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver hit the sweet spot by ranking 5^th place overall. Known for placing her most significant songs as the 5^th track on each album, it seems Van City is living up to the ‘track 5’ magic. 

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Taking the 6^th spot overall, Saskatoon stands out by hosting just one Taylor Swift event. They’re truly capturing the essence of “The 1” song! 

Conclusion: Swifties are here to “Stay, Stay, Stay” 

Outside of the rankings, 31 million Swifties have proven their love and dedication to Taylor Swift just this past year alone. It’s evident that Canadians across the nation are “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift.  

Methodology 

In July 2024, we looked at every city Taylor Swift has performed in, as our seed list. From there, we created an index analyzing and weighing a variety of factors. Please note that we didn’t include Lethbridge, Craven, and Cavendish, due to a lack of data.  

1. Google Search interests when Toronto Eras Tour tickets were announced – 28% 
   • Dates: August 8-10, 2023 

2. Google Search interests when Vancouver Eras Tour tickets were announced – 28% 
   • Dates: November 1-3, 2023 

3. Google Search interests when TTPD dropped – 28%  
   • Dates: April 18-20, 2024 

4. Number of Taylor Swift-themed events (Facebook and Eventbrite) –  16%  

Each city was then scored on a scale of 0-100 to determine which cities have the most Swifties per capita. 

Fair use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.  

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org  

All 30 teams will be up to bat on July 4^th for a flag-waving fight. As such, we wanted to know which MLB fan bases are going to show up and strut their stars and stripes. We surveyed 5,000 MLB fans to determine just how patriotic they claim to be. Amongst questions like “Do you vote” and “Do you wave the American flag” we put their patriotism to the test. We even asked fans to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to see just how much they really remember. The results? Star-spangled staggering. ?

Key Findings:  

• America’s #1 MLB fan base is the LA Angels at 84.5% patriotism 
• The Texas Rangers ranked the #2 most patriotic at 83.4%  
• Excluding the Toronto Blue Jays, the least patriotic is the Oakland Athletics, at only 66% self-identified American pride 
• The Colorado Rockies are anticipated to have the highest 4th of July attendance?
• When quizzed, 88% of MLB fans were able to recite the whole Pledge of Allegiance 

Most Patriotic MLB Fanbases  

Some fans bleed red, white, blue, and their team’s colors too. We asked a series of questions regarding “patriotic behavior” to determine the truest America-lovin baseball fans. ?

We’re starting at the West Coast, as the Los Angeles Angels fans were named the #1 most patriotic. California is actually quite low on American pride. Ranked 35^th out of 50 for patriotism, you wouldn’t expect a team from this state to perform so well. The Los Angeles Angels are proving the contrary by leading with an 84.5% patriotism rate. When asked how much they self-identify as patriotic, fans averaged 4.2/5. The Angels v. Orioles 4^th of July game is fully sold out on the official MLB website, so expect a full, festive house!?

America’s cowboys are also feeling the USA-awe. Lassoing in the 2^nd place medal, Texas Rangers earn an 83.4% patriotism rating. Historically, a “Texas Ranger” fought to protect the border, fight off cattle thieves, and protect the Lone Star State. Pride still runs this deep as Rangers fans boast an 84% regular voting rate, a 97% standing rate for the National Anthem, and a 94% hot dog consumption rate at games. Yeehaw. ?

Rounding out the top 3, we’re headed up north. The Colorado Rockies fans were ranked the #3 most patriotic. The only team where 100% of respondents said they stand for the National Anthem, Rockies fans exude red, white, and blue.  

The Least Patriotic Fanbases  

There are always the Independence Day Grinches on the other side of the spectrum, too. The fans who roll their eyes at fireworks, gawk at festive outfits, and bash the homemade barbecue. We’ve excluded our dear Toronto Blue Jays friends for obvious reasons, but they’ve let us know that they’re keen to celebrate Canada Day on July 1^st!?

Just up the California coast, we go from LA’s loud and proud citizens to the Oakland “over it” residents. The Oakland Athletics ranked last for patriotism with an average 3.3/5 ranking. If you see Oakland fans humming their way through the anthem, don’t be too surprised as 15% of respondents only knew about half of the lyrics. Let’s hope Vice President and Oakland-native, Kamala Harris, doesn’t find out! 

And another strike for California! The 2^nd least patriotic team is only an “out of the park” away from Oakland. The San Francisco Giants fans were ranked the 2^nd least patriotic in the league. Giants fans might not be feeling the love at the national level, but they show respect to the greats, like Willie Mays, who died on June 18, 2024. 

Which MLB fanbases are standing (or sitting) for the national anthem? 

Nicknamed the “Gateway to the Americas”, Miami doesn’t quite live up to its title when it comes to patriotism. The Miami Marlins had the highest sitting rate during the national anthem at 21%. In other words, about every 1 in 5 Marlins fans chooses to sit during the national anthem at a game. ?

Marlin fans aren’t the only sitters. They may put the red in red, white, and blue but they’re not about to stand for it! The Cincinnati Reds ranked 2nd highest sitting rate during the National Anthem in the MLB. Reds fans don’t find this an exact reflection of their American pride, however. Reds’ fans ranked in the top 10 for patriotism, for other factors like voting frequency, supporting the troops, and dressing Fourth festive. How’s that for the Big Red Machine??

The third one may come as a surprise. In order, this team has mascots named: George, Tom, Abe, Teddy, and, famously, a Bald Eagle named (victory) Screech. What could get more American than that? All that aside, Nationals fans aren’t feeling so…national. For this Washington team, they’ve got an 11% sit rate during the National Anthem, the third highest in the country. ?

On the other hand, some MLB fans are eager to stand. As mentioned, the Colorado Rockies come in 1^st place for standing during the anthem. All Rockies respondents said (ability-allowing) they stand for the anthem 100% of the time at MLB games. You guys rock! 

Steel City is also standing strong. Pittsburgh Pirates fans had the 2^nd highest stand rate for the national anthem at 97.7%. They might be the team of buccaneering and bootlegging, but they do take pride in national tradition. ?

Thankfully, the third-place winner is putting credit back to the California name. With the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics ranking low for patriotism, you might think that the San Diego Padres followed in their footsteps. Padres supporters are fans who take a stand. They maintained a 97.2% standing right for the national anthem, giving some context to their old slogan, “keep the faith.”?

Teams anticipated to have the highest 4^th of July attendance 

What could be more American than crackerjacks, singing (and swaying) your way through, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and an MLB game? Maybe a Bald Eagle mascot named Screech. At any rate, we wanted to know who is anticipating the highest 4^th of July attendance as all 30 teams will be playing on Independence Day.  

Get ready to sink your teeth into a Rockies Dog because Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, is expected to have the highest attendance of patriotic fans. Ranking again #1, 28% of Rockies fans said they prefer to spend their Fourth at the field.  

LA expects a full stadium too. 23% of the Angels’ patriotic fans are planning to attend on the Fourth of July. If it sounds underwhelming, just know that the LA Angels’ neighboring rivals, The Dodgers are anticipating a 63% lower attendance rate. ?

Back to Ohio we go to see a real 4^th of July show! The Cleveland Guardians are also anticipating fans to turn up, with 22% of its patriotic fan base planning an appearance. Not such a bad rate when you consider that it’s an away game at the Chicago White Sox stadium. 

Not all Ohio MLB teams are in the holiday spirit for MLB fun. Unlike Guardians fans, Cincinnati Reds fans would rather spend their time at a BBQ than a baseball game. They’re anticipating the lowest attendance from their patriotic fans at only 2.2%. ?

Although near the nation’s capital, these fans aren’t planning to step foot in their team’s stadium this Fourth. The Baltimore Orioles ranked 2^nd last for anticipated Independence Day game attendance at 4%.

“Loyal to no game!”, said the Kansas City Royals fans. Royals supporters ranked 3^rd to last as only 5% of their fanbase is planning to turn up on the Fourth. It’s a home game with a fireworks display to polish off the night, what could be more fun? ?

Most and Least Patriotic Players 

Fans are one thing, and players are another. Bearing in mind that 27.8% of MLB players are not American-born, it only makes sense that they’re not rallying around the flag. Those 264 players paired with American athletes that just feel “red, white, and bleh” – we wanted to know who had the most and least patriotic players according to the fan’s perspective.  

Perhaps not surprisingly, Texas Rangers again landed top. The Rangers boast the #1 spot for most patriotic players. Pitcher and cover boy of the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi is from Houston, Texas so it certainly helps! ?

Although the fans might not be the most patriotic, the players boast a bit more America-brag. The Washington Nationals were ranked #2 most patriotic players at a 4.2/5 rating. Their roster this season features the most players from Florida, North Carolina, and California. 

Land of the free and home of the (Atlanta) brave! The Atlanta Braves ranked #3 for most patriotic players. The Braves frequently hold events for Military Appreciation Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and more. 

Back under the chopping block is the Oakland Athletics. For patriotism, the A’s players only got a 2.8/5 score. To be fair, they have a diverse roster with players from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and even Canada! The US isn’t the only country to play baseball after all! ?

Although a member of the American League, the Chicago White Sox players weren’t regarded too highly when it came to national pride. The White Sox players ranked 2nd to last with a 3.1/5 score. Interestingly, the White Sox don’t have any hometown heroes and only one player from Illinois.?

The last team has a giant patriotism problem. The San Francisco Giants ranked #3 worst patriotism for players. It could be a matter of leadership, of course. Giants’ Manager, Bob Melvin, went on the record to say that although he encourages, but doesn’t require standing for the national anthem.  

MLB Fans & Their Patriotic Duties:  

Voting:?

Voting is paramount to American pride. After all, it gives us the right to take part in the Land of the Free. Some fanbases are more participatory than others of course. The Kansas City Royals fans have the highest voting rate at 97.5%. On the other end of the spectrum, the Miami Marlins fans only had a 79% voting rate. Across all MLB teams, the average was 89%. 

Supporting the troops: ?

What about when it comes to saluting our veterans? Some teams encourage military support more than others with veterans’ discounts, military appreciation days, and more. Again, the Colorado Rockies lead the way in patriotism with 100% of respondents saying they fully support the troops. The Pittsburgh Pirates, on the other hand, had an 88% support rate. The national average was 94% across all teams. 

Knowing the words to the Pledge of Allegiance:?

“I pledge of allegiance to…” was it the flag? Republic? USA? Although many of us grew up reciting the pledge every day, the semantics can sometimes escape us. KC Royals again swept the competition with fans knowing 95% of the Pledge of Allegiance. The Miami Marlins mumble through the chorus with 72% lyrical knowledge. MLB fans across the country were pretty Pledge-ready, with the average respondent knowing 88% of the Pledge of Allegiance.?

Patriotic clothing:?

The Fourth is our chance to wear that star-spangled cowboy hat, Walmart’s finest tee, and any other patriotic garb to flaunt freedom (and fashion). 67% of Rockies fans are walking the red, white, and blue runway. Only 27% of Oakland Athletics fans said they’d dress patriotic for the Fourth. On average, 51% indicated that they’d be wearing some sort of festive clothing for the occasion. 

Are MLB fans taking a knee during the National Anthem?  

Almost 10 years ago, Colin Kaepernick took a silent knee in political protest. Following some negative feedback, the trend has slowly faded away, but Americans still have much to say about it. Outside of football, how would Americans feel if it happened in the MLB? 

Largely fans were indifferent. 40% of baseball fans said they’d feel “neutral” or “indifferent” if a player did this. Another 29% said they would actually support it. The final 27% did, however, say they would be angry by such an action.  

The Cleveland Guardians had the highest anger rate at 40% against it. The Seattle Mariners had the highest support rate at 46%.  

Teams playing on the 4^th of July: 

Now it wouldn’t be very neighborly of us to not share the MLB schedule, right? If you want to spend your Independence Day watching Baseball for 11+ hours straight, well, that’s your American right. 

Mets v. Nationals @ 11:05AM ET 

Cardinals v. Pirates @ 12:35AM ET 

Reds v. Yankees @ 1:05PM ET 

Astros v. Blue Jays @ 1:07PM ET 

White Sox v. Cubs @ 1:10PM ET 

Red Sox v. Marlins @ 1:10PM ET 

Tigers v. Twins @ 2:10PM ET 

Phillies v. Cubs @ 2:20PM ET 

Padres v. Rangers @ 2:35PM ET 

Angels v. A’s @ 4:07PM ET 

Orioles v. Mariners @ 4:10PM ET 

Giants v. Braves @ 7:20PM ET 

Rays v. Royals @ 8:10PM ET 

Brewers v. Rockies @ 8:10PM ET 

Diamondbacks v. Dodgers @ 9:10PM ET 

Summary 

Play ball! It’s almost Independence Day and whether you’re planning to spend it with a foot-long hot dog or awing at a fireworks display, it’s not a bad idea to go cheer on your favorite MLB team! Patriotic or otherwise, the crackerjacks are calling and we must go! 

Methodology 

In June 2024, we surveyed 4,000 American MLB fans asking a number of questions regarding patriotism and their fan habits. Some questions included: 

• How frequently do you vote? (National, State, Local) 
• Do you plan to dress festively for the Fourth of July? 
• On a scale of 1-10, how much do you support the troops? 
• How would you feel if “taking a knee” came to the MLB? 
• Ability allowing, how frequently do you stand for the National Anthem at games? 
• Finally, a quiz testing their knowledge of the Pledge of Allegiance 

The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 61% — were male, 38% were female, less than 1% identified as trans, non-binary, or “other”. 

Free Use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

As the Fourth of July approaches, we’re celebrating our nation’s independence with a trip down memory lane through a recollection based American history test. We wanted to determine which American figure is the most recognized across three categories: politicians/historical figures, athletes, and business pioneers. To find out, we surveyed 4,000 Americans to test their recognition skills on some of the greatest US icons. 

Key Findings: 

• Donald Trump is the most recognized American figure overall, boasting a 99.6% nationwide recognition rate. 

• The most recognized American athlete is Tiger Woods, with a rate of 97.4% 

• Jeff Bezos is the most recognized American entrepreneur, with a 96.6% nationwide recollection rate 

• Boomers and Gen X tied for highest recognition rate in our survey, followed by Millennials and Gen Z. Gen Z is the only generation that recognized athletes more than any other categories ?

The most and least recognized American figures, overall??

For our seed list, 10 historical/political figures, 10 athletes, and 10 business pioneers were curated from random generation. ?

Donald Trump is the most recognized icon in America, with a ‘yuge’ recognition rate of 99.6%! Whether it’s his presidency, business ventures, or ‘fake news’ controversies,  almost the entire nation has seen or heard about him. Love or hate him, Trump is always ‘making headlines great again!’  

The 2^nd most recognized American figure is another historical figure, Martin Luther King Jr., with a recollection rate of 98.1%. The leader of the American Civil Rights Movement left a memorable mark with his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, while peacefully fighting for the rights of Black Americans. 

Fore!!! Swinging into 3^rd place is the G.O.A.T golfer, Tiger Woods, with a remembrance rate of 97.4%. This pro has racked up 82 PGA Tour wins (tied for the most ever) and 15 major championships (2^nd most in golf history). Tiger stormed the golf course at the young age of 21 and became the youngest man and first Black American to claim the 1997 Masters title. Talk about a hole-in-one career!   

On the flip side, Andy Jassy, Amazon’s CEO, is the least recognized American figure in the nation – with a low 34.7% identification rate. Ironically, while Jeff Bezos takes the top spot as the most recognized US business pioneer, his successor Jassy, ranks at the very bottom. For a country that loves Amazon, it seems that many are still lost in the prime of the company’s leadership transition. 

The 2^nd least recognized American icon is another business pioneer, Raymond Kroc. The founder of McDonald’s has a low recognition rate of just 55.3%. However, Kroc deserves supersize credit for transforming Mcdonald’s from a local chain into a global empire – revolutionizing the fast-food industry. Despite the lack of McDonald’s history knowledge, it seems America is still Lovin’ It! 

Driving into the 3^rd least recognized position is Buc-ee’s’ co-founder, Arch Aplin III, with a recollection rate of 56.4%. Known as the ‘Disney World of gas stations,’ Aplin III has taken America’s pit stops to a whole new level. From spotless bathrooms, top-tier customer service, over 100 gas pumps her store, and fresh snacks, he’s helped revolutionize America’s roadside experience.  

America’s most and least recognized all-star athletes??

As mentioned earlier, Tiger Woods is the most recognized American athlete in the nation, with top tee-r recognition score of 97.4%. However, slam-dunking into 2^nd place with a score of 95.4% is Shaquille O’Neal! Shaq was one of the most dominant players in NBA history, helping teams win NBA Championships and Olympic gold. His larger-than-life presence on and off the court has made him a favorite among fans. 

The 3^rd most recognized American all-star athlete is Mike Tyson, packing a punch with a score of 95.1%. Tyson holds multiple titles, including being the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA, and IBF world heavyweight championships. He’s a knockout athlete you won’t forget!  

Topping off the top 5, Muhammad Ali ‘floats like a butterfly’ into 4^th place, with a score of 90.5%, followed by Michael Jordan in 5^th place (88.6%).  

The most and least recognized politicians and historical figures?

As previously highlighted, Donald Trump ranks 1^st as the most recognized US figure with a 99.6% recognition rate; while MLK marches into 2^nd place, with 98.1%.  

Following closely behind in 3^rd place is Alaska’s former governor and John McCain’s VP nominee, Sarah Palin, with a recognition rate of 96.8%. Palin made history in 2008 as the first female Republican VP candidate. Despite her retirement in 2009, she’s still someone most Americans remember.  

On the contrary, Neil Armstrong lands as the least recognized historical figure overall – as only 75.2% were able to identify him. Known to first walk on the Moon, it seems many don’t recognize him without his astronaut suit.  

Furthermore, Rosa Parks takes the 2^nd least recognized spot with just 80% of Americans correctly identifying her – despite her title as “the first lady of civil rights” given by the US Congress. Surprisingly, even a Founding Father isn’t spared from anonymity. George Washington, the first president, is ranked as the 3^rd least recognized figure (80.5%).  

The most and least recognized business entrepreneurs and pioneers?

Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, delivers as the most recognized US business pioneer in the nation, with a prime recollection score of 96.6%. Not only has he built a business that Americans can’t live without, but he’s also in 2^nd place to become one of the first trillionaires within a decade. We won’t be forgetting the name and face of one of the world’s richest men!  

The 2^nd most recognized business entrepreneur is none other than Bill Gates, with 96.1% of Americans correctly identifying him. The co-founder of Microsoft helped build the world’s largest software empire, making him the world’s richest person – until Elon Musk hit the refresh button and dethroned him in 2020.  

Just a swipe away, Steve Jobs ranks as the 3^rd most recognized American business leader, with a 95.8% rate. Co-founding Apple in 1976, he revolutionized the tech industry with groundbreaking products like the MacBook, iPhone, and iPad to name a few. Jobs’ legacy continues to be the core of Apple’s innovation.  

Rounding out the top 5, Thomas Edison shines in 4^th place with an 89.7% recognition rate. His founding of General Electrics and multiple inventions (incandescent light bulb, phonograph, motion picture camera) have left a lasting impact. In 5^th place is Walt Disney, scoring 88.3%. His legacy became an American multinational mass media and entertainment empire, drawing in millions of visitors and streamers worldwide.?

Honorable Mentions: Recognition rates by the generations?

We surveyed 4,000 Americans aged 18 to 60+ to determine which generations accurately identified American figures the most. Here are the results: 

#1 (TIED): Gen X’s Average Score = 85.4%?

• Political/historical figures = 90% 

• Athletes = 89.5% 

• Business pioneers = 76.7%  

#1 (TIED): Boomers’ Average Score = 85.4%?

• Political/historical figures = 91.6% 

• Athletes = 84.9% 

• Business pioneers = 79.7% 

#2 Millennials’ Average Score = 84.4%?

• Political/historical figures = 88.9% 

• Athletes = 88.8% 

• Business pioneers = 75.6% 

#3 Gen Z’s Average Score = 78.5%?

• Athletes = 83.5% 

• Political/historical figures = 83.4% 

• Business pioneers = 68.7% 

Overall, Americans are most familiar with political/historical figures (89.1%), followed by athletes (83.2%), and then business pioneers (81.6%). However, Gen Z is the only generation that recognized athletes more than any other category. 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, our respondents score a solid ‘B’ on our survey (84.6%), indicating that Americans are quite up to date with past and current American history – no matter the generation.??

Methodology

In June 2024, we conducted a memory-based survey of 4,000 US residents, assessing recognition of American figures through image matching.  

The average age of respondents was 41.6 years old. The representative sample comprised of 59.3% female, 39% male, 1% non-binary, and 0.6% other.  

Through random generation, we were able to get a seed list of 10 prominent political/historical figures, 10 US athletes, and 10 US business pioneers.  

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.  

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org  

To celebrate the 4th of July, we fired up the grill and conducted the ultimate barbecue study (nationwide survey + weighted index), diving into the heart of backyard culture. From barbecuing habits and flavor preferences to ranking states by grill mastery and unveiling the ultimate BBQ-loving states, we’ve smoked out all the saucy details.  

Sizzlin’ Key Findings: 

• 64.6% of Americans reveal that the 4th of July is their favorite day to BBQ
• Americans spend $89.61 per barbecue session – that’s $1,433.76 per year!?(Almost enough for a weekend in Vegas.)
• America’s ideal BBQ plate: hamburger (34.6%), corn on the cob (48.8%), potato salad (21.5%), with ketchup (44.5%) as the go-to condiment 
• Mississippi ranks #1 as the top BBQ-loving state, with a score of 83.6/100 
• North Dakota leads as the biggest BBQ spender, splurging $166.70 per BBQ bash – or $2,283.79 annually?– that’s high roller territory!
• Kansas and Montana tie for #1 in self-rated BBQ mastery skills, both averaging 4.3/5 – surpassing the national average of 3.5/5  

Grillin’ Nation: BBQ habits and taste preferences 

What’s a better way to celebrate a beautiful sunny day than firing up the grill? With summer coming up, Americans are ready to turn the heat up and double down on their barbecuing, as planning to grill 8.6 times these next few months. That’s 53.7% more than their yearly average (16)! Since the typical American spends $89.61 per barbecue, they’re dishing out $770.64 this summer; or $1,433.76 per year!  

While there’s an array of BBQ plates, here’s the winning combo that won America’s hearts. According to our survey, they’re sinking teethes into a juicy burger (34.6%) smothered in ketchup (44.5%), of course. Let’s not forget the iconic buttery and salted corn on the cob (21.5%), and the creamy potato salad (21.5%). Seconds, anyone? It’s a spread that could rival any casino buffet.

But what’s the sizzle behind the infamous backyard bash? According to respondents, 58% find joy in indulging in classic BBQ cuisine: from smoked brisket, ribs, to mac and cheese, it’s a feast that caters to every tastebud. Furthermore, 45% view get-togethers with friends, family, and neighbors as the perfect excuse to fire up the grill; while 43% believe a sunny day to be the ultimate excuse to throw some barbecue some grub.  

One day stands out as the most anticipated backyard event in America – the 4^th of July, of course! 64.6% crown Independence Day as the ultimate grillin’ day of the year. Name a better way to celebrate the most American holiday than a nice plate of hot dogs, macaroni salad, and corn – all while watching fireworks. It’s the ultimate celebration of all things red, white, and BBQ!  

State Smokin’ Showdown: America’s top BBQ-loving states  

To reveal the top BBQ-enthusiast states, we polled 4,000 Americans and fired up a weighted index that considers each state’s grilling frequency, BBQ-event attendance, dine-ins at BBQ joints, and barbecue bash spending.  

With a scorching score of 83.6/100, Mississippi crowns itself as the ultimate BBQ-enthusiast state. Mississippians are firing up their grills about 19.9 times per year, not letting weather conditions slow them down. Times that by their average spend of $81.80 per barbecue? They’re igniting a whopping $1,627.82 yearly investment for their passion! Mississippians also attend an average of 9.8 BBQ-like events annually (highest in the nation), while visiting their beloved BBQ joints about 9.7 times a year.  

Just next door, Louisiana shines as the 2^nd most BBQ-obsessed state (77.4/100), firing up the grill a blazing 27.3 times (highest nationwide) annually – outpacing Mississippi! With a large spend of $105.40 per barbecue, they’re dishing out a hefty $2,877.42/year for the savory cuisine. While they do boast impressive grill stats, their BBQ event attendance (4.2) and restaurant visits (5.1) fall short, compared to Mississippi. Perhaps they favor their at-home grill grubs instead.  

South Dakota smokes the competition and places 3^rd, with a solid score of 72.6. Boasting the 3^rd highest grilling frequency (25.3) times per year, they’re no newbies to firing up a grill. Regardless of their modest spend of $65 per barbecue, their yearly foodie investment in backyard bliss totals to $1,644.50. Adding more flavor to South Dakota’s BBQ scene, they enjoy attending festivals 4.3 times a year, and dining out at favorite BBQ joints 7.8 times annually. They’re a state that savors every bite!  

To finish off the top 5 list, Alabama finishes in 4^th place (70.8), while Missouri, boasting the BBQ capital of the world in Kansas City, ranks in 5^th with 69.6 points.  

Where’s Texas (and other notorious BBQ states)? 

Surprisingly, BBQ giants like Georgia (13^th), Texas (17^th), South Carolina (20^th), Florida (21^st), North Carolina (22^nd), Tennessee (24^th), and New York (29^th) didn’t lead the pack in grilling frequency or BBQ event attendance.  

On average, each of these 7 states seem to attend fewer than 3 BBQ events per year, with a maximum of 7 visits to BBQ restaurants annually. This translates to dining out at a BBQ joint roughly once every other month! 

It seems that these states prioritize quality over quantity, hinting at true at-home cooking prowess.  

America’s Grill Game: Who claims to be the best? 

Putting America’s BBQ skills in the spotlight, we asked our 4,000 respondents to rate their barbecue skills from burnt (0) to perfection (5) to reveal which states believe they’re the best grillers in the nation. Here are the sizzlin’ results!  

At the top of the grill, Kansas and Montana tie for 1^st with a savory self-rated BBQ mastery score of 4.3 stars – about 81% higher than the national average of 3.5. Whether it’s a reflection of pure talent or a hint of self-serving bias, they’re clearly firing up their grill and confidence to the max. 

For the runner-up, New Hampshire holds a solid 4.1 star rating. It seems they prefer the sizzle of their own backyard grill over dining out, due to their sparse BBQ events (1.4 annually) and restaurant (2.1 annually) attendance.  

In a three-way tie for 3^rd place, Alaska, DC, and Vermont share a barbecue skill score of 4 stars out of 5. Knowing they’re also in the bottom 3 rankings of our BBQ-loving states index, it appears these states value their home-cooked goodness over restaurant fare.   

Rounding out the top 5, Colorado claims 4^th place (3.9), while Louisiana and Oregon tie for 5^th, with a 3.8 star self-approval rating.  

Grill-O-Nomics: America’s top BBQ spenders  

North Dakota leads the grill spend game, splurging $166.70 per BBQ bash! Since they’re firing up their grills about 13.7 times a year, they’re racking up a sizzling total of $2,283.79 annually. Talk about some smokin’ hot spending, as it’s 81% higher than the national average ($1,433.76)! 

Ranking 2^nd nationwide, Californians spend a meaty $110.90 per session. They burn through $1,397.34 annually for their BBQ fix, from their 12.6 average grill sessions alone!  

Connecticut snags 3^rd place with a saucy $108.30 spent per session, or $1,667.82 annually. For a state that barbecues 15.4 times throughout the year, that sure is a lot of dough, just for grilling!  

Topping off the top 5, Rhode Island ranks 4^th place nationally ($105.90/grill session), with Louisiana smokin’ in at 5^th place ($105.40/grill session).  

Honorary Mentions: BBQ trailblazers 

Here’s a closer look at which states lead the nation in BBQ habits: 

Summer grill master: South Dakota will cease every opportunity to barbecue this summer as they’re averaging 14.8 grills this season!  

Year-round grill guru: Louisiana leads the nation when it comes to year round barbecues, with 27.3 sessions per year.  

BBQ event attendance: Attending 9.8 flavorful events annually, Mississippi is a regular in BBQ festivals and pop-up shops.  

BBQ diner extraordinaire: Feasting 11.2 times a year at their favorite joints, West Virginia is easily the restaurant industry’s best friend here. 

Biggest BBQ spenders: Splurging a whopping $166.70 per barbecue session, North Dakota clearly wastes no dime for a good time!  

A Grill-iant Conclusion  

Regardless of where states fall on the BBQ skill spectrum, one things for sure: Americans are united in their passion for smoky, tender barbecue. Let’s light those grills, gather our loved ones, and celebrate National Barbecue Day on May 16^th in true American style!  

Methodology 

In June 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 4,000 US residents, asking about their favorite BBQ foods, year-round grill habits, and skills.  

When curating America’s ideal plate, we took the top favorite in the following categories: meat, grilled side dish, cold side dish, and condiments.  

From there, we created an index to analyze and weigh a multitude of factors to determine the most BBQ-loving states:  

1. How often they BBQ per year (25%) 

2. How many BBQ-like events they attend per year (25%) 

3. How often they dine-in at BBQ restaurants per year (25%) 

4. Average spend to BBQ (25%) 

Each state was then scored and ranked to determine which states are the most enthusiastic about barbecue.  

When collecting each state’s grill game, we asked them to rate their barbecue skills on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (spectacular).  

The average age of respondents was 41.1 years old. The representative sample comprised of 55.5% female, 42.6% male, 1.3% non-binary, and 0.5% transgender. 

Fair Use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.  

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

We asked 4,000 Americans their take on which sports they found the most heinous and why. With the Summer Olympics coming up, we even investigated which events are getting an eye roll from US spectators. Buckle up and hide your Lululemons because the roasts are coming!  

Key Highlights: 

• Ultimate frisbee was ranked #1 most despised US sport 
• Americans find Breaking to be the most annoying event in the Summer Olympics 
• Despite having the most yearly growth in fitness trends, Pilates was voted the #1 cringiest individual sport?

America’s Most Hated Team Sport is… 

If you were anticipating the most hated sport to involve a “hut, hut, hike” you’re wrong. Traditionally, football has gotten a bad rap for being the jock table jerks, but the stigma has shifted to a sport a little more…obscure. ?

Ultimate Frisbee was voted the #1 most hated sport in America. As it turns out, there’s some serious animosity towards the frisbee throwers of the country. When asked why this majority thinks ultimate frisbee was hate-worthy, respondents claimed that “people play to show off on social media.” If you’re just playing “ultimate,” as its players call it, to snap a selfie, better to stay off the field. One respondent even went on to say, “Boring! I would rather watch grass grow than watch idiots play this.” Yikes! 

The runner-up was no other than America’s new favorite: pickleball. Pickleball was voted the #2 most hated sport in America, and we don’t have to look too deep into the statistics to understand why. Stemming from its affluent cousins: tennis and squash, many Americans think it’s just a new way to keep the rich entertained. Like ultimate frisbee, most respondents said that people only play pickleball to brag on social media, but another quarter of respondents said people play the sport for its exclusivity. You can’t pickleball with us! ?

Third place goes to an American classic. You guessed it – football. Unlike ultimate frisbee and pickleball, where they’re hated for their exclusive and braggy feeling, Americans dislike football for different reasons. 60% think it’s not actually the sport that’s the issue – it’s the fans. An average NFL game isn’t complete without at least a couple of bar fights, fans taking to the streets and incessant screaming. Not to mention a lot of painted bellies. ?

Most Hated Individual Sports and Non-Contact Activities in the US 

Sun salutations to the most hated American fitness activities! No, yoga, you’re safe. Pilates – sorry to say it, but America hates you. Whether it’s the Athletic Greens aesthetic or the matching periwinkle-colored Pilates gear, we can’t help but cringe. Pilates was voted the #1 most hated individual physical activity in the US. The #1 cited reason people hate on Pilates was that it felt like people do it to “show off”. There are over 3 million #pilatesinfluencers on Instagram, so it’s no wonder that users are tired of seeing “navel to nose” on their social feeds. ?

Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by “gains”, “bulking”, “macros”, or any other gym bro banter. If so, you’re not alone. Americans cited that the #2 physical activity community they love to hate was weightlifters. Just like Pilates, respondents find weightlifting hate-worthy because of the “flaunting” aspect. We’re one gym mirror selfie away from losing our cool!?

Put down the chalk, no one wants to see your climber’s grip. Climbing was considered the #3 most hated physical activity in America. To be honest, we get it. Seeing your friends brag about clinging on to rubber grips at an indoor gym is…well…cringeworthy.?The data backs this claim too. Like football, the most cited reason for climbing hatred was because of the community itself. As [deleted] Reddit user refers to them, “You mean the beanie-wearing pebble wrestlers at the bottom of my cliff?!?!” we start to understand why the “Williamsburg” of workouts is deeply shamed. ?

Running Events Getting All the Hate 

Running clubs…you’re not safe either. As a positive, many respondents praised running for its inclusion and low barrier to entry, but that doesn’t mean it’s safeguarded from a good ole’ fashion roast. Haters gonna hate and that’s exactly what we’re here to do.?

Between fun runs and tough mudders, there’s so much great content for jokes and jabs. We asked our participants to rank which major running events across the US they found the most insufferable.  

Let’s start with the good news: the more “serious” marathons, like the NYC Half and the Boston Marathon, were safe from ridicule. As we make our way down the East Coast, however, and more specifically to a certain tourist destination, the hate commences. Mickey Mouse will need to run because the Walt Disney World Marathon was overwhelmingly voted the #1 most hate-worthy marathon in the country. It’s something about the ears and tutus that turn the more serious running community against them, while the layman joins in to mock the Mickey Mouse fans too. The almost 15,000 finishers don’t let it bother them however, as they get to soak in glory and Florida sunshine!?

If you’ve ever swiped no to someone on a dating app because their main photo is them covered in mud leaping over a wooden hurdle, you’re in good company. 40% of the replies in the /toughmudder Reddit thread used the word “elitist” or “elitism” which just about says it all. Tough Mudder races were considered the #2 most hated racing event in the US. Why anyone would want to splash around in the mud, run for their lives, and have to pay $109 is beyond us. 

The Olympic Events Getting All the Cringe 

It became a bit of a national running joke when curling became a medal sport in the 1998 Olympics. The common opinion at the time echoed that of outlandish sentiment. 25+ years later, and it’s not so disregarded, but new sports have entered the mix. We asked respondents to share which Olympic event they found the most hate-worthy out of the upcoming 32 events, some old, some new.  

In order, here is the ranking order of the most hated summer Olympic sports:?

1. Break Dancing 

2. Handball 

3. Judo 

4. Archery 

5. Cycling 

6. Sport Climbing 

7. Basketball 

8. Skateboarding 

If curling has taught us anything, we judge what we don’t know. Maybe in a few years, after break dancing has matured in the Olympics scene, it will be more widely accepted.  

Most Hated Sports by State 

What’s popular in California might be loathsome in Virginia and vice-versa. We wanted to know what were the most hated sports at a state level and the results didn’t disappoint.  

1. Alabama, Pickleball 

2. Alaska, Lacrosse 

3. Arizona, Ultimate Frisbee 

4. Arkansas, Pickleball 

5. California, Ultimate Frisbee 

6. Colorado, Football 

7. Connecticut, Pickleball 

8. District of Columbia, Pickleball 

9. Florida, Ultimate Frisbee 

10. Georgia, Pickleball 

11. Illinois, Football 

12. Indiana, Ultimate Frisbee 

13. Iowa, Ultimate Frisbee 

14. Kansas, Football 

15. Kentucky, Pickleball 

16. Louisiana, Football 

17. Maryland, Ultimate Frisbee 

18. Massachusetts, Ultimate Frisbee 

19. Michigan, Football 

20. Minnesota, Pickleball 

21. Mississippi, Ultimate Frisbee 

22. Missouri, Ultimate Frisbee 

23. Nebraska, Pickleball 

24. Nevada, Football 

25. New Hampshire, Ultimate Frisbee 

26. New Jersey, Pickleball 

27. New Mexico, Ultimate Frisbee 

28. New York, Ultimate Frisbee 

29. North Carolina, Football 

30. North Dakota, Ultimate Frisbee 

31. Ohio, Ultimate Frisbee 

32. Oklahoma, Football 

33. Oregon, Football 

34. Pennsylvania, Ultimate Frisbee 

35. Rhode Island, Football 

36. South Carolina, Pickleball 

37. South Dakota, Tennis 

38. Tennessee, Pickleball 

39. Texas, Ultimate Frisbee 

40. Utah, Pickleball 

41. Vermont, Padel 

42. Virginia, Ultimate Frisbee 

43. Washington, Football 

44. West Virginia, Ultimate Frisbee 

45. Wisconsin, Pickleball 

Please note that states with insufficient data were omitted from the list.  

Summary 

Although we shouldn’t hate on anyone for getting active and doing something they love, there’s no harm in picking a little fun! Americans left the classics like basketball and baseball out of the mix and focused their sneering on newer sports such as pickleball, ultimate frisbee, and the Olympics’ break dancing. Some American faves couldn’t be left out of the roast however, as the NFL gets third-place hatred. Do what you love no matter what the haters say, but don’t be surprised if your Peloton becomes the butt of the joke. ?

Methodology  

In June 2024, we surveyed 4,000 Americans asking a number of questions regarding the sentiment of sports and physical activities identified in Google Trends top lists. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”.???

Fair Use   

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.   

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

We surveyed 3,000 Americans about their thoughts on the J. Lo rumors and who they’d love to see step into the Vegas residency spotlight, if her deal falls through.??

Key Findings: 

• 79% of Americans revealed they wouldn’t attend Jennifer Lopez’s Vegas show, even if money and travel were no issue 

• Why? 53% admit they simply have no interest in her or her music 

• Beyoncé is America’s top pick to replace J. Lo’s residency show 

• On average, Americans are willing to spend $281.18 to see their dream artist’s Las Vegas residency show 

Over half of Americans show little interest in J. Lo’s residency deal. Here’s why?

We dug into people’s interest levels in Jennifer Lopez and her music, but found respondents saying, Let’s Get Loud for the wrong reasons. It seems there’s a (J.) Lo lack of enthusiasm for Jenny from the Block and her residency show.??

When asked, “Would you attend Jennifer Lopez’s residency show if travel and money weren’t an issue” a whopping 79% said they’d pass. The #1 reason for this unenthusiastic response? 53% admitted they have no interest in her or her music…ouch.?

Adding to the chorus of disinterest, 23% revealed they don’t enjoy her music, while another 22% would rather spend their time at a different Las Vegas residency show. With entertainers like Bruno Mars, Dead & Company, Lady Gaga, and Adele, it’s no wonder!

However, America’s disinterest for J. Lo has nothing to do with her latest album, as only 2% confessed they didn’t enjoy her latest album, “This Is Me… Now”.?

America’s top pick to replace Jennifer Lopez in Vegas?

We opened the floor to our 3,000 US respondents and asked them the burning question: 

“Which 2024 most-streamed artist or band would you like to see featured in Las Vegas’ next residency, if Jennifer Lopez’s deal falls through?” 

Time to get into formation, Las Vegas, because Beyoncé has stolen the spotlight as the #1 most favored artist for MGM Grand’s next residency spot. America’s longing for another Beyoncé residency is no secret, with recent fueled rumors running wild at a possible Cowboy Carter show. Sadly, these rumors have since been debunked, leaving many yearning for Queen Bey’s return to the Vegas stage.  

America’s global pop sensation star, Taylor Swift, ranks #2 overall in the residency wish list. Unfortunately, she’s currently globe-trotting with her record-breaking Eras Tour, leaving many hopeful for an ounce of residency anticipation. Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac claims the #3 position in desired Las Vegas residencies. While we can only Dream of an iconic show, we’ll have to ‘go our own way’ to a different show for now. 

To finish off the top-streamed 2024 residency wish list: Eminem (#4), Ed Sheeran (#5), Miley Cyrus (#6), Post Malone (#7), The Weeknd (#8), Ariana Grande (#9), and Lana Del Rey (#10).

Themes and ticket prices: What Americans prefer for Vegas residencies?

To theme or not to theme? Turns out, 57% don’t have a preference! Only 29% are all in for a themed extravaganza, while 14% prefer their shows theme-free.?

Onto the million-dollar question: “How much would you spend to see your dream artist’s Vegas residency?”??

On average, fans are willing to drop $281.18. But if you’re dreaming of a front-row seat for the likes of Adele, for example, expect to pony up at least $1,000. You might want to roll those dice at Vegas’ luckiest casino or settle in the nosebleeds!  

Conclusion?

As of now, Jennifer Lopez’s residency deal remains intact. But just in case the curtain falls, MGM Grand has a star-studded lineup of contenders lined up for their next star, as voted by America.??

Methodology?

In June 2024, we surveyed 3,000 US residents to gather insights on Jennifer Lopez and preferred Vegas residency preferences. Our list included 2024’s most streamed artists, according to Spotify and Billboard.  

The average age of respondents was 38.9 years old. The representative sample comprised of 59.6% female, 38.8% male, 1.3% non-binary, and 0.2% transgender.  

Fair use?

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

This led us to analyze which popular music festivals offer the most and least expensive experience in America and Canada (per day). We considered the following factors: average day ticket price, water bottle cost, beer cost, hamburger cost, and day parking cost.  

Key Findings: 

• USA: Outside Lands is the most expensive festival, averaging a day expense of $301.70 USD 

• CA: Calgary Stampede ranks as the most expensive music festival in the Great White North, where a day at the festival costs $390.50 CAD 

• USA: Summerfest ranks as the cheapest festival by a landslide, at about $90.83 USD per day 

• CA: Festival D’été de Quebec (FEQ) is the cheapest festival in Canada, costing Canadians $62.13 CAD per day 

The most and least wallet-friendly festivals across America 

With Americans willing to shell out an average of $269.93 (or 15% of their monthly income) on tickets for their dream music festival, which offers the best bang for their buck? 

Shooting outside of your budget, Outside Lands ranks as America’s most expensive music festival. An average day at San Francisco’s 3-day festival will cost attendees at least $301.70 USD in total. A single-day ticket averages $226.20, plus $12.50 for a beer, a hefty $23 for a burger, and another $40 for a single-day parking spot. But hey, at least you can save on water costs through their complimentary refillable water bottle stations, right? If you’re planning to go for the entire weekend, be prepared to spend a whopping $905.10 – and that’s not even including accommodation!  

Bonnaroo? More like Bonna-oof! Tennessee’s 4-day music festival ranks as the 2^nd most expensive music festival in the good ole USA. A day at Bonnaroo will set you back at least $241. With $40 single-day parking, $12 beer, and $15 burgers, your wallet will feel the pinch. Because it’s a 4-day event, be prepared to spend around $964 for the whole festival! 

Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) ranks as America’s 3^rd most expensive music festival, where a single day can cost you about $228.32. The festival recently went viral for its exorbitant prices, with a 6-pack of water costing $90 and a taxi ride of $40 per trip. To level the playing field (as prices were grouped in packages), we found the average for each single factor: $169.99 for a day ticket, $15 for a water bottle (ouch), $23.33 for a beer, $20 for a burger, and luckily, free general parking!  

Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune to attend music festivals, as Milwaukee’s Summerfest ranks as the most affordable festival in the nation. With $28 single-day tickets, $5.25 water bottles, $10.08 beers, $7.50 burgers, and $40 parking, the entire day experience can cost you just $90.83 – a 107% difference from Outside Lands!  

Summerfest has shown that festivals can champion affordability and accessibility against industry standards, while still holding an incredible lineup. To prove their point, they’re correct, as it’s the World’s Largest Music Festival according to the Guinness World Records!  

Canada’s priciest and cheapest music festivals 

With the average Canadian willing to spend $281.46 (or 12.5% on their monthly income) on music festival tickets, we analyzed which festivals offer the best value to attendees this year.  

Stomping its way through Canadian’s wallets, the Calgary Stampede takes the crown as the most expensive music festival in Canada! A ticket to the musical events at The World’s Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth averages a whopping $331 CAD. Add a $4.50 water bottle, $10 beer, $15 burger, and $30 parking, you’re looking at a grand total of $390.50 per day. Hoping to catch all 4 music acts? Get ready to shell out a staggering $1,562. Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks, because this festival ain’t for the faint of wallets!?

Down in the 6ix, the Veld Music Festival ranks as Canada’s 2^nd most expensive, with the average day costing at least $272.17. A day ticket at Canada’s largest EDM festival amounts to $223.17, while water costs $6, beer $11, burgers $20, and public parking $12. Be ready to shuffle your way through some hefty expenses, as the entire weekend could set you back $816.51!  

Hein ? C’est combien ?! Osheaga Music and Arts Festival sits as the nation’s 3^rd most expensive festival, with an average cost of $218.16 per day. Entrance to Canada’s largest arts and music festival will cost you $166.66. If you’re hungry or thirsty, expect $9 beers, $17.50 beers, and better yet, free refillable water bottle stations! With $25/day parking rates, the 3-day festival could cost you an average of $654.48 for the weekend experience. 

On the flip side, Quebec’s other popular music festival, FEQ, shines as Canada’s most affordable festival – with an average of $62.13 a day. While the 11-day pass costs $150, the price per day amounts to just $13.63! If you’re planning to eat or drink, water will only set you back $3, while beers go for $8, burgers for $12.50, and parking for $25. The best part? Although it’s an 11-day extravaganza, the full experience ($683.43) will still cost 78% less than the Calgary Stampede ($1,562)!  

Conclusion 

There’s no doubt that music festivals in both America and Canada offer a diverse range of musical experiences and price tags. Luckily, some are more attainable than others. Ultimately, music festival experiences extend beyond the cost and celebrate the community, connections, and memories made.  

Methodology 

In June 2024, looking at the most popular and attended music festivals in America and Canada, we scraped recent (2023-2024) average price data for beers, parking, water, tickets, and hamburgers to establish the rankings. Some other commonly-known festivals may have not been accounted for due to the lack of available cost information online.

Please note that some festivals only offered weekend passes, so we had to manually calculate the average single-day ticket. 

Fair use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

In honor of The Hangover’s 15^th Anniversary, we’re giving away a night’s stay at the famed Hangover Suite in Caesar’s Palace casino, a stay worth over $2,000. The room was the inspiration for the masterpiece, The Hangover. It’s complete with stellar?views, a bubbling tub, and that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” feel. Are you convinced yet? Here’s what you’ll need to do to enter:?

How to enter:  

Feeling Vegas-invigorated? Throw your name in the hat and get ready for a ritzy stay in The Hangover suite! What’re you waiting for! Enter here!  

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Disclaimer 

Casino.org has no affiliation with The Hangover Franchise, Caesar’s Palace, or any brand mentioned in any capacity. Casino.org is not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by mentioned brands. The use of any trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only. 

Terms and Conditions 

The terms and conditions of the giveaway can be found here. For further information, please contact the email address above.  

If you’ve been hoping to “toss a couple milli in the air for the heck of it” just know there are some places that are better for it. Some states have neighborhoods filled with McMansions while others scrape the barrel for a buck. We wanted to just where the entrepreneurs, the ambitious, and the idealist would have their best shot at earning $1,000,000,000.  

To determine this, we looked at a number of wealth factors, at the state and city levels, that crucially affect financial growth. Those factors include:  

1. Cost of Living Index 

2. Access to investment funds and venture capital 

3. Average Income 

4. Education Rates 

5. GDP Per Capita 

6. Current concentration of millionaires  

We combined these factors to create a weighted score that ultimately ranked states and 20 US cities by likelihood of becoming a millionaire. So where will you have your rags to riches story? 

Key Findings: 

• San Francisco is the #1 city for becoming a millionaire, scoring 94/100 on the millionaire index 
• The Golden State, California comes into 1st for “best state to become a millionaire” with 17.9% of it’s population being millionaires
• Mississippi ranked as the toughest state for millionaires with a 2/100 score on the millionaire index

Move here if you want to become a millionaire 

All signs are pointing to the Golden State! Since the early days of the U S of A, pioneers headed west to strike it rich. Scoring 80/100 on the millionaire index, California earned the title of the #1 best state for becoming a millionaire. Cali topped the charts for several reasons. Home to Silicon Valley, California had more venture capital than any other state and more than most of the US combined. With $1.03 billion of investment funds in 2023 alone, The Golden State makes up almost half (41%) of the US venture capital total of $2.5 billion.  

Beyond investment, even the average joe makes more. The annual income sat at $73,220 avg. for Californians, 22% more than the national numbers. With that in mind, California did rank as the second highest cost of living in the country, following only slightly behind the expensive Massachusetts. Your bank account might have a few extra zeros behind it if you move to California, but just remember, a bottle of water can cost upwards of $26 at the Erewhon grocery store.  

If you’re California dreaming of capitalism, just know you stand a 9% chance of striking it rich. Not all that bad actually! 

The rich runner-ups  

If you’ve never quite pictured yourself living in the Malibu dream house, don’t worry. There are plenty of states to test your luck at the American Dream. The concrete jungle is also ample with opportunities! New York ranked #2 for best state to become a millionaire.  

Opportunities aren’t just limited to the Big Apple either. The state, in its entirety, had higher education rates (37% have a bachelor’s degree or more), higher GDP, and a bigger labor market. It’s interesting to note too that New York’s wealth doesn’t scream, it whispers. Instead of most of its money coming from investment capital, like California, it’s more of a slow burn (read: generational wealth). With higher annual salaries ($75k vs. $59k national average), New Yorkers are building their empires in different ways. Well… that and the highest concentration of extreme wealth in the country might mean a “small loan of a million dollars,” but they’ve earned it! Right? 

If you weren’t born into names like Rockefeller or Vanderbilt, fear not! In New York, you stand about a 7.52% chance of becoming a millionaire.  

Bay State? More like Bae State! Massachusetts wins our hearts (and our wallets) as the 3^rd best state for becoming a millionaire. Massachusetts prides itself on having the most GDP per capita in the US, but it doesn’t stop there. That GDP translates to “by the people, for the people” with some of the highest salaries in the country ($77k avg.).  

Massachusetts isn’t wealthy in the same way that New York or California are. Where California boasts “start-up bro” rich and New Yorkers are “dad’s money” it’s a different ball game in MA. Consider that Harvard, MIT, and Boston College are some of the richest universities in the country and you get a better idea as to why there’s money to be made in Massachusetts.  

If you’re Ivy or otherwise, Massachusettsans stand a 9.38% of hitting millionaire status.  

Best US cities for becoming a millionaire 

Let’s get granular. The chances of striking it rich in Oakland versus Presidio Heights, for example, might vary drastically and they’re only miles away. Looking beyond the state level, we wanted to know, out of the top 25 most-populated cities, what urban areas are best for accumulating wealth.  

Just as California is a rich state, so are its stand-alone cities. 3 out of the top 4 best cities for becoming a millionaire are in California. #1 goes to San Francisco followed by San Jose for #2, and Los Angeles at #4. San Francisco isn’t just rich, it’s rich rich. Every 1 in 1,060 city residents is ultra-wealthy – this goes far beyond a couple of lousy millions! All that money does however mean steep housing costs which shines light on why San Francisco has the 10^th highest amount of unsheltered homeless populations.  

San Jose is just as techie as its San Fran counterpart. Coming into 2^nd place as the best city for becoming a millionaire, San Jose has the third highest GDP per capita in the world (just behind Oslo and Zurich) in part thanks to the tech giants who reside there. Cisco Systems, eBay, Adobe Inc., PayPal, Broadcom, and Zoom all call San Jose home. With the medium household income at $113k, it doesn’t seem so farfetched to become rich in Teal Town. 

California can’t have all the fun. Boston ranks as the 3^rd best city for becoming a millionaire. Boston is the 9^th richest city in the world with plenty of wealth to go around. The latest figures show that Harvard’s endowment is $49.44 billion. A smooth tenure at the university can really add up! For those outside of academia, Boston’s millionaire households had the third highest amount of bonds, stocks, and personal retirement funds. Education helps of course, but with the high concentration of assets, we can see that investment goes a long way too.  

The Worst States for Becoming Millionaires  

Not everything that glitters is gold. By the numbers, we can already see that a vast majority of America’s wealth is held up in only a few states. Some states fare worse than others when it comes to moving up the wealth ladder.  

At the bottom of the list is Mississippi, where they scored a 2/100 on the millionaire index. Only 4% of the state has millionaires’ status and 2, who happen to be brothers, have earned billionaires’ titles. Mississippi isn’t kind to those trying to make a dollar either. CNBC claimed the court system to be one of the most hostile towards business. On the upside, Mississippi has one of the lowest cost of living rates, so even if you don’t hit the magic number of $1 million, you can still live a decent life on less. 

For the bottom 2, West Virginia and Arkansas tied at a 4/100 on the millionaire index. Both states had relatively low education rates compared to the national average as well as minimal job opportunities (per the labor index) for both degree and non-degree holders. Much like Mississippi, these 2 states don’t necessarily require millions to live a good life. Both states make it into the top 10 cheapest states to live in the US at a 90.2 on the cost of living index. That certainly beats a $12 coffee in NYC! 

US cities where you’re least likely to become a millionaire  

Compare the $18.07 minimum wage in San Francisco to El Paso’s $12.11 and you begin to see the wealth disparity a bit clearer. Out of the 25 most populated US cities, El Paso ranked last with a score of 13/100 on the millionaire index. With a count of 6,000 millionaires and 1 billionaire, the community with the deep pockets is a small one. The chances of becoming a millionaire in El Paso? Less than 1%.  

Indianapolis also doesn’t bode well for aspiring millionaires. Scoring 21/100 on the millionaire index, the factors work against those trying to earn big. The exact amount of millionaires in Indianapolis is unknown, but only 5.34% of the whole state holds that kind of wealth. Ranking 9^th in the nation for the number of impoverished neighborhoods, the millionaire dream seems challenging. With that said, there are stories of inspiration that show us that even if the odds are low, not all is lost. Herb Simon, owner of the Indiana Pacers with a now approximate net worth of $4 billion was raised in poverty. The odds are slim in Indiana, but nothing is impossible! 

The million-dollar question 

Alright Sharks, show us the money! If you’ve got an idea that you’re itching to share to make the big bucks, there are certainly some states that are more receptive than others. That said, the US, on the whole, still has the American Dream to share. The probability of becoming a millionaire in the US is 6.4% – slim, but not futile! Just remember, Kim Kardashian is a billionaire. If Ms. (and I quote) “Stretchmarks are my biggest fear in life” can do it, you can too! 

Methodology 

In May 2024, we collected state and economic statistics to combine for a weighted score. The weighted score used wealth factors to determine the best states to become a millionaire. 

Fair Use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

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In celebration of Fortnite’s upcoming Chapter 5: Season 3 release, we’ve embarked on a quest to identify which states are best positioned to claim the Victory Royale in a hypothetical real-world Fortnite. Drawing inspiration from the game’s landscapes and strategic gameplay, we’ve analyzed each state’s environmental, survival, and strategic factors in our very own Victory Royale index. Gear up and brace yourself for the ultimate showdown! 

Key findings: 

• Minnesota is most likely to claim Victory Royale, with a perfect score of 100/100 
• Colorado secures 2^nd place (99.3/100), with Kansas in 3^rd (81.8/100) 
• Rhode Island is the least likely to win in a Battle Royale, as they scored 0/100 

How to score a real-life Victory Royale, according to our index 

1. Battle Royale Bustle (Population density): Lower population density equals survival chances and loads of hiding spot opportunities 

2. Alliance Advantage (Crime rate): Lower crime rates fosters trusty alliances, crucial for navigating and advancing through the ranks 

3. Healing Abundance (Pharmacy density): With higher pharmacy density, the better equipped players are to patch themselves up to stay in the game longer 

4. Gold Rush (GDP): A higher GDP opens more opportunities to splurge on top-tier equipment and essential resources for the ultimate battle 

5. Strategic Savvy (Education attainment): Sharp strategic decisions are key to a Victory Royale. Higher levels of education attainment equal quicker and effective gameplay strategies 

6. Gear Galore (Firearm training facilities density): The more facilities available, the more resources to gear up before the showdown 

7. Nature’s Fury (Natural disaster declarations): Just like in Fortnite, surviving intense climates like storms and blizzards are crucial. Few natural disaster declarations mean better odds of weathering the storm for that sweet victory 

And Victory Royale goes to…

The state most likely to dominate in a real-life Victory Royale is Minnesota, with a perfect score of 100. Thanks to its relatively low 20th lowest population density of 73.2, Minnesotans can find plentiful hiding spots to heighten survival chances amidst the chaos, much like savvy online gamblers who know when to lay low and when to make their move. Navigating natural disasters will be a breeze, as they’ve only had one major natural disaster declaration in the last year. With an education attainment score of 64/100, 6th lowest crime rate, and having the 3rd highest firearm training facilities density, they’re equipped to make the best strategic decisions to secure the Victory Royale, skills that would serve them well in online poker tournaments too.

Securing the silver medal, Colorado stands just 0.7 points shy of the Victory Royale glory with a total score of 99.3/100. While Coloradans flourish in a lower 14th lowest population density and 2nd highest firearm training facilities density, they also have the 15th largest GDP – more than Minnesota. Their education attainment score of 69.3/100 highlights their tactical decision-making abilities in navigating the field, a trait that would be invaluable in complex casino games like blackjack or sports betting. However, their doubled crime rate (compared to Minnesota) presents a challenge, hindering their ability to form trusty alliances and potentially weakening their chances of a Victory Royale or a big casino win.

Holding the bronze medal is Kansas, with an overall score of 81.8/100. Kansas stands out in comparison to both Minnestoa and Colorado, as they have the 10^th lowest population density nationwide; and shine with the 3^rd highest pharmacy density across the nation. However, with only 61 available training facilities (24^th nationwide ranking) puts them at a slight disadvantage. Additionally, their ranking of 33^rd in GDP category contributes to their bronze medal position. 

Rounding out the top five rankings, Nebraska storms in at 4^th place (80.1/100), with Virginia in 5^th place (78.5/100). 

The states least likely to score a Victory Royale 

Rhode Island ranks as the state destined for defeat, with a dismal score of 0/100. Positioned with the 2^nd highest population density, they’ll lack hiding spots to stake out in for long-term survival. As for alliance advantage? More like alliance disadvantage, as they have the 16^th highest crime rate, plummeting their chances of meeting dependable teammates. On top of that, their rankings of 2^nd lowest pharmacy density and 7^th lowest in firearm training facilities density, their odds are stacked against them. 

Lagging behind in the second to last spot nationwide, is Hawaii, with a score of 6.8 out of 100. Not only do they rank 13^th highest in population density, but their lackluster 47^th ranking in firearm training facilities density is a recipe for trouble. On top of that, due to their pharmacy density, they have the 4^th lowest ranking in the category – making it difficult to patch themselves up for long-term survival, in case of medical emergencies. Combine these elements together, and it’ll only present obstacles to their hopes of clinching the Victory Royale.  

Oklahoma finds itself, unfortunately, third to last, as they only scraped 13.7 points out of 100. Despite boasting the 15^th lowest population density, they face an uphill battle with the 4^th highest ranking in the natural disaster declaration category – aka, added stress to their gameplay. Additionally, their 44th position in making strategic decisions and 50^th ranking pharmacy density leaves them carefully treading with their gameplay, compared to their fellow states.  

Finishing off the bottom five list, Tennessee ranks 46^th place overall (21.6/100), with New Jersey and New York tied for 45^th place nationwide (24.7/100).  

Conclusion 

As you dive into the latest Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 2 release, envision yourself transitioning into a real-life Battle Royale scenario. The skills required for success in Fortnite – strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and risk management – are similar to those needed in online gambling. Considering some of the listed advantages and challenges each state presents, ask yourself if the Victory Royale scores in your favor! And remember, whether you’re dropping into Tilted Towers or logging into an online casino, always play responsibly and within your limits.

Playing online: Is there a Fortnite slot?

Unfortunately, no. There is currently no Fortnite slot available. The good news is that you can play over 17,000 free casino games on our website, many of which are themed on classic video games. Here are some of the most popular video game-themed slots:

• Space Invaders
• Tomb Raider
• Street Fighter
• Resident Evil
• Star Wars

The best part is that you can play for fun or real money. So you don’t even have to spend a penny to test their features if you don’t want to.

Methodology

In March 2024, we asked ChatGPT to create a general criterion for our Victory Royale index. As described in the index description (above), this helped us determine what to assess. We then assessed some of the data for the suggest factors and weighed them: 

1. Battle Royale Bustle = Population density per square mile (Wisevoter) 

2. Gear Galore = # of public firearm training facilities density (NSSF) 

3. Nature’s Fury = Natural disaster declarations within the last 12 months (FEMA) 

4. Gold Rush = GDP (Wisevoter) 

5. Strategic Savvy = Most educated states index (Wallethub)

6. Alliance Advantage = Crime rate per 100k (Wisevoter) 

7. Healing Abundance = Pharmacies per 10k (pharmacists.org)  

Each state was then scored on a scale of 0-100 to discover which states have the highest and lowest chances of winning a real-life Victory Royale.  

Disclaimer

This campaign and any images used on?Casino.org?are inspired by the online video game, “Fortnite”. There is no commercial association between?Casino.org and the “Fortnite” online video game or its developer/publisher “Epic Games”. Trademark rights and copyrights relating to the online video game “Fortnite” belong to their respective owner(s) which are not associated with or affiliated with?Casino.org? in any way and did not license rights or authorise or sponsor this campaign.

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

As we’re almost halfway through the year, the spotlight shifts to upcoming sporting events, clashing one another for fans’ attention: the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, and Olympics. But out of all the 9 major sports championship events, which ranks #1 in desirability and fan cost investment? To settle the score, we polled over 3,000 North American sports fans to find out. 

Key Findings: 

• The Super Bowl ranks 1^st in spectatorship popularity and fan cost investment, willing to spend $1,598.31 to attend  
• The World Series claims the runner-up position, with the NBA Finals in 3^rd for spectatorship popularity 
• The Olympics wins the silver medal in ticket splurging, with fans willing to dish out $1,448.28 for the experience 
• NBA Finals is the most expensive championship event for fans to attend, while the FIFA World Cup ranks as the most affordable 

The most sought-after major sports events 

Hut, hut, hike! The Super Bowl takes the top spot as the most sought-after event, as 34% prefer it over any other big event. It’s no shocker, given that it’s attracted over 100M TV viewers in 2023 and the latest championship bringing in a record-breaking 123.7M. Up in Canada, 19M also tuned in for the big game – that’s nearly 50% of the country’s population! It’s evident that it’s not just a game, but a pop cultural touchdown for both countries. Who wouldn’t want a seat at the event of the year????

Hey batter, batter – the MLB World Series slides into 2^nd base as the most in-demand sporting event to attend. Baseball, dubbed America’s oldest pastimes, is a true classic sport. Whether fans adore it for the game itself or its nostalgia, the MLB World Series is an event that many dream of experiencing in person. 

Swish! Dribbling into 3^rd place out of 9, the NBA Finals snags bronze for its popularity amongst sports enthusiasts. The championship series is a definite slam dunk, with the playoffs averaging 5.4M viewers per game, and a whopping 12M for the championship game alone! Its blend of high-energy action and team spirit leaves many fans with serious FOMO, itching to score tickets to the main event.  

Finishing off the rest of the rankings: FIFA World Cup (4^th), Olympics (5^th), Stanley Cup Finals (6^th), The Masters (7^th), Formula One Grand Prix (8^th), and Grand Slam (9^th).  

How much fans are willing pay to attend the championships 

Riding the Super Bowl popularity wave, fans are also willing to max out their credit cards to attend the championship. When asked, “how much would you spend to attend the Super Bowl, if you could”, respondents answered with an eye-popping average of $1,598.31! Think that’s a lot? Well, hold onto your helmets because that’s only a mere 18.9% of the recent Super Bowl’s ticket price tag – which averaged $8,600. Fans will need some serious savings game planning if they want to score tickets.  

With the 2024 Summer Olympics around the corner, it’s clear that fans are ready to go the distance in terms of ticket costs. Ranking 2^nd overall, they’re willing to dish out an average of $1,448.28 per ticket – and that’s not including overseas flights or accommodations! Luckily, ticket prices do vary depending on the specific sport. Finals and beloved sports like swimming or gymnastics can cost a grand, while lesser-known events like handball or fencing can come to under $300. Despite the diverse range of sports, fans are willing to dig deep into their pockets to cheer on their country’s athletes in Paris! 

Despite its underdog status in terms of popularity, the Grand Slam proves to be a major contender in fan spending. Ranking as the 3^rd most expensive event for fans eager to attend, they’re ready to serve up an average of $1,432.22! Let’s break down the US Open prices for example: Women’s Finals start at $755, while the Men’s Finals kick off at a hefty $2,220 – and those aren’t courtside seats! If you’re hoping for courtside seats, be prepared to spend at least $2,250 for the Women’s Finals or $7,000 for the Men’s Finals.  

Wrapping up the rankings, the FIFA World Cup takes 4^th place, with fans willing to spend $1,020.20 to attend. Following is the Formula One Grand Prix (5^th), The Masters (6^th), NBA Finals (7^th), MLB World Series (8^th), and the Stanley Cup Finals (9^th).  

The most and least affordable events for fans

To determine which major sports event are the most budget-friendly or financially out-of-reach for fans, we compared the average ticket prices that our respondents were willing to pay with the average ticket cost from each of the latest championship or finals events.  

#1 FIFA World Cup – 119% 
#2 Olympics – 93.5%  
#3 The Masters – 54.6% 
#4 Stanley Cup Finals – 49%  
#5 Grand Slam – 43% 
#6 MLB World Series – 39.1%  
#7 Formula One Grand Prix – 30.4% 
#8 Super Bowl – 18.9%  
#9 NBA Finals – 11.9%  

The FIFA World Cup is the most affordable event for fans, with our respondents willing to pay 119% over the average ticket price. While the average 2022 ticket price stood at $855, fans were ready to spend $1,020.20 to secure a ticket. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the NBA Finals is the most out-of-reach sports event, with fans only able to pay 11.9% of the latest average ticket price. With the 2023 NBA Finals ticket averaging $6,080.52, respondents were only willing to shell out an average of $722.12 for entry.  

Conclusion 

It’s clear as day that sports is a way of life, sometimes accompanied by serious financial commitments. Luckily, there’s a variety of different championships fans can attend without draining their wallets entirely – whether that be opting for more affordable seating, attending non-final events, or simply enjoying the action from home.  

Methodology 

In May 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 3,000 North American sports fans. The average age of respondents was 40.8 years old. The representative sample comprised of 75.1% male, 24.2% female, 0.4% non-binary, and 0.3% transgender.  

Please note that prices are in USD. 

Fair use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.   

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

It’s evident that Americans are gearing up for the undead, in the not-so-distant future. With that said, we wanted to know which states offer the highest and lowest chance of survival, based on three essential factors: environmental conditions (36%), hiding spots (25%), and valuable professions (39%). We weighted these factors into our very own ‘Zombie Apocalypse Survival Index’ to reveal which states are safe havens, and which could be a zombies’ favorite buffet. Think of it as like a nationwide casino, where some states have better odds than others.

Key Findings:

• California is the ultimate zombie safe zone, with a perfect score of 100 (The Royal Flush of survival)
• For those in the South-Central region, Texas is your second-best option with a score of 88.39
• The third-safest state is Florida, with a total score of 73.28. This is the best option for those situated on the East Coast
• Avoid Rhode Island at all costs, as it’s shaping up to be the ultimate zombie hotspot

The scoring spectrum

Don’t sharpen your stakes just yet, as you might be living in or near some of America’s safe zones. To be considered a safe zone, states had to excel in the various critical areas:

• Freshwater accessibility
• Firearm ownership rates
• Abundance of gas stations, farms, army bases, and prisons
• High presence of military and law enforcement personnel, health care professionals, farmers, scientists and engineers
• Low population density and crime rate

Zombie-proof states: Where to live, when the dead walk

The best state to stake out in during a zombie apocalypse is California, with a perfect score of 100. The Golden State wins gold in their A-list lineup of valuable professions, safe havens, and environmental factors. As they have the highest valuable professions per capita, assembling a dream team of military and law enforcement, healthcare experts, scientists and engineers, and farmers, should easily help you fight the dead. It’s like having a team of card-counting experts at your blackjack table. California also boasts a staggering 73 army bases (the most in the nation), and an abundance of farms and prisons to hide in. Although they’re not the roomiest (ranking 11th in population density) and have the fifth lowest firearm ownership rate (16.3%), its low crime rate (30th out of 50) and horde of gas stations easily makes up for it. Combine all these factors together, the undead won’t be seen strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame.?

Yeehaw, Texas is your second-best bet for riding out the zombie apocalypse rodeo, as it lassoed in 88.39 points according to our index. Despite the fact that the Lone Star State has the highest crime rate nationwide, it compensates with the bounty of 10,904 gas stations (highest in the country) to fuel your getaway car – in case of traitor alliances or zombie mobs. Texas leads the nation with the highest number of farms (246,000), second in army bases, and third in prisons per capita. Looking to trade in those less-than-trustworthy sidekicks? Don’t fret, Texas is the runner-up for valuable sidekick professions, right behind California. Despite being a large and arid state, it places 6th place in freshwater accessibility; while comfortably placing itself in the middle of nationwide rankings for population density and firearm ownership rate (35.5%). Time to dust off your cowboy boots, holster those rifles, and maybe practice your poker face!

Hey zombies, get out of my swamp! Florida sports the bronze medal for the third safest state to navigate the zombie apocalypse, with a score of 73.28. The Sunshine State reigns as champion when it comes to state prisons (143) and army base numbers (41) – we can thank Florida Man for these perfect hideout spots. Even though their population density lands them eight, their low crime rate (28.8%), seventh-highest freshwater accessibility, and third-highest number of gas stations (6,243) easily makes up for it. Zombies, beware! 

Rounding out the top five list, Virginia takes fourth place with a score of 66.31, as Michigan solidifies its position in fifth, with 64.51 points. So whether you’re on the East or West coast, or somewhere in between, you have a lifeline of escape options in case of the zombie apocalypse.

Don’t open, dead inside: States to avoid like the plague

If you happen to be living in one of these zombie hotspots, it might be time to pack a survival kit, create an escape plan (for the purely hypothetical zombie outbreak, of course), or simply hone down on your sprinting skills. Consider it the equivalent of knowing when to fold ’em and walk away from a bad hand.

The absolute last place you want to be is in Rhode Island, as they rank dead last (50th) with big, fat zero points. You can kiss distance and privacy goodbye as Rhode Island unfortunately boasts the second-highest population density (per square mile). Not only that, but your self-defense options are pretty limited as their firearm ownership rate is only 13.9% – this ranks as fourth-worst nationwide (in terms of defense). You can also forget the idea of a getaway car since they come second to last in gas station numbers. We hope you’re good at hide and seek too since farms (49th), army bases (47th), and prisons (47th) aren’t in abundance here; oh and reliable sidekicks as they’re short in supply, so we strongly recommend you set your sights on a different state for your survival. 

It’s not just Rhode Island you should avoid because the Upper East Coast doesn’t fare too well either. New Jersey (49th) scores 10.12 points, Connecticut (48th) with 10.97 points, and Delaware (47th) with 17.64 points all share the similar and less-than-ideal survival factors as Rhode Island. To round off the bottom five, Nevada sits in 46th with a total score of 21.47. Not only will they have to fend off zombies, but also for potential alien invasions – talk about a double whammy! It’s like playing roulette and craps simultaneously – exciting but dangerous.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a zombie-fanatic, a meticulous planner, or pondering the zombie apocalypse while watching “Shaun of the Dead” for its 20th anniversary, our index is ready to guide and assist you with your survival plans. Just like in the world of online gambling, preparation and strategy are key. So study these odds and pick your location wisely. Stay safe, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Methodology

In May 2024, we asked ChatGPT to create a general criteria for the Zombie Apocalypse Survival Index. Once created, we grouped some of the suggested factors into different weighted categories:

1. Environmental (36%)
   1. Population density (per square mile) – 7%
   2. Firearm ownership rates – 10%
   3. Freshwater accessibility (water surface area per square mile) – 9%
   4. Crime rate (per 100k) – 4%
   5. Number of gas stations – 6%
2. Hiding spots (25%)
   1. Number of farms – 7%
   2. Number of army bases – 10%
   3. Number of prisons – 8%
3. Valuable professions (39%)
   1. Number of military and law enforcement workers per capita – 10%
   2. Number of healthcare professionals per capita – 12%
   3. Number of scientists and engineers per capita – 10%
   4. Number of farmers per capita – 7%

Each state was then scored on a scale of 0-100 to find the best and worst states for zombie apocalypse survival. 

State-specific data were collected from the following sites:

• Wisevoter.com
• Statista.com 
• Eia.gov
• Usda.gov
• Public.opendatasoft.com
• Nicic.gov
• Bls.gov

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An estimated $13 billion worth of package theft has hit the US. All across the suburbs of the US (and cities too), Americans are plagued with package theft problems. Some companies reimburse, while others shrug their shoulders. Despite the wave of new technologies like Ring doorbells and employing old ones like yapping dogs, porch piracy remains on the rise. 

We wanted to know which cities and states porch pirates are hitting the most and what exactly is being stolen. By surveying 3,000 Americans who have been victim to said problem, we were able to collect the data necessary to figure out the deal with package theft: what’re they stealing, how are we stopping it, and does your video doorbell really make a difference or are they just smiling for the camera?  

Key findings: 

• Washington DC is getting hit the hardest with porch pirates at 80% 
• Philadelphia named the capital of package theft with 82% regular thievery 
• Nebraska was deemed the safest state with the nation’s lowest package theft rate 
• 20% of Americans “protect” against package theft by working from home 
• Amazon packages were the #1 stolen item followed by food deliveries for #2 

States Suffering the Most Package Theft  

Is it any wonder that the top location for porch piracy is the 3^rd most affluent city (correction, district) in the country? Washington DC is the #1 location for porch piracy. Call it a state, province, or “no man’s land,” it’s all the same for porch pirates, where over 80% of its residents have faced the problem of package theft. Another 80% responded that they’ve had the problem as recently as this year and another 20% have had the problem just within the past months, proving that it’s an ongoing issue. To combat the problem, the DC police force has been conducting sting operations to bait the pirates with fake Amazon boxes and enticing packages.  

As it turns out, the West Coast pirates are just as stealthy! Oregon ranked #2 for most porch piracy in the US. 71% of Oregonians have had to deal with package theft in one way or another. 80% of packages stolen in Oregon are Amazon, but another 16% are UPS. No delivery is safe; it’s like playing Russian roulette with your parcels.

They say the Midwest is known for mannerisms, but Missouri thieves would disagree. Snatching packages off doorsteps isn’t particularly pleasant! Coming into 3^rd place, 68% of Missourians have unfortunately had to face the porch pirate problem. 57% of Missourians have a negative feeling about the government’s involvement in this. 40% of residents indicated that they feel the government is doing absolutely nothing to solve the package theft problem. Sounds like citizen vigilante is just a matter of time. 

Safe and Sound: States Facing Minimum Porch Piracy 

Some of our ships (states) are facing smoother seas. Some states feel comfortable ordering a package and knowing it’s going to be there when they get home. On the other end of the spectrum, these are the states that face minimal porch piracy. 

According to the FBI, the crime rate in Nebraska is lower than the national average. The same is true for porch piracy, where Nebraska ranks as the #1 safest state for porch piracy. Fortunately, less than 25% of its citizens have faced package theft. Amongst those 25% affected, 84% haven’t faced this problem in over 6 months.  

Following a similarly low crime rate, Maine is deemed a generally safe state. Maine comes #2 for the lowest porch piracy rate in the country. ?Like Nebraska, Maine residents only face this problem once or twice a year, on average. They’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to package safety.

Hoo faces lower package theft rates than the Hoosier State? Indiana comes in 3^rd place for the best state against package theft. Their secret? 41% of Indianans use some sort of security system to protect against getting their boxes stolen. Another 15% feel comfortable enough to send it to a neighbor. Aww. 

Worst Porch Pirate Cities 

Although it may seem that cities stand a better chance against package theft, with many buildings having doormen and a higher availability of package lockers, but that wouldn’t tell the whole story. Cities are just as susceptible to package theft and, if anything, more. Some statistics find that crime is as high as 75% more prevalent in urban areas than rural and porch piracy is no exception. 

Was it porch pirates he was referring to when the Fresh Prince said: “a couple of guys started making trouble in his neighborhood”? We may never know, but one thing we do know is that Philadelphia is the porch pirate capital of the US. 82% of Philadelphians face porch piracy regularly. Not surprisingly, residents also had one of the most negative attitudes towards government support on the matter. Almost 70% of Philadelphians cited that the government is doing “nothing” to stop the problem. Guess it’s not always sunny in Philadelphia. 

Not far away, the Big Apple places #2 in facing similar, rampant issues with package theft. According to Nyc.gov, as many as 90,000 packages are stolen per day. As many buildings lack sufficient security for package drops, porch pirates see it as a prime location to get more loot without having to go the distance. From our findings, 81% regularly face porch piracy in the city. New Yorkers also had the most negative view toward government response. 83% think the NYC administration has done nothing to prevent package theft. A whopping 0% had something nice to say about the governmental efforts to stop stolen parcels. You want to order a package in New York and have it delivered? Fuhgeddaboudit. 

To round off the worst cities for porch piracy is New Orleans at #3. Fondly coined the “Big Easy” New Orleans is known for fun and good times. But all that rowdiness is prime for porch piracy. Thieves seize the relatively low security measures thus causing 80% of respondents to indicate that they’ve been victim to package theft. With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 60% of residents are worried the problem will grow worse in Summer.  

Orlando and Los Angeles took fourth and fifth place for package theft with 78% and 75% reporting respectively. 

Protection against package theft: remote work, guard dogs & guns? 

Rob me once, shame on you. Rob me twice and I’m getting a bat! At least that’s what one NYC resident did when he was tired of being constantly robbed. Just last month, resident Mejia put out decoy packages filled with french fries and…dog poop to lure in criminals. Said criminals were met with Mejia and his baseball bat.  

As residents get more and more fed up with package theft, some are turning to violence, decoys, and other tactics. Apart from security systems, the #1 reason respondents said they work from home just to avoid package theft. For those who can’t work remotely, the second choice was using package lockers to guard their goods. The #4 security measure used Rex to ruff away the criminals with “guard dog” as their top response.  

At the bottom of the data, we find very friendly and unfriendly responses. 9% feel comfortable enough to leave packages with neighbors who they know will be home. Another 4% are following Mejia’s approach and keeping porch pirates at bay with guns. 

Food is the #1 item to be stolen for many 

Don’t worry, your kitty water fountain is probably not at risk of being stolen. Your In-N-Out order on the other hand? Not so safe. With Amazon dominating the delivery scene it’s only natural that the majority (59%) of stolen packages are from Bezos.  

What we didn’t expect is what came into savory second place. Food deliveries are being stolen by 6x a month for those who order regularly! 22% of respondents said they faced food delivery theft with providers like, but not limited to, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, DoorDash, Hello Fresh, and more.  

Summary 

Yo ho, yo ho, it’s a pirate’s life for many, but Americans aren’t taking it! With many residents opting to survey the premises with Ring doorbells or send boxes directly to package lockers, it’s no longer such smooth sailing for these pirates.  

Over half (53%) of Americans have faced package theft at least once before. Another half of respondents are worried that the summer months could bring worse thievery as delivery frequency increases. Make sure your house is safe against skulls and sabers before your deliveries get snatched!?Don’t gamble with your packages – stack the deck in your favor with some preventative measures.

Methodology  

In May 2024, we surveyed 3,000 Americans asking a number of questions regarding package theft. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”.   

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For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

With millions of songs out there in the ether, we wanted to know: what artists are producing the most original music? Which artists are “rip-offs” of others?  

We started by gathering top chart data from Billboard and Rolling Stone divided by genres in the US and Canada: top charts, pop, hip-hop/rap, country, rock, greatest of all time, and TikTok top charts. We then web-scraped all 800 million videos on YouTube using music plagiarism AI (MIPP). Following a number of other “uniqueness” factors like the Shazam fingerprint, artists royalties, and more we were able to index artists and songs from unique to rip-off. 

Key Highlights:  

• Zach Bryan was named the “most original artist” with a score of 73/100 
• The Black Keys were deemed the “biggest rip-off artist” with a score of 10/100 
• Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” was awarded the “most original song” on the top charts 
• Rap is crowned the most original music genre thanks to unique rhyme scheme and a high percentage of unique lyrics 
• Electronic and Top Charts music fall into the bottom, named the “most unoriginal music genres” 

Most original music artist award goes to…

So, who is spitting bars and rocking new riffs? Swifties, you’re going to want to sit down for this. It’s not Taylor Swift. In fact, it’s not any artist from the Top Pop charts at all. The most original artist was Zach Bryan with an originality score of 73.4, the highest rating of all artists. Whether it was his spoken word poem “Fear and Fridays” or his ability to navigate cross-genre melody like it’s his job. Not only did he have one of the lowest plagiarism scores, all 197 songs returned had some of the highest percentages of lyric-uniqueness. Bryan’s lyrical uniqueness and raw voice offer a breath of fresh air in a busy industry thus earning him the number one place. ?

Jumping across genres, the 2nd place spotlight falls on hip-hop genius J. Cole. With an originality score of 64.5 out of 100, J. Cole claims silver. Known for his “clever storytelling techniques” he brings an edge to the hip-hop scene. Data takes this a step further by proving his low plagiarism score and having some of the most unique “song fingerprints” in the Shazam library. It’s Cole’s World and we’re just living in it! 

From J. Cole’s North Carolina stomping grounds, we’re heading to Canada to hand over the Bronze medal. Perhaps the most unique in nicknames too, Drizzy, Champaign Papi, or, most famously, Drake takes 3^rd place for most unique musical artist. With over 300 charted songs, it’s a miracle that he continuously releases one-of-a-kind hits. The sheer volume of released music Drake has works as a factor against him, with the chance of repetition high, but, in the most Drake fashion, he slides past the competition for some of the most original lyrics and musical patterns. In the words of Drizzy himself, “When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen.” 

Biggest rip-off artists in the industry 

There are the Grammy nominees and then there are the wannabees. On the other end of the Top 20 artists, we’re throwing shade (respectfully) to some artists taking more than just a page out of their fellow musicians’ books.  

Apologies in advance, Daniel Auerbach, as The Black Keys was labeled the biggest rip-off artist/band in the charts right now with only a score of 10/100 for originality. Not all that long ago, Jack White, lead singer of The White Stripes, slammed the band for ripping off all their music and, well, the data doesn’t lie. Averaging a 32% infringement for all their songs and a high riff match to other songs, we understand why Reddit user [deleted] said, “The Black Keys use the same exact riff and don’t even try to bend it.” Ouch. 

Dua Lipa comes into the bottom 2, earning her the title of “rip-off artist” at only 11.1/100 originality. Funnily enough, Dua Lipa is her own worst enemy. The majority of the songs that were flagged for copy were her songs vs. her other songs. For example, Lipa’s song “Illusion” was a 44.56% match with her other hit “Houdini.” If ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?  

The bottom three seem more like sinking than swimming with Teddy Swims named third biggest rip-off artists in the charts with an originality score of 14.2/100. Swims started his musical career doing cover songs, but, according to the data, he didn’t venture too far from that with one of the highest co-written songs and royalties paid to other artists. He might be doing more than a bit of peaking on the music originality exam, but his vocals still remain unmatched. Just keep swimming, Teddy!?

The most original music genre 

Get the creative juices flowing, it’s time to spit the beat! Songs dedicated to zero repetition, complex rhyme schemes, and having freshly emerged in around the 1970’s…hip hop shines as the most original music genre at 100/100. Putting the Top 40 rap songs into the infringement check and you’ll find that, compared to other genres, they had the lowest plagiarism scores.  

The runner-up for rarity goes to rock! Don’t let The Black Keys scoring fool you: the genre at large has plenty to offer. Whether you’re being “Welcomed to the jungle” or to the “Black Parade” there’s depth in rock and the score proves this. Thanks to its structural variety and unique Shazam fingerprints, rock earned an originality score of 86.7. 

The music genre playing copycat 

When Skrillex said, “Yes, Oh my god!” in 2011, it felt revolutionary. The Tumblr Era rejoiced, but EDM hasn’t exactly stood the test of time. Electronic music was deemed the #1 most unoriginal genre out of all music. The data doesn’t have to say much for it to make sense: looped beats, sampled songs, and more of the same don’t give way to originality. Scoring 0/100 for originality, the electronic music genre has taken a beating, but one Quora user chalked it up to, “Because to music normies EDM refers to big room house, perhaps one of the lamest and most unoriginal genres out there.” Is house music to blame for such low scores??

The #2 most unoriginal genre goes to the Top 20. The top charts are known for riling a crowd, but not necessarily changing the world. Even with the Top 20 charts ranging in style, it wasn’t enough to give it the gold. Songs that will eventually end up on Spotify’s famed “Songs White Girls Get Excited About” playlist earned an originality score of only 15.6/100. 

Cover or creative? Top songs that are anything but original?

Let’s not fault Jojo Siwa for thinking she single-handedly created gay pop – she did, after all, create her own version of post-Disney, bubblegum gay pop. Point being, sometimes artists are only as known (or roasted) as their most famed songs. So here are the songs, and not the musicians, that took a little bit more than artistic liberty on these songs and ended up with a high rip-off score.  

Beyonce didn’t do so hot on the originality score as an artist (17.8/100 originality), but her new hit “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” was swizzling with uniqueness. Receiving the highest score of 100/100, the data adds a layer of proof to the headlines: Beyonce is reinventing country music. How many other songs start spouting off “this ain’t Texas”? Nine! 9 out of around 83 million! 

It’s Stick Season, baby! Noah Kahan scored well on artist originality at #5, but his hit song “Stick Season” especially stands out. At a uniqueness score of 86.1, Kahan paints an unmatched image of Vermont in only 3 minutes and 17 seconds rightfully putting “Stick Season” in 2^nd place for most original song on the charts.?

As the title implies, “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone is musical magic. A TikTok top hit, Beautiful Things knows variety like no other with the melody patterns and its “pop ballad” style. The lyrics wouldn’t win a Pulitzer, but its sound brings a uniqueness to its otherwise reproduced category of TikTok songs earning it 3rd place. 

Summary 

Originality is music to our ears. Whether we’re throwing it back to Fall Out Boy or letting Beyonce “yeehaw” us through her unparalleled take on country, there are so many unique melodies to delight in (despite the inevitable junk within an 83 million-song selection). And if anyone tells you your music taste in bland, remember that Taylor said, “haters gonna hate” and all we have to do is shake it off!?

*Music fades out*  

Methodology  

Using quantitative metrics, we evaluated relevant factors to create a weighted score to determine the originality of songs, artists, and labels. The mentioned factors were: 

• Lyrical match: taking a sample of the lyrics in a song and putting it against the music library to determine the % of repetition in words, phrases, and rhyme structure 
• Shazam fingerprint: using the logic of Shazam’s song identification process, we timed how long it took the software to identify the song concluding that the faster it took to identify the song, the more unique it was 
• AI music plagiarism: by using the AI tool called MIPP we were able to have each song scraped against the entire YouTube database to determine the % of similarity to other songs 
• Royalties: we took historical data to determine what artists had to pay other artists royalties for using the intellectual property (their songs)  

Disclaimer  

There is no commercial association between Casino.org and the artists/labels/songs/trademarks listed. Trademarks and copyrights to named artists, songs, and otherwise belong to their respective owner(s) which are not associated or affiliated with Casino.org and did not license rights, authorize, or sponsor these findings or study. 

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To evaluate how well Americans are managing their passwords, we conducted a nationwide study that revealed their current prevailing password practices and which states exhibit the best and worst password habits according to the following factors: password re-usage, password variation, auto-generated password, password character length, and password duration.

Key Findings:

• 73.6% of Americans admit to reusing the same password for multiple accounts.
• Auto-generated passwords are not commonly practiced, as 66.7% don’t use them.
• The average American has 27.6 passwords.
• Rhode Island ranked the best state for password security habits; with Wisconsin ranked the worst.

America’s password habits: from reuse to forgetfulness

Have you ever experienced password fatigue? It’s when you encounter an overwhelming sensation as you’re juggling numerous passwords for countless accounts. This fatigue often leads people to resort to a more, simple password and/or reuse of said password. Let’s look into how Americans currently handle their passwords.

Reduce, reuse, recycle – but not your passwords! Shockingly, 73.6% of Americans confess to recycling their passwords across various accounts – a practice many cybersecurity experts deem unsafe. To magnify the problem even more, another 79.1% admit to using variations of their most-used password for multiple accounts as well. Let’s leave the 3 ‘R’s to the real world, rather than the digital world.

On the brighter side, 33.3% of Americans are working smarter, not harder, by utilizing auto-generated passwords. These password generators incorporate a mix of numbers, upper and lower-case letters, and special characters. Worried about memorizing such funky codes? Don’t fret, that’s where password managers swoop in to save the day (and our brains). Nearly half (45.0%) of respondents currently use a password manager to organize and securely access their accounts efficiently.

Almost half (41.2%) of respondents tend to stick to passwords with 9-11 characters. Although it’s not too shabby, experts recommend a minimum of 12 characters for resilient security – 39.1% of Americans do meet this criterion, boasting a password length of 12+ characters. On the other end, 18.7% settle for 7-8 characters, while 1.1% choose to play it risky with passwords under 6 characters.

The cardinal rule of password creation is to never include any form of personal information – be it your name, birthday, email address, or username. Luckily, 76.3% adhere to this rule, steering clear of any personal details in their passwords. The average respondent also manages about 27.6 passwords. This may seem like a lot, but cybersecurity experts recommend using a unique person per account. Perhaps it’s a case of “the more, the merrier?”

35.9% of respondents forget their passwords infrequently, while 17.3% occasionally draw a blank a few times a month. However, another 17.3% boast an impeccable memory claiming to never forget their passwords. On the other hand, 14.1% fail to remember passwords about once a month. Luckily, only 8.7% wrestle with weekly forgetfulness, and 6.6% once a week.

Cybersecurity professionals also advocate for periodic (about 3-6 months) password changes to prevent potential hacks. This recommendation must’ve gotten lost in the (junk) mail as 43.0% have not updated their passwords in over 5+ years! Another 21.5% have persisted with the same password for 1-3 years, and 16.1% for 3-5 years. Only 9.8% update passwords after the 6-12 month mark. A mere 7.9% of respondents follow the recommendation, rotating passwords every 1-6 months; while 1.8% do so monthly.

Best states for password security

To determine which states are the best and worst in terms of their password security, we took our respondents’ answers and their resident states into a weighted scoring system that considered the following: password re-usage, password variation, auto-generated password, password character length, and password duration.

Rhode Island serves as an exemplary example when it comes to password security, boasting a perfect score of 100 out of 100. Only a minute 12.5% of Rhode Island respondents commit the cardinal sin of password reuse for multiple accounts; while 62.5% don’t bother creating variations of their passwords. Half of the state’s residents have embraced auto-generated passwords, and 12.5% do their due diligence of changing passwords every few months. 

Louisiana ranks second best in password practices, with an overall score of 83.62. Unlike Rhode Island, a substantial 61.9% admit to password reuse, but redeem themselves as 66.6% avoid the temptation to password variations. Only 38.0% utilize auto-generated passwords. Interestingly, Louisiana excels in the password characters category, outperforming Rhode Island – with 66.6% exceeding the recommended 12-character count. 14.2% only update their passwords frequently, lagging slightly behind Rhode Island.

Maine clinches the bronze medal, with a total score of 59.82. The state closely mirrors Louisiana in most categories, with one notable exception. While they (28.5%) fall short in password variation, they’re the highest scorers in the password update frequency category – scoring another 28.5% for their commitment. 

To finish the top five list, Maryland secured fourth place with a respectable score of 46.57, and New Mexico in fifth accumulating 46.03 points. These states also showcased good password security practices, contributing to the collective effort to reinforce cybersecurity across the nation. 

Pass-ing the baton to…the worst states

Wisconsin finds itself (way) less renowned for its password practices, ranking at the bottom with a score of 0. An alarming 80.0% of Wisconsinites fall into the trap of reusing passwords and failing to avoid password variations. Only about a quarter (26.6%) utilize a password generator, while only 23.3% meet the recommended 12+ characters in their passwords. A shy 6.6% adhere to the “out with the old, in with the new” mantra by updating their passwords regularly. Perhaps, the Cheese State should be grate-ful for experiencing minimal hacking.

“Oh what a beautiful morning, what a beautiful day…” to be ranked second-to-last for the state of Oklahoma. Their total score of 1.04 is due to their high password repetition (83.33%) and password variation (83.34%). Only 16.6% of Okies opt for auto-generated passwords, especially as 33.3 wield passwords of 12 characters or more. About 8.3% frequently upgrade a password every few months.

Looking for some Southern (tech) gossip? Look no further as Mississippi finds itself third to last, with a score of 1.79. A whopping 71.4% admit to repeating a password or two across multiple accounts, and 78.5% use a modification of their primary password. Auto-generated passwords only account for 28.5% of this southern state. Compared to the rest of the nation, Mississippi scored the lowest in password character count, as only 12.2% adopt passwords with 12+ characters. Additionally, 7.14% of the state’s population updates passwords regularly. Now that’s some (Southern iced) tea!

Completing the bottom five list, sweet home Alabama ranks fourth to last with a score of 3.94, and Nevada fifth to last, scoring a 6.26. These states complete the list of regions with room for improvement in password security.

Despite the shortcomings in certain states, the overall picture of America’s password habits is moderately positive. Fortunately, the recommended password practices are fairly straightforward and easy to integrate into our daily routines. There’s always room for improvement and potential for becoming a stronger password security nation. 

Methodology

In April 2024, we surveyed 2,000 U.S. residents about their current password safety habits. Through this, we were able to create a weighted scoring system that considered the following factors:

• How often they reuse a password for multiple accounts
• What % doesn’t use a variation of a password for multiple accounts
• What % uses auto-generated passwords
• If their most-used password is 12+ characters
• What % frequently updates their password every few months

Each U.S. state was scored on a scale of 0-100 to find the best and worst ranking. The following states were not accounted for as there was an insufficient amount of data: Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. 

The average age of respondents was 39.2 years old. The representative sample comprised of 48.8% male, 48.8% female, 1.7% non-binary, 0.4% transgender, and 0.3% other. 

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Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org

In anticipation of the Kentucky Derby on May 4^th, we crunched the numbers to discover the most Derby-devoted states! We conducted a nationwide survey on their race day festivities, from streaming the event to throwing back a Mint Julep or two, and everything in between. We then crafted a weighted index to crown the ultimate Kentucky Derby states. Hold onto your hats and tighten those reigns y’all, it’s about to be a wild ride!  

Key Findings:  

• Mississippi gallops to the front as the ‘Ultimate Kentucky Derby State’, scoring 85.7 out of 100  
• Despite having hometown advantage, Kentucky comes in 2^nd place, with a score of 52.2 
• New Mexico races into 3^rd, with a score of 40.1  
• Of the 48% of Americans planning to bet, they’re ready to pony up an average of $70.80 in race day wages 

The ultimate Kentucky Derby state goes to… 

To unveil the most Derby-devoted states, we polled 3,000 respondents on their race day agenda and plugged their answers into a weighted index. From in-person attendance to streaming plans, hosting/attending Derby parties, indulging in Mint Juleps and Southern delicacies, flaunting Derby attire, to even horse-themed games and how much they’d be online gambling on the race – here are the states racing to the finish line! ?

And they’re off! Galloping to the front of the pack is…Mississippi? With a total score of 85.7, they’ve claimed the title of the ‘Ultimate Kentucky Derby State‘ in the nation! Mississippi ranks #1 for in-person Kentucky Derby attendance, and a whopping 67% hosting or attending themed parties. They’ll be sipping an average of 2.3 Mint Juleps in style, as 100% plan to dress in their finest Derby attire. Another 100% are eager to partake in horse-themed games (e.g horseshoes, Kentucky Derby bingo) and bets – averaging $46.66 in race day wagers. Mississippi is truly embracing the Derby spirit in stride!  

Representing the home turf, Kentucky races to 2^nd place, finishing strong with a score of 52.2. While only 8% plan to journey to the Derby in-person (4^th highest nationwide), over half (54%) are tuning in via streaming. With 44% attending/hosting Derby-themed parties and 38% flaunting their best Derby attire, Kentucky sure knows how to celebrate in style! Despite Mint Juleps consumption averaging 0.5 per person, a cool 69% will munch in Kentucky’s best Southern dishes. 75% will be placing bets, averaging $80.58 – 14% higher than the nationwide average! Kentucky proves that the Derby spirit runs deep within its Bluegrass roots.  

Clinching the bronze trophy, New Mexico ranks 3^rd in Kentucky Derby fever, with a total score of 40.1! About 10% will be hitting the tracks to attend the race in-person – marking the 2^nd highest percentage nationwide – while 30% will be streaming from home. A quarter are tailoring up for parties, ready to show off their finest race day attire. A hearty 75% will be snacking on classic Derby dishes. However, the stakes may be lower in New Mexico, as only a quarter plan to partake in bets – with an average wage of $10.  

Rounding up the top 5 list, Washington races into 4^th place with a score of 39.3, winning by a nose as Idaho trots into 5^th place with a total score of 38.5. About 8% of Washingtonians will be flying over to Kentucky to attend the big day in-person (3^rd highest nationwide), while 28.5% of Idahoans plan to stream. Approximately 42% of Washingtonians will be betting an average of $79; while 100% of our Idaho respondents will be placing an average wage of $127.50 – the highest betting average, nationwide!  

Honorable mentions 

Now that we’ve covered the ultimate Kentucky Derby states, let’s take a closer look at which states are leading the race in individual Derby factors from our index: 

Derby attendance, fashion, and horse games: Mississippi takes the lead in Kentucky Derby attendance with 14.2% of residents planning to make the journey for “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”. Not only that, but they also excel in sporting classic attire and enthusiasm for participating in horse-themed games. 

Derby streamers: New Hampshire ranks 1^st for Derby streaming, with 62% of residents tuning in from home – the highest streaming percentage nationwide!  

Biggest Derby partygoers: Gearing up to the be life of the party, Wyoming takes the reigns as 100% of respondents plan to host or attend a Kentucky Derby-themed celebration.  

Mint-Julep fanatics: Raising a toast with some Mint Juleps, Idaho ranks 1^st in Mint Julep consumption per person, nationwide – averaging about 3 cocktails for the race.  

Southern delicacy devotees: Idaho and Oklahoma tied for their enthusiasm for the classic Kentucky Derby dishes, with 100% of respondents from both states preparing to dig into the delicious flavors of the South on race day. 

Top Derby betting states: Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming all lead the pack in Derby race bets, with 100% of participants eager to test their luck. Idaho stands out with the highest betting wage, averaging an impressive $127.50 – 80% higher than the national average ($70.80)!  

Conclusion

While our index showed us which states are more than ready to celebrate the big race, what’s more important is that the spirit of the Derby brings Americans together across the nation. So, grab your Mint Juleps and raise a glass to the infamous Kentucky Derby – may the best horse win!  

Methodology

In April 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 3,000 US residents, asking about their Kentucky Derby plans. From there, we created an index to analyze and weigh a multitude of factors. 

1. Attending the Kentucky Derby in-person (25%) 

2. Streaming the Kentucky Derby (10%) 

3. Hosting/attending a Kentucky Derby party (15%) 

4. Mint Julep consumption (5%) 

5. Classic Kentucky Derby dish consumption (5%) 

6. Dressing up in Kentucky Derby attire (15%) 

7. Participating in horse-themed games (15%) 

8. Betting on the Kentucky Derby (10%) 

Each state was then scored and ranked to discover which states are the ultimate Kentucky Derby states.

Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont were not accounted for due to an insufficient amount of data.  

The average age of respondents was 39.2 years old. The representative sample comprised of 52.4% female, 45.3% male, 2% non-binary, 0.3% transgender, and 0.1% other.  

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

National Comic Book Day is approaching on September 25th and we’re celebrating by unmasking America’s most cherished superhero and dastardly supervillains. We carried out a nationwide survey to reveal who is the country’s ultimate comic book character.

Key Findings:

• Batman reigns as America’s #1 comic book character, according to 34 states.
• Spider-Man is America’s favorite Marvel comic book character. 
• The nation’s best-loved villain is the Joker.
• 66.8% of Americans pledge their allegiance to Marvel, more than DC (33.2%). 

America’s favorite comic book character goes to…

From prominent superheroes like Superman to the delightful, wicked supervillains like Harley Quinn, the world of comic books portrays an endless amount of characters, regardless of which league they came from. But here’s the burning question: who’s the super-ior character favorite nationwide? 

It’s time to cast the bat-signal, because Batman lands at the top of the charts as America’s #1 comic book character, earning the approval of 34 states (23.1%). Gotham’s Dark Knight leaves an impressionable mark on our society, resonating with many because of his lack of superpowers and “regular guy” (well, as regular as billionaires go) status; yet brims with determination, imperfections and commitment to justice. Plus, what’s more iconic than the “I’m Batman” catchphrase? It’s a bat-tastic line!

Swinging into action and casting his web of popularity across the nation, Spider-Man is crowned the second favorite hero in America. Nine states (15.8%) pinned Spider-Man as their character of choice, due to the irony of his relatability. Underneath all the spider-like superpowers and bag of cool tricks, lies a bright high school teenager trying to navigate life. His character has spun a web of affection, as multiple blockbuster movies have been produced about him.?

Lassoing in America’s truth, Wonder Woman stands in third place as America’s beloved comic character, according to 5.7% of respondents. She stands tall as Hawaii’s champion superhero and a beacon for many across the nation, with her commitment to equality, respect, compassion, and non-violence. Wonder Woman truly embodies the ideals of a hero: good, powerful and loving. 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman soaring into fourth place in America’s comic character hierarchy (5.7%). This comes as no surprise as he was the first widely hailed superhero back in June 1938. With his iconic ‘S’ symbol, strength, and virtue, he is the fan favorite for those who reside in Vermont and West Virginia (and surprisingly, not Kansas). Up, up, and away he goes! 

Howling in at fifth is none other than Wolverine, the mutant hero who captured the hearts of 5.7% of Americans and the state of New Mexico. With his animal-like senses, regenerative healing powers, and retractable claws, the immortal character is the most-loved anti-hero among the X-Men clan. 

Rooting for the anti-heroes: America’s favorite villains

Flipping the comic pages to the darker side, we asked respondents who their favorite villains were – because in the comic universe, these sinister characters are just as vital as heroes. Here’s what they have to say.

Leading the villainous charge with his maniacal grin is the one and only, Joker. His wicked charm swept the nation according to 28.7% of the votes, labeling him as the ultimate anti-hero. Beyond the eminent makeup, many are fascinated by the character’s ego, chaotic schemes, and eerily charismatic personality. He treads the fine line between being quick-witted and chilling. It’s a performance that’s no joke! 

Clawing her way up is Catwoman, securing her position as America’s second-favorite villain, as voted by 11.3% of comic enthusiasts. Also from the DC universe, Catwoman was originally crafted as a likable villain, rather than vile. Her crimes aren’t that evil to an extent, so some even consider her as an anti-hero, given her occasional assistance to Batman. It’s quite a purr-fectly intriguing spot to be in for a villain, right? 

They say she’s crazy, but she has a good excuse because Harley Quinn comes in third place with the approval of 10.5% of Americans. Corrupted by the Joker’s influence, her madness and charm also captivated readers and viewers alike. People find her to be the perfect villainous character because her crime was never about hurting others, but doing what she impulsively wanted. 

Representing the Marvel universe, Loki takes fourth with 8.3% of the vote. The nuanced villain continues to be a crowd favorite as he’s always on the cusp of redemption, revealing layers of complexity. One moment, we empathize with him, and the next, we witness his true (green) colors.

Finishing off the top five list of villains with 7.9% of the respondents’ votes, is X-Men’s antagonist, Magneto. With his compelling backstory, visually stunning powers, and mix of admirable qualities and flaws, he’s proven to be a magnetic draw for fans of the Marvel universe. 

Honorable mention: Marvel or DC?

There’s no rivalry quite as legendary as the good ole’ Marvel vs. DC showdown, in the world of comics. Fans have been duking it out over the years, each with its own opinions of who has the best characters, iconic teams, and plotlines. But fear no more, because we’ve settled the score once again. 

A whopping 66.8% of Americans proudly voted for Team Marvel, aligning themselves with the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, and basically the rest of the Avengers clan. Meanwhile, only 33.2% casted their votes for Team DC, representing Batman, Superman, and the Justice League. 

Do you agree with our nationwide findings? In the end, whether you’re swinging with Spidey or fighting for justice with Batman, one thing remains clear: people’s love for comic books and their unforgettable characters. 

Methodology

In September 2023, we surveyed 2,000 U.S. residents across the country about their favorite comic book characters. The average age of respondents was 37.4 years old. The representative sample comprised of 52.2% male, 45.4% female, 2.1% non-binary, 0.2% transgender, and 0.2% other. 

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org

From retro arcades to adrenaline-pumping esports competitions, we went on the quest to unveil the top gaming cities in the US. Plugging the following factors into our weighted index – gaming facilities, events and conventions, and convenience essentials – we mapped out the ultimate gaming hubs that’ll have you shouting, ‘Game On’!  

Key Findings: 

• Las Vegas leads the scoreboard as the ‘Gaming Capital’ with an epic score of 96.4/100 
• Orlando levels up into 2^nd with a score of 94.5, with Daytona Beach following closely behind in 3^rd (92.5)   
• New York City lands itself at the bottom of the scoreboard, with a ‘Game Over’ score of 1.5 points  
• With 3 of Florida’s gaming cities ranked in the top 5, Florida names itself as the ‘Ultimate Gaming State’ 

Game on: The ultimate gaming cities 

To discover the ultimate gaming cities, we dove into the heart of each cities’ downtown gaming scene: lightning-fast Wi-Fi speeds, abundance of real money casinos, arcades, and VR experiences, 24-hour takeout spots, Best Buy locations, video game conferences, fan cons, and gaming social meetups. With that said, here are the cities where gaming thrives (per capita)! ?

Las Vegas, the epitome of entertainment, leads the scoreboard with 96.4 points, securing the ‘Gaming Capital’ title! Home to 169 casinos, 9 VR experiences, and 16 arcades, Vegas deals the winning hand nationwide in gaming facilities per capita. Gaming enthusiasts will be thrilled with the abundance of events, including 1 major video game conference, 8 fan cons, and 32 social meetups lined up for the rest of 2024! Sin City also hits the jackpot with the most 24-hour takeout spots per capita (56) and 5 convenient Best Buy locations – ensuring gamers are never without sustenance or gaming gear. The ‘Entertainment and Gaming Capital’ awaits, where every roll of the dice is a chance to level up your gaming experience!   

In the Sunshine State’s magical hub that is Orlando, their gaming scene shines bright – securing 2^nd place with a dazzling score of 94.5 points! With high-speed Wi-Fi of 171 Mbps (2^nd nationwide), O-Town ranks 1^st in the most fan cons (12) and social meetups (14) per capita – along with 3 exciting video game conferences planned for 2024. While casinos may be absent, Orlando levels up with 16 arcades (2^nd nationwide) and a thrilling VR experience. Fear not, gamers, as the city boasts the 2^nd highest concentration of Best Buy locations per capita, conveniently located right downtown for all your gaming needs!  

Just an hour’s drive north from Orlando, Daytona Beach revs up to 3^rd place in our best gaming cities rankings – zooming in with a score of 92.5 points! With lightning-fast Wi-Fi speeds clocking in at 173.8 Mbps (1^st nationwide), the city ensures seamless streaming for all types of gaming adventures. Ranking 2^nd in fan cons and 5^th in social meetups, gamers can ride the waves of friendship here on the coast! If you’re craving a bit of casino action, don’t fret – Daytona Beach has one in the cards, along with 6 retro arcades in this gaming paradise!  

Completing the top 5 gaming scoreboard, St. Louis secures 4^th place with 52.9 points, closely followed by Miami in 5^th – with 52.3 points. With another Florida city making its mark, it’s clear that Florida is the ultimate gaming state of America!  

It’s ‘Game Over’ for New York City (and others) 

In the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, unfortunately, the gaming dream seems to be on pause as NYC finds itself at the bottom of the scoreboard with…1.5 points. Despite a trio of casinos, 2 VR experiences, and 11 arcades, it’s evident that it’s not enough for the city’s massive population – let alone, its gaming community! With a shortage of 91 takeout places offering 24-hour delivery, 2 fan cons, and 96 social meetups for its substantial population, NYC’s gaming scene falls short for gamers of all kinds.  

Other major metropolitan cities with vast populations seem to join NYC at the bottom 5 of our scoreboard as well:  
 
#24 New York City – 1.5 points 

#23 Los Angeles – 1.9 points 

#22 Chicago – 5.3 points 

#21 Philadelphia – 8.2 points 

#20 Detroit – 8.7 points  

Noteworthy highlights beyond the scoreboard 

Now that we’ve wrapped up the ultimate gaming cities, we wanted to showcase the cities that are making waves in the gaming scene! Here are the cities that ranked 1^st in each of the factors used in our index:  

Fastest Wi-Fi speed: Daytona Beach zooms ahead in Wi-Fi speed, boasting an internet connection of 173.8 Mbps, setting the pace across our gaming cities scoreboard.  

Casinos and VR abundance: Las Vegas continues to top the scoreboard. Not only is the casino capital home to 169 establishments, but it’s also the VR capital, offering users 9 immersive experiences!  

Arcade all-stars: Orlando and Las Vegas tied for 1^st in arcade abundance, each flaunting 16 arcade locations to ensure gaming fun for downtown visitors and residents alike.  

Midnight munchies and social meetups: Despite NYC’s shortage struggles, as mentioned earlier, they still lead the nation with a whopping 91 24-hour takeout spots, ready for your gaming munchies delivery orders! Additionally, the Big Apple offers 96 social meetups, perfect for meeting like-minded gamers. 

Video game conference hub: All the way in Boston, The Hub is quite literally the video game conference ‘hub’ – as they’re hosting 5 exciting events right downtown!  

Fan con hotspot: Orlando takes the top spot for fan conventions, with 14 upcoming events planned for the remainder of the year!  

Best Buy convenience: Tied for 1^st nationwide, Las Vegas and Miami both have 5 Best Buys located right downtown. Gamers in both cities will never be short of gaming equipment!  

Final Level (Conclusion) 

Although our data highlights the ultimate gaming cities, it’s evident that America’s love for games knows no bounds – from conquering board game dungeons, immersing oneself in VR worlds, or mastering the poker table. There’s a game and gaming city out there awaiting every player!  

Methodology

In April 2024, we looked at the US cities with the most video game sets for our seed list, then created an index analyzing and weighing a multitude of factors. Please note that we only looked at the following factors that are based right downtown as our city parameter:  

1. Wi-Fi speed (HighSpeedInternet.com) – 20% 
   • Download Mbps 
2. Total # of casinos (World Casino Directory) – 20% 
3. Total # of arcades + VR experiences (Google Maps) – 20%  
4. Upcoming 2024 video game conventions (Video Game Conventions) – 10% 
5. Upcoming 2024 fan conventions (Fan Cons) – 10%  
6. Upcoming gaming social meetups (Meetup) – 10% 
7. Total # of 24-hour takeout spots with delivery (Yelp) – 5% 
   • Within 5 mile city radius for speedy delivery
8. Total # of Best Buy locations (Best Buy) – 5%  

Each city was then scored and ranked to discover which US cities are the best gaming cities nationwide.  

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

Although more and more video games are moving away from the traditional disk-in console, games still consume energy and lots of it. We’ve come a long way from the plastic, clunky cartridges that were once used to fuel our fun, but digital isn’t necessarily better.  

We’ve compiled the factors contributing to carbon emissions from video games, such as server-usage, manpower, updates, and console energy consumption to create an accurate estimate of carbon emissions per video game. Analyzing the top 20 video games of the 21^st century, we were able to identify the environmental heroes and the carbon-consuming culprits.  

Along with quantified carbon emission estimates for each game, we analyzed the top video game companies as well as digestible comparisons to understand the true impact of video games on the environment. 

Key Findings:  

• Grand Theft Auto is estimated to produce the most carbon emissions in the gaming industry 
• The famous Fortnite ranks #2 for carbon emissions  
• Electronic Arts, home of FIFA and The Sims, ranks #1 most environmentally conscious, producing the lowest amount of carbon emissions 
• The average gamer expends 158 pounds of CO2e per year 

Getting to the exact Carbon Emission amount 

It’s important to note that, despite public pressure for gaming and gambling companies to publish their emissions, it was no easy task to calculate the carbon consequences of each game and company. For the companies that did offer public data regarding their environmental stakes, we were able to easily determine the carbon emissions based on the amount of games in the company and the share of each game.?

For the companies that don’t publicly share their carbon emissions, we were able to calculate the carbon emissions by calculating their market share against the gaming industry’s total carbon emissions of 24 million tons of CO2e per year. 

Video Games with the Most Carbon Emissions  

It only makes sense that the virtual gas-guzzling game translates to the most real-life damage. Grand Theft Auto, in all its Hummer stealing and police-chasing glory, has the highest estimated carbon emissions in the industry.  

The GTA franchise, housed by Rockstar Games, accounts for 4.76 CO2e per year per user. For those of us not adept in our carbon comprehension, this is 81% higher than the average of 2.01 CO2e. To put it into layman’s terms: playing a year’s worth of GTA is equal to 12,174 miles driven in a gasoline-powered car. A virtual GTA road trip might as well be worth a real one! 

Rockstar isn’t the only one in the ecological hot seat. Epic Games takes first place for the highest carbon emissions at the company level. Epic Games has an estimated 24 million?tons of carbon emissions per year. That’s?quite a few?international flights. Although it may seem like a lot (and it is, let’s be clear) the number can largely be attributed to the vast number of players the company attracts. Fortnite, the largest game in their portfolio boasts a whopping 650 million registered users. 650 million players need a whole lot of server power and thus lies the answers to all the zeros behind their carbon emissions net number.?

While specific data is harder to come by in the online gambling sphere, high-traffic casino sites with complex graphics and live dealer games tend to have higher energy consumption and, thus, higher carbon emissions.

Most Environmentally Friendly Video Games 

Not all is lost, however. Planting a tree in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Reckon Breakpoint results in a tree planted in real life! Green gamers aren’t necessarily a myth or marketing scheme, as some companies are making it happen.  

Electronic Arts, home to The Sims and FIFA, reported the lowest amount of carbon emissions, 8,100 CO2e out of all publicly offered data in the industry. So, Sims your heart out! You’ll feel a lot better knowing that out of all the major gaming industries, this one will hurt the least with only .29 lbs. of CO2e per year per average user.  

In the online gambling world, some casino platforms are adopting energy-efficient technologies and green hosting solutions to minimize their carbon footprint. Simple, text-based games like poker or blackjack tend to have lower energy requirements compared to graphically intensive slot games or live dealer setups.

Video Games Most Likely to Achieve Carbon Neutrality?

Unfortunately, another environmental unknown is just how much these companies are doing to improve their carbon footprint. As gamers, we remain largely in the dark about what goes on behind closed doors and just get to see the magic that appears on our screens. Some companies, however, have been forward about their contributions and are making plans to change it. Of the companies who listed their carbon neutrality goal date these, this is the intended timeline: 

• 2027: Electronic Arts 
• 2030: Epic Games 
• 2050: Riot Games, Nintendo, and Activision Blizzard 

Other companies like Roblox, who have made no public mention of any environmental efforts, remain a mystery when it comes to their carbon neutrality. 

How many trees needed to be planted to offset emissions from gaming 

Up to this point you might be feeling gloom and doom, but alas, there’s light at the end of this tunnel! You don’t have to game in vain as the exact amount of “carbon sequestered” can be calculated. Knowing what we know, that the average gamer expends 158 lbs. per year, your typical gamer would need to plant 2.77 trees per year to offset their emissions. In the scheme of things, it’s not all that bad!

For online gamblers, the footprint can vary widely depending on usage patterns and the types of games played. However, as a rough estimate, if we assume similar usage patterns to video gaming, the tree planting requirements would be in a comparable range.

A carbon conclusion 

You don’t need to bury the Xbox to save the planet, nor do you need to boycott Fortnite and glorify FIFA. Gaming is meant to be fun, but carries a soft reminder that even the seemingly harmless can carry environmental consequences. So press play! But be sure to plant a tree or two while you’re at it – your virtual self will thank you for it. ?

As the digital entertainment industry continues to grow, including both video games and online gambling, it’s crucial for companies and users alike to consider their environmental impact. Whether you’re exploring virtual worlds or trying your luck at online slots, being mindful of your digital carbon footprint can make a real difference.

Methodology 

Using quantitative observation and secondary data, we evaluated metrics typically used to determine carbon emissions based on the data provided by companies in their public, environmental reports. This data was then mapped against the user numbers as well as environmental industry data, which allowed us to also look at the scale of offsetting needed to mitigate these emissions. 

Disclaimer 

There is no commercial association between Casino.org and the brands/companies listed. Trademarks and copyrights to named brands belong to their respective owner(s) which are not associated or affiliated with Casino.org and did not license rights, authorize, or sponsor these findings or study.  

Fair Use   

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.   

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

In honor of Miss Americana’s highly anticipated album “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19^th, we’re celebrating by discovering which cities boast the most Swifties (per capita). We delved into each Era’s Tour cities and their Taylor Swift scene to analyze factors such as stadium attendance, TikTok videos, Google search volumes, Taylor Swift-themed events, and the number of Facebook Taylor Swift group members – to determine which city is the most “Fearless” in their love for Tay Tay.  

Key Findings: 

• Santa Clara crowns itself as the ‘Swiftie Capital’ with a perfect score of 100/100 
• Tampa ranks 2^nd overall (98.7/100), with Pittsburgh closely behind in 3^rd (66.5/100)  
• Including Travis Kelce himself, Kansas City holds the 4^th highest Swiftie density, with a score of 65/100 
• Las Vegas ranks last overall, with a “Blank Space” score of 0/100 

“…Ready For It?” Cities with the most Taylor Swift fans

After meticulously analyzing data from coast to coast, Santa Clara, California wins “The Great War” and ranks #1 with a perfect score of 100/100. This ultimate Swiftie Capital hit an impressive tally of 10.7k TikTok videos recorded from the two shows alone! Not only that, but a whopping 137k total fans attended these shows – resulting in a 107% population increase considering Santa Clara’s population is only 124.8k! As Taylor says, “Don’t Blame Me” love made us crazy! 

Making waves on the East Coast, Tampa, Florida secures #2 overall in Swiftie capita, with a score of 98.7/100. The city’s high rank comes as no shock, given the average fan attendance of 68.8k per show and an impressive 24.2k TikTok videos capturing Taylor Swift’s performance. Ahrefs (keyword tracking tool) also reveals a substantial 33.5k Taylor Swift and Tampa-related search volumes, while Facebook showcases 9.7k members in Taylor Swift dedicated Facebook groups. It’s clear that Tampa’s Swiftie community is thriving, and it would’ve been a “Cruel Summer” indeed if Taylor missed this Sunshine State city!   

Steel-ing the hearts of thousands in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Taylor’s home state claims #3 in our Swifties per capita ranking – with a solid score of 66.5/100. Steel City contributed significantly to the Taylor Swift frenzy nationwide, as they racked up the #3 highest Taylor Swift-related search volumes within their city; 51k to be exact! Additionally, 12.8k TikTok posts were created in the hub, with 2.5k fans in Taylor Swift-dedicated Facebook groups. But the celebration doesn’t stop there! Across Facebook and Eventbrite, the city has lined up 10 upcoming Taylor Swift-themed events, including a “Trivia Night: Taylor Swift Edition” and “Taylor Swift Cookie Decorating Class”. They sure know and love their native state star “All Too Well”.  

Wrapping up the top 5, Kansas City, Missouri secures the #4 position with a score 65/100 – boasting the #2 highest tally of fans in Taylor Swift dedicated Facebook groups nationwide! Perhaps, including Travis Kelce himself? Meanwhile, Arlington, Texas claims the #5 spot with 63.5/100 points, proving its dedication to Taylor’s tunes. 

On the flip side, Las Vegas finds itself at the bottom of the list with a “Blank Space” score of 0/100. Despite its sizable population and turnout of 128k for the 2-day Eras Tour concert, only 6.8k TikTok videos were posted – the lowest in the nation. On top of that, only 992 are recorded to be in Taylor Swift-dedicated Facebook groups, with just 3 Swiftie-themed events coming up. But hey, Vegas fans, just “Shake It Off” and don’t let the numbers bring you down!  

Ladies & gentlemen, will you please stand? Here are our honorable mentions 

It’s been a long time coming but…these cities have shimmered the highest (nationwide) in each of the factors we used in our index:  

Highest Eras Tour attendance average: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had the highest average attendance per night, with an impressive 72.5k fans per show.

Taylor Swift event hub: Within the same state, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosts the highest number of Taylor Swift-themed events, with a remarkable tally of 42 for the year. 

Taylor Swift Google search hotspot: Seattle, Washington emerges as America’s internet fame when it comes to Taylor Swift, as they racked up the highest search volumes on Google – with a whopping 71.7k searches related to Taylor Swift and their city or stadium. It’s giving “Sleepless in Seattle”!  

Highest count of Taylor Swift TikTok videos: Minneapolis, Minnesota takes the crown for the highest number of TikTok posts nationwide, rounding up an astounding 44.3k videos.  

Most Swifties in Facebook communities: Chicago, Illinois boasts the highest record of fans in Taylor Swift-dedicated Facebook groups, with an impressive 23k Facebook members.  

Conclusion: Swifties are here to stay, “Forever & Always”  

“Call It What You Want” America, but the truth is undeniable – it’s a “Love Story” when it comes to the Swifties’ unwavering dedication and loyalty. Beyond her record-breaking tours, her influence goes beyond the stadium – such as social media, hosted events, and more!  

Methodology

In April 2024, we looked at the 2023 Eras Tour cities as our seed list, then created an index analyzing and weighing a multitude of factors. Please note that we didn’t include the 2024 US Eras Tour dates as the shows haven’t begun to assess their rankings. 

1. Eras Tour Attendance (Pollstar and local news) – 30%  

2. # of Eras Tour shows within each city – 15% 

3. Google Search Volumes (Ahrefs) – 10% 
   • Searches including: ‘Taylor Swift + city’ and ‘Taylor Swift + stadium’  

4. # of TikTok posts (TikTok) – 20%?
   • Searches including: ‘#city + TS + The Eras Tour’, ‘#city + Eras Tour’

5. # of Facebook group members in dedicated Taylor Swift groups (Facebook) – 20% 

6. # of Taylor Swift themed events (Facebook and Eventbrite) – 5% 

Each city was then scored on a scale of 0-100 to discover which cities have the most Swifties per capita.  

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However, the festival’s evolution has now turned into an “Influencer Olympics” or “Influencer’s Met Gala” as some like to say – leaving many concerned and irked about the increasing presence of gurus and brands. Is Coachella still a music and arts festival or an influencer publicity playground? To find out, we conducted a nationwide survey to uncover America’s sentiments on the annual festival.  

Key Findings: 

• 75% agree that influencers overshadow the primary purpose of Coachella 
• 68% don’t like the increasing presence of brands and influencers 
• Almost half (48%) believe influencers diminish the festival’s authenticity and experience 
• 52% believe Coachella should only allow relevant influencers and brands 

Coachella x Influencers: Concerns, perceptions, and rankings

Coachella is the event for brand placements – so much so that brands like Revolve, for example, earn 70% of their sales from influencers. With hundreds of Revolve influencers flocking to the event, the potential for a massive profit boost seems undeniable. But how do regular festival goers and the rest of America feel about the influx of gurus and brands? 

A whopping 75% agree that influencers overshadow the cultural musical significance of Coachella. Although some respondents commented they understand that ‘business is business’, 68% express discontent with the growing presence of brands and influencers at the event. More headbanging, less posing people!  

When asked “how do you perceive the role of influencers in promoting Coachella?”, 48% voiced concerns that they diminish the festival’s authenticity and overall experience. Only 34% feel they have little impact on their experience, while 17% believe they enhance the overall atmosphere. Only 1% commented ‘other’, expressing it depends on the type of creator.  

When requested to rank the statement “the influencer industry has made Coachella more about social media presence than the music itself” on a scale of 0 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), the average response sat at 3.8. A staggering 86% of respondents echoed in agreement with the statement, highlighting the perception shift. Only 14% seemed to jam to a different beat, disagreeing with the notion. 

Suggested next steps for Coachella, according to respondents

With most respondents expressing dissatisfaction about social media influencers at the festival, the question arises: how can this be solved? We opened the floor to our respondents with the following question: “How could Coachella balance the influencer industry with its music aspects?”  

The top recommendation, with 52% of votes, is to exclusively invite relevant influencers and brands. Whether that be influencers within the music and arts industry or brands like Apple Music and Sony, it seems like a no brainer to us! 

The 2^nd most popular suggestion is to limit the types of brands permitted to promote at Coachella, as said by 40%. This could look like imposing a limit on the presence of non-relevant brands (e.g. beauty or banking), while prioritizing more pertinent brands. Meanwhile, the 3^rd highest-ranking recommendation, chosen by 33% of respondents, is to cap the number of influencers allowed to attend.  

Only 16% indicated that no action is necessary, with a mere 1% selecting ‘other’, offering various reasons. Suggestions included: ‘requiring influencers to post a certain amount of music content’, ‘carefully curate guest lists based on PR and exclusivity’, and ‘limit phone use’.  

All in all, Coachella’s musical significance endures

Despite the majority of sentiments leaning towards concerned, a notable 73% still believe that Coachella holds musical significance, amidst the influx of influencers and brand presence. Another 41% also admit to feeling influenced to attend the festival at some point, as well. This promising outlook suggests that Coachella’s evolving landscape will still attract thousands of attendees, regardless of opinions.  

Methodology

In April 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 3,000 US residents. The age bracket was set between the ages of 18-35 years old, due to the average age of Coachella festival-goers being 25. The average age of respondents was 28.3 years old. The representative sample comprised of 56.8% female, 40% male, 2.4% non-binary, 0.7% transgender, and 0.1% other.  

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We surveyed 3,000 Americans to determine the true sentiment of the holiday. For those participating, we wanted to know what pranks they’re planning to pull, who they’re pulling them on, and more. For the naysayers, we were curious to learn what makes April Fool’s a negative for them. When we realized most negativity surrounding April Fool’s Day pertained to the workplace, we ran follow-up data to dig deeper. Combining the findings, we got some interesting insights on the prankster’s holiday. 

Key Findings:  

• 86% of respondents said that April Fools’ pranks were inappropriate in an office setting 
• Of the pranks that workers plan to pull, “jump scares” were stated at the most popular by 51% 
• 32% said they found April Fool’s annoying, 26% found it fun, and 32% described it as “harmless” 

April Cruel’s Day in the workplace, How Americans feel about office pranks?

Dwight Schrute, from the famed The Office show, screams “Argh, he put my stuff in Jello again!” Over the span of nine seasons, Jim pulled 117 pranks around the office, some seemingly harmless, like paying his coworkers five dollars to call Dwight “Dwayne” for an entire day, while others not so much.  

When asked, an overwhelming 86.3% of respondents said that pranks were inappropriate in the workplace. 82% said pranks should be reserved only for settings amongst friends. The prank is in the eye of the beholder, which is why the majority felt that the workplace is not the place to do it.  

If you are insistent on pulling a gag, Americans noted “jump scares” as the most harmless prank to pull by 50.7%. Prank calls were also deemed 47% acceptable, followed by plastic bugs at 32% (ew).  

And whatever you do, don’t pull a Sabrina Carpenter and fake a pregnancy for April Fool’s Day. 92% of respondents found fake pregnancy pranks to be a big no-no.  

Pranksters of America: states, demographics, and more?

Some of us are more inclined to practical jokes than others. A whoopee cushion under the seat gives some a chuckle and others an eye roll. Who enjoys this day of tomfoolery the most?  

Our hats are off to Montana for first place, earning the highest participation rate in the country for April Fool’s Day. 63% are keen to a jump scare joke while another 50% find prank calls and plastic bugs fun for April Fool’s Day. Only 13% of the Big Sky Country state found the holiday to be a negative. Prank on, Montana! 

Rhode Island and Louisiana came their respective second and third places for prank participation. On the other side of the silliness spectrum, West Virginia maintains a stern dissent towards the holiday with 97% claiming they won’t be participating this year. 

Age plays a factor too. Interestingly, both young and old like the April Fool’s holiday. The age groups 18-25 years old gave the holiday the highest rating of 5/10, as did the 60+ community. It was the age brackets between 26-59 years old that hovered only slightly above 4.1/10, a 20% difference between the two scores.  

And what about the battle of the sexes? Only 18% of women regularly participate in April Fool’s Day. Comparatively, nearly a quarter of men participate in April Fool’s Day every year in some capacity. Transgender respondents answered 56% “no” to participating in April Fool’s Day.  

Most prankster city goes to…?

Where is the prank capital of the US? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania takes the clown crown with the highest participation in April Fool’s Pranks amongst all major US cities. 75% of “yinzers” shared positive sentiments towards the holiday. Dallas comes in second place as America’s antics capital with 73% speaking highly of the holiday. St. Louis, Detroit, and Los Angeles earned the respective third, fourth, and fifth places.  

The Summary Stunt?

You might want to hold off on your fake lottery winnings as most Americans simply aren’t in the mood this year. With a narrow number of 20% planning to participate in April Fool’s Day 2024, a knock-knock joke might be a better alternative.  

If you can’t resist the call to high jinks, we recommend you keep it light. Americans signal the “OK” for jokes like jump scares, prank calls, and plastic bugs, but anything more serious might be frowned upon. Happy Pranksgiving to all!  

Methodology?

In March 2024, we surveyed 3,000 Americans asking a number of questions regarding sentiment surrounding April Fool’s Day, prank culture, and more. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”.  

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Biggest pillow fight, fastest nose-typing, and stretchiest skin – we’re talking about the Guinness Book of World Records. As it turns out, Sin City is all about writing the history of the best, the weirdest, and the wildest. Vegas has found its claim to fame in more ways than one, but its mark in the Guinness Book of World Records is unmatched. 

Now, you can get a piece of the record-breaking pie. We’re determined to break the 2017 record for Most Casinos Visited in 24 Hours. For the true casino-afficionados, adventure-seekers, and night owl enthusiasts: this is the competition for you. 

What’s in it for you? An all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas, the best night of your life, and the chance at glory! The selected winner will be flown to Las Vegas for a three-night stay. During the trip, the winner will attempt to gamble at as many casinos as possible in 24 hours to overtake the current record of 74. We’re sweetening the deal by offering a $3,000 cash prize for a successful new record. It’s important to note that the competition is only open to US applicants. Think you’ve got what it takes? 

Making history has never been more fun and now’s your chance to put your eye (and dye) on the prize. Daredevils will need to do the following: 

How it works 

1. Read the terms and conditions and go to the application page (now closed) 

2. Tell us why you think you should be the record breaker. This can be either a short essay (around 300 words) or a video submission (less than 2 minutes) sharing your motivations for entry 

3. Wait for the winner to be announced following the competition closing on April 30, 2024 

4. Pack your bags and get ready for your all-expense paid trip to Vegas  

5. If you successfully break the Most Visited Casinos in 24 Hours record, you’ll win an additional $3,000 cash prize 

Disclaimer 

Casino.org has no affiliation with ? Guinness World Records in any capacity. Casino.org is not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by the ? Guinness World Records brand. The use of any trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only. Terms and conditions can be found here. 

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We dove deep into the data to evaluate factors that help define what a “good nosebleed” seat consists of, as oxymoronic as it sounds. The factors were as follows:  

• View Quality: Assess the visibility of the playing field or stage from the nosebleed seats. Considering factors like sightlines and obstructions 
• Height: Measure the height of the highest nose bleeds from the ground and compare that with the elevation of the stadium’s location 
• Price: Evaluate the affordability of the nosebleed seats compared to other seating options in the stadium. Consider the starting price for nosebleed seats 
• Accessibility: Examine the ease of access to and from the nosebleed seats using 8 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) factors 
• Atmosphere: Evaluate the atmosphere and energy in the nosebleed seats section. Consider factors like crowd engagement and attendance 
• Customer Reviews: Incorporate feedback and reviews from previous attendees who have experienced the nosebleed seats by scraping Tripadvisor reviews for “nosebleed” seats 

With such factors defined we were able to collect the data and weigh each factor in accordance with its importance to overall “nose-bleedness.” From there, we indexed each stadium based on the weighted score.  

Key findings: 

• The worst stadium for nosebleeds goes to the Chicago Bull’s United Center scoring 12/100 
• Green Bay Packer’s Lambeau Field was considered the #1 best stadium for nosebleeds 
• The major league to have the overall best nosebleed seats was the NFL 
• Coors Field was the location most likely to actually give you a nosebleed  

The Nation’s Best Nosebleed Seats 

When you see that your assigned seat is 600-something, some might gasp, but others might celebrate all the same. Not all nosebleed seats are created equal, and, in fact, some nosebleeds can actually offer a real good time, bar the minor altitude sickness.  

The best nosebleed seats in the US go to the Green Bay Packer’s Lambeau Field. It’s no secret that Cheeseheads know how to party, and the sentiment holds, even from the rafters. With the highest score on the nosebleed index, Packers fans take home a perfect 100/100. Although some of the pricier starting points in professional sports, a minimum of $105 if you’re lucky, Lambeau Field has proven it’s worth every penny. When we scraped the Tripadvisor reviews for nosebleed seats, we found nothing but positivity. One fan even went on to call it the “holy grail of the NFL.” How’s that for a rave review? 

With a minimum amount of obstructed view seats and high crowd engagement scores, the nosebleeds in Green Bay are bound to be a joy. You may not get to indulge in the “Lambeau Leap” from way up above, but the fandom is all the same from VIP to cloud-level seating. 

Keeping it in the NFL family, second place goes to CenturyLink/Lumen Field, home to both the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Founders. Seahawks fans pride themselves on their 2x Guinness World Record for crowd roar, if it gives any clue to how exciting these nosebleeds can be. Fans can expect high accessibility with the stadium scoring 8/8 on our ADA-factors score, a great atmosphere, and reasonably priced tickets, starting at $80.  

Can we get a yeehaw? Third place goes to the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. To round off our top three, we’re lassoing one of Texas’ biggest and best sports arenas. AT&T Stadium takes the cake for unique reasons. In addition to traditional “nosebleeds,” this stadium added a standing section for the true devotees. They may not be the most comfortable seats in the house, sans seats of course, but at a value of $29, you get what you pay for, nosebleeds and all.  

Worst Nosebleed Seats in the Country Goes to… 

We don’t want to bull you around, on this one. Fans have rightful beef with as the Chicago Bull’s United Center comes in #1 for worst nosebleeds in the country. Despite having the second largest fanbase in the NBA franchise, the Bull’s home court isn’t paying nearly as much gratitude as it should. Their 16.7 million fans have to face steep inclines up to their 140-foot-high seats and at a pretty penny too. At one of the costliest starting price points out of all major league sports, even the least significant game starts at $107.00. And your precious life savings could look like this: 

But hey, at least you’ll be able to see the giant, inflatable bull mascot from any seat in the house! ?

We’re tossing the ball to another NBA stadium for the second worst in nosebleed seats in the country. The Brooklyn Net’s home court of Barclay’s Center came in second to last for nosebleed seats. Scoring a 13/100, 70% lower than its NBA equivalent at large.  Below we can see a WWE event held at the Barclays Center, where the user goes on to comment, “Clear view of the ring however if this was basketball or hockey the view would be blocked.”

Despite recent stardom, the third to last place stadium goes to Allegiant Stadium. As one of the newer sports stadiums in the country, hopes were high for a five-star experience regardless of the section. Where they delivered in some areas, they fell short in others. Although Allegiant Stadium is the second-most expensive stadium in the world, most of that money was funneled into the VIP sections, with little thought to the high-up seats. The steeper-than-steep climb to the nosebleeds results in a low accessibility score paired with the literal probability of getting a nosebleed during the game (elevation + seat height), making the Raiders’ home stadium rank low.  

Best Fans in the ‘Bleeds  

They say “location, location, location” but for some die-hard fans, location is only a minor play in game day hype. Back to the hootin’ and hollerin’ of Texas, AT&T Stadium comes in first place for atmosphere and crowd engagement. On average, the Cowboys reel in 93594 fans for each home game. The stadium’s capacity sits at 105,000, meaning an 89% occupancy rate. Talk about die-hard fans!  

Interestingly, the Cowboys also ranked the #1 most hated franchise in the league, according to a recent study. Perhaps the hate fuels their team spirit? Their attendance isn’t the only measure, as 1 in 10 Cowboy Fans also believe they have the best game-day atmosphere in the league. How ‘bout them Cowboys?!  

The Giants and Jets home arena brings out “the New Yorker in them” as the MetLife Stadium ranked #2 for best nosebleed atmosphere. The MetLife Stadium, in its full, actually ranks as one of the worst stadiums in the league, but nose-bleeders would beg to differ. When The Athletic interviewed NFL players, the majority listed MetLife as the worst to play in. Maybe the on-the-ground experience is a bust, but the turf is greener on the upper side at MetLife. Averaging some record attendance between the Jets and the Giants, the stadium stays lively. Amongst other factors, their crowd engagement score earned them second-best nosebleed fans.  

Best and Worst Professional Sports League for Nosebleed Seats 

Regardless of teams, each league has its own style of stadium. Basketball offers a narrow, but small setting, the NFL circles fans around its wide field, and baseball clusters spectators in a C-shape. Some leagues are better than others when it comes to nosebleed bliss.  

The #1 major league sport for best nosebleed seating goes to the NFL. With the top 10 out of 35 major sports arenas in the US being NFL stadiums, football nosebleeds are the clear winner. The landscape of the field offers wide views for catching all the plays meaning minimally obstructed views as compared to the MLB, for example, which must accommodate nets, structural columns, etc. Plus a good ole’ fashion tailgate before the game doesn’t hurt to get even the worst of seats in the mood for fandom.  

“Take me out to the ballgame” can be sung and enjoyed from even the highest of seats. The MLB ranked second for major league sports arenas. With the majority of MLB arenas boasting open-air seating and a tolerable height from the ground, these nosebleeds aren’t the best but aren’t the worst either. 

Get your spectacles ready as the NBA ranks the worst major sports league for nosebleed seating. NBA arenas had the steepest climb out of all the leagues and a higher percentage of obstructed view seats. Better to let your wallet bleed and buy a better seat when it comes to the NBA. 

Where you’re most likely to get an actual nosebleed  

They don’t call it nosebleeds for nothing, right? Although meant to be hyperbolic, there’s some truth to the term. Higher altitudes, thinner air, and a drastic change in temperature can actually cause your gameday to go from rad to red-stained. So which stadiums do you have a higher chance of getting a nosebleed? 

The Colorado Rockies’ home at Coors Field might make you a bit uneasy when it comes to altitude. At 5,200 feet above sea level, it’s the highest sports arena in the country. Air density is only 82% of what it is at sea level which could be just cause for both nosebleeds and curve balls according to some defensive fans. As the major league leader in “park factor”, we can understand why.  

A bloody debrief 

We hope you don’t ever have to put truth to the trope, but at least you know which stadiums to steer clear of and where you can rally with the rest of them. Put on your cheese hat and hit the nosebleeds at Lambeau Field or have a rowdy good time in the rafters at Lumen Field. On the flip side, and for the sake of your sinuses, stay away from the United Center and Barclays Center. You’ve been bloody warned! 

Methodology 

Using quantitative observation, web scraping, and secondary data, we collected different metrics from the top 35 major sports arenas in the US. We determined the 35 most “prominent” arenas by summing these factors:  

• Capacity: The stadiums with the largest seating capacities 
• Historical Significance: Stadiums listed have a long history of hosting important sports events and are iconic landmarks in their respective cities 
• Professional Sports Teams: The stadiums are home to professional sports teams that compete in popular leagues such as the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS 

We then weighed each factor for “nosebleeds” according to importance and relevance. Finally, we combined these numbers to create a score and rank regarding seats in the claimed “nosebleed” sections. 

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With Paris Hilton announced as the ambassador for WOW Vegas, reactions flew all over the social media world. This prompted us to dig deep into America’s sentiments on celebrity endorsements, with a nationwide survey to discover their reasons why, and which industries are most likely to get a golden seal of approval (or eye-roll). 

Key findings: 

• 60.7% trust brands less when they use celebrity endorsements  
• Why? 81.8% believe celebrity brand deals lack credibility 
• The fashion industry ranks #1 for celebrity endorsement approval (in trust), followed by music (2^nd) and beauty (3^rd) 
• The gambling industry ranks as the least trusted industry for celebrity brand deals, followed by finance and technology  

The sentiments are in: Why Americans do and don’t trust celebrity endorsements 

To our surprise, a whopping 60.7% of Americans admit they trust brands less when they utilize celebrity endorsements! While marketers can argue it drives sales and attracts new customers, an astounding 81.8% find these endorsements to be lacking in credibility – suggesting for more authenticity in today’s marketing world. Only 7.3% don’t trust the brand’s marketing strategy, while 6.7% simply dislike the chosen celebrity ambassador. An additional 4.1% cited ‘other’ reasons, like finding the entire tactic as meaningless.  

On the flip side, for the 39.3% who do find themselves trusting brands more with celebrity endorsements, their reasons vary. The #1 reason is personal fondness for the featured celebrity, according to 37.4%. Another 24.6% trust the brand’s marketing choices, while 23.3% believe the endorsement represents a credible and authentic decision for the brand. Only 14.7% feel somewhat indifferent, but ultimately trust the brand’s expertise in their decision-making.  

Industry rankings: Most trusted vs least trusted with endorsements

Let’s roll out the red carpet because fashion steals the spotlight as the #1 celebrity endorsement-approved industry! Nearly half (42.1%) of respondents find this partnership the perfect match, where celebrities and fashion brands can seamlessly sync in reputation and style. Take Rihanna and Louis Vuitton’s Men Spring Summer 24 endorsement for example – an iconic and fashion-forward powerhouse that’s able to bring fresh energy towards the already establish fashion house! 

Crank the music up! The music industry rocks the industry chart as the #2 most celebrity endorsement-approved sector, as voted by 34.7%. This also comes as no surprise, considering how many of these partnerships feature musicians themselves. Just take the iconic Taylor Swift and Drake Apple Music commercial, for example. Talk about a great marketing decision!  

Cue the glam, because the beauty industry secures the #3 spot on the approval charts with a solid 34.6% of votes. The marketing tactic makes sense within this industry as celebrities are now crafting their own product lines – and it sure helps to have A-List friends promote these products! You may have seen Kendall Jenner sporting in Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, for example. Talk about beauty and friendship goals! 

On the other end of the spectrum, the gambling industry takes the title of the least trusted sector for celebrity endorsement deals – with only 2.3% of approval rates. Despite A-List names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicki Minaj, and Drake sharing their star power, the industry still struggles to win over trust.  

Sentiments on brand deals within the casino and iGaming industry?

With the fast-growing online gaming industry, celebrity endorsements have become the most influential strategy. But do they hit the jackpot with consumers? We opened the floor with the following question: “How do you feel about celebrity endorsements within the casino and iGaming industry?”??

The results are in: 66.4% feel that the partnership just doesn’t add up, compared to the 33.6% who see the appeal in the marketing move. Whether it’s the puzzling celebrity choice or the general unfamiliarity with the industry, building trust with potential consumers remains a hurdle.  

Following the recent Paris Hilton and WOW Vegas partnership, over half (57.5%) of respondents also revealed their dislike of the brand deal. Another celebrity endorsement within the industry that sparked a lot of talk online was Jamie Foxx and BetMGM’s partnership – receiving a 53.6% disapproval rate as well. It seems that celebrity brand deals aren’t always a winning hand when it comes to approval rates!  

Conclusion 

It’s safe to assume that winning over customers’ trust is essential in the business and marketing realm. Our findings reveal the importance of selecting relevant celebrities as brand ambassadors to build trust and avoid skepticism among consumers.  

Methodology  

In February 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 3,000 US residents. The average age of respondents was 40.2 years old. The representative sample comprised of 58.2% female, 39.1% male, 2.1% non-binary, 0.5% transgender, and 0.1% ‘other’.  

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To make sure visitors are snagging the best deals, we’ve scraped over 1.5 million Tripadvisor reviews of every Vegas casino resort, entertainment show, and restaurant and bar, to calculate the percentage of reviews that past visitors flagged as scams. We focused on keywords like ‘scam’, ‘rip-off’, ‘waste’, and ‘misleading’, to separate the real deal from deceivers.?

Key Findings: 

• The Blue Man Group is deemed the biggest scam in Vegas, overall and within the show category – with 5.5% of Tripadvisor reviews associated with all-things ‘scam’ related 
• Resort: Blue Vacations Club 36 ranks #1 in resort scams, with 4.2% of reviews pointing to hidden fees and shady package deals 
• Restaurant and Bar: Minus5 ICEBAR left 5% of diners feeling deceived, making it the top rip-off in Vegas 

Sin Scam City: Top 10 biggest scams, according to reviews 

Whether you’re on a budget or looking to maximize your Vegas experience, steer clear of the top 10 ranked shows, restaurants, and resorts based on our findings and past visitors’ feedback.  

Painting themselves blue and as the biggest scam in Vegas, the Blue Man Group steals the spotlight as the ultimate swindle, ranking #1 in our top 10 list. According to 5.5% of past visitors’ reviews, this iconic entertainment show left attendees feeling less dazzled and drained in the wallets. Viewers dubbed their show as “a waste of time and money”, and “a complete rip-off” in the review section. One disappointed showgoer even said, “you are better off gambling your money.” Your $70 might be better spent elsewhere – definitely not here!  

Serving a shot of ice-cold deception, Minus5 ICEBAR ranks 2nd overall – with a cool 5% of visitors feeling deceived. Although many found the concept to be cool, they left with their wallets feeling frostbitten. Take this reviewer’s frosty comment, for example: “Tourist trap rip-off…standing in a meat locker for $17 bucks? No thanks.” Talk about a chilling experience…?  

Don’t be fooled by the word ‘vacation’ in Bluegreen Vacations Club 36 – it’s not all sunshine and rainbows! With 4.2% of reviews deemed as scams, it ranks 3rd in Vegas’s biggest scams list (and #1 in resorts). A whopping 59% of their scam-related reviews specifically mention the keyword ‘scam’ – the highest among the top 10 list. Some of their shady scams include their time-share program, vacation incentives, and cleanliness concerns. You might want to go sipping martinis someplace else.  

Completing the top 5 rankings, Pampas Las Vegas and Criss Angel Mindfreak, tied for 4th, each with 3.9% of scam-related reviews. In 5th place is Saltgrass Steakhouse with 3% of scam-related reviews. 

Resorts with the highest ‘scam’ mentions, according to their reviews 

To check-in, or to check out? That is the question when it comes to booking overnight stays at some of Vegas’s resorts. For a stress-free stay, you might want to stay clear of these spots, as they’ve racked up the highest number of scam-related reviews on Tripadvisor. 

As mentioned earlier, Bluegreen Vacations Club 35 ranks #1 as Vegas’s most scam-dalous stay, according to 4.2% of Tripadvisor reviews.  

Coming in hot at 2nd place is the Jockey Club, with 2.8% of deceitful-related reviews. One unfortunate guest wrote, “We’ve poured over $12,000 into their services. DON’T FALL FOR IT! Dreadful service, zero availability. SCAM, BIG SCAM!” If that’s not enough, nearly half (47%) of their scam-related reviews hold the keyword ‘waste’ – whether it’s a waste of money and/or time. Check out, don’t check-in here! 

In the resort scam stakes, Club Wyndham Grand Desert secures 3rd place, due to their 2.7% share of scam-related reviews. Despite flaunting their “Five-Time Winner of the Certificate of Excellence” on Tripadvisor, some would disagree. Previous guests have labeled their timeshare salespeople as “walking scams” and ‘rip-offs’, and their timeshare presentation full of misleading information. While their hospitality seems to be excellent, indeed, it seems their Achilles’ heel lies in their timeshare program. 

Wrapping up the top 5 rankings, Hilton Vacation Club Cancun Resort (4th) clocks in 2.6% of scam-related reviews. While the Golden Nugget and Palms Casino Resort tied for 5th, both with 2% of scam-related reviews.  

Scam-biz: 10 shows with the highest ‘scam’ mentions, according to reviews

Did you really go to Las Vegas if you didn’t see a show or two? With jaw-dropping shows such as Absinthe, O by Cirque du Soleil, or MJ Live, the city sure does offer an array of entertainment. But before you splash your cash, watch out for the overhyped shows. Save yourself a Benjamin or three, and avoid these shows – as recommended by countless of previous showgoers. 

As mentioned earlier, Blue Man Group takes the stage as Vegas’s #1 showtime scam, according to the 5.5% of their reviews that resonate with scam-related keywords. 

Considering attending the Criss Angel MINDFREAK show? Prepare to have your mind-blown by…nothing? This magician spectacle ranks as Vegas’s 2nd biggest showbiz scam, with 3.9% of reviews claiming to feel tricked. From their swindle-related reviews, a staggering 95% labeled the show as a ‘waste’, with complaints ranging from ‘waste of time’ to ‘poor magic and pure waste of money.’ Others have dubbed it as a “marketing scam” and a “mindfreakin rip-off”. If you’re a magic fanatic, you might want to pull a disappearing act on this show.  

Penn & Teller are pulling off more than tricks, but also securing 3rd place in Vegas’s showbiz scam rankings – according to the 2.9% of their Tripadvisor scam-related reviews. Mirroring the sentiments of Criss Angel’s MINDFREAK show, a whopping 93% of their scam-related mentions also felt the comedy magic show was a waste. Guests found the performance to be underwhelming, and a ‘waste of money’ (they spent $160)! Other displeased visitors labeled the show’s bar a rip-off. One patron shelled out $60 for a beer, coke, and 2 rum and cokes – that’s approximately $20 a drink! Now that’s a (magic) trick no one wants to see.  

Completing the top 5 rankings, Ka by Cirque du Soleil ranks 4th place, with 2.4% of scam-related keywords appearing in their reviews. Jabbawockeez comes in 5th, with 2.3% of its reviews holding scam-related sentiments. 

10 Vegas bars and restaurants that are serving scams 

Las Vegas is the hub for foodies and celebrity chefs, making every dish a star! With countless Instagrammable bites and fine dining options, every visitors’ taste buds will be satisfied. But for those with refined palettes or serious foodie critics, perhaps skip some of these restaurants and bars.  

As previously mentioned, Minus5 ICEBAR is chilling in its 2nd place ranking in our top 10 scam. Due to their 5% of swindle-related reviews from past visitors, they also earn the top spot in the Vegas restaurant industry. 

Pampas Las Vegas, a Brazilian Steakhouse located on the Strip, has definitely cooked up a swindled-storm, as it lands itself in 2nd place for the most scam-related mentions. From their 3.9% of visitors that felt deceived, a whopping 61% found their dining experience to be a waste of money. Another 17% felt they fell into a tourist trap or local rip-off; while 12% claimed the restaurant a scam as they didn’t accept coupons or gift cards from hotels. So if you’re not willing to roll the dice on these high-steaks, perhaps book your reservation elsewhere. 

Adding another steakhouse in the mix, Saltgrass Steakhouse (based in The Golden Nugget), claims 3rd place on our top 10 list – with 3% of scam-related mentions, overall. Previous patrons claimed the price didn’t match the quality expectations or portion sizes, dubbing it a rip-off. Due to its overpriced food and questionable quality, multiple warnings echoed the ‘don’t waste your money and time’ sentiment once again.  
 
Finishing the top 5 rankings, Circus Circus Buffet and Bacchanal Buffet both tie for 4th place – with 2.7% of scam mentions. Keeping the buffet theme rolling, MGM Grand Buffet finishes in 5th, thanks to its 2.6% of swindled-related Tripadvisor reviews. 

Honorable Mentions: Attraction and Transportation scams  

The biggest attraction scam in Vegas, according to Tripadvisor reviews, by a long run is Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum. With 4% of their reviews filled with scam-related mentions, over half (53%) of these reviews labeled the museum as a rip-off. Other previous visitors labeled the museum as “a hauntingly good tourist trap” or a “tacky fake money-grubbing tourist trap”. Try saying that three times fast!  

If you’re looking to ride in style, steer clear of the gondola rides at the Venetian. While it may look like a serene journey, 3.7% of their reviews claimed that paying a minimum of $70 for only 10-15 minutes was a major rip-off. Especially when they charge you an additional $30 for photos! So much for smooth sailing. 

Conclusion

With all the glitz and glamour that is Las Vegas, we understand that navigating the countless options of resorts, shows, and restaurants can feel like a high-stakes game. With our guide to the biggest scams and luckiest casinos in Vegas, let them serve as guides to get the best bang for your buck.  

Methodology

To determine the biggest ‘scams’ in Las Vegas, we conducted a thorough keyword search across all of Vegas’s Tripadvisor pages. The following terms were searched and tallied: scam, rip-off, waste, and misleading. We ensured there was no duplication of keywords within the same person’s review. 

After scraping over 1,500,280 reviews and tallying the numbers, we calculated the percentage of scam-related mentions in each of their respective Tripadvisor reviews.  

This data was collected in February 2024.  

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

We asked 4,000 Americans if they would move abroad following a negative presidential outcome and where they’d like to go. We also asked a couple of other sentiment questions regarding motivations for moving, likelihood, and more.  

Key findings: 

• 1 in 5 Americans would choose Canada for immigration if the election results are negative 
• The UK was the 2^nd most desirable place to relocate for Americans post-election 
• 6 out of the top 10 countries were located in Europe, indicating a possible mass migration to this continent 
• The #1 most cited reason for wanting to move is culture followed by job opportunities (#2)?

Canada Named Most Likely Place of Immigration for Americans?

The lands up north aren’t looking so bad, eh? When it’s time to hit the road, Americans are seeking the easiest transition possible. The number one destination for post-election moves was Canada. Out of all 195 countries, 20% of respondents said that they’d choose Canada as their new home. Following the previous presidential election, the search term “move to Canada” skyrocketed 120% in the US after the results were announced showing that Canada has been top of mind for both this election cycle and the previous one. And it makes perfect sense. With the language being the same, the proximity, and the cultural fit, it’s an obvious choice.  

What’s interesting is that proximity was only important on the surface. When compared to our other neighbors, Mexico, only a slim 2% of respondents said they’d move to the Land of the Sun. Of those respondents, the majority were from states neighboring Mexico: Texas and Arizona.  

Pip, Pip, Cheerio! To the UK we go for 2^nd place?

What some of our ancestors didn’t know when they sailed over on the Mayflower was that it was actually a round trip. We’re trading in our cup of joe for tea parties, as The United Kingdom is the 2^nd most likely place for US immigration post-election. We have the Brits to thank for many of the customs we have in the US, so why not trace it back to the origins? Similar to Canada, the UK shares a similar culture and language, making assimilation that much easier.  

Of those that chose the UK as their top choice, 33% said they’d move for the culture, 27% for the employment opportunities, and 21% for the healthcare.  

Japan is the third most popular relocation destination for Americans?

The hustle and bustle of Tokyo contrasted with the calm of blossoming cherry blossoms: Japan has it all. With such a differing culture, Japan has quite the allure for Americans. 18% of all study-abroad students opt for Japan and Google Trends also shows a piqued interest search results showing an increase?of 100% over the last five years. ?All of this to say: Japan is a booming destination for Americans.?

Interest was already there for Americans to visit, but now a new idea starts to emerge: could I live there?  Americans listed Japan as the #3 destination they would like to move to if the election results turn for the worst. Almost half of all the respondents who chose Japan said culture was the top reason for moving there.  

On the Rosetta Stone Language Difficulty Scale, Japanese ranks in Category 5 as the most difficult, with only four other languages with the same level of difficulty. Based on the scale, native English speakers would require 2,200 hours of study to learn Japanese. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that “language” was listed as the number one reason to not move there. ?

European vacation becomes European migration ?

Buongiorno, buenos dias, and bonjour, we’re looking at you, Europe! European destinations have always been a desired location for the big trips: honeymoons, college graduations, and more, but now it’s becoming more and more accessible. American travel to Europe has skyrocketed over the years with an increase of 55% just from last year alone. For some Americans, La Dolce Vita is no longer just a vacation mindset, but rather a newly adapted lifestyle in a new country.  

According to our findings, 6 out 10 of the top desired countries to move abroad post-election were European. Beyond the top 3 previously stated, Italy comes in 5^th, Ireland in 6^th, Switzerland 8^th, Spain 9^th, and France in 10^th. But how are those countries taking to the US? Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes surveys reveal American unfavorability/favorability per country, with European highlights including:?

• France: 41% unfavorability towards Americans 
• Italy: 37% unfavorability towards Americans 
• Spain: 39% unfavorability towards Americans 
• Sweden: 41% unfavorability towards Americans 
• Germany: 40% unfavorability towards Americans 

The research goes to show: although Americans are eager to live the Mediterranean way, Europeans aren’t quite as thrilled to open their doors. 

Why Americans would leave after the election?

The US has plenty to offer: breakfast burritos, baseball, and a suspicious obsession with using a non-metric system. With that said, not all is as it’s hyped up to be in the land of stars and stripes. What are some reasons that Americans would want to leave their home country? ?

30.40% would leave for the culture. America, in all its beauty, offers a great culture, but the grass is always greener on the other side, right? Whether they want to run with the bulls in Spain, celebrate carnival in Brazil, or castle hop in Ireland, Americans are happy to leave the US to experience new cultures. ?

Amidst waves of layoffs, job security becomes all the more important. 20.3% feel job opportunities are better abroad and cited that as the reason they would leave. The third most cited reason for moving abroad was healthcare at 19.4%.  

Before you pack your bags?

Life seems good on the other side, but don’t buy your plane tickets yet. 59% of respondents find it unlikely that they’ll actually move abroad after the election. With visa complications, moving costs, and the challenges of assimilating to a new country, most Americans are more likely to try to fix what they’ve got rather than seek greener pastures. ?

Methodology?

We surveyed over 4,000 Americans in February 2024 to discover the sentiment of moving abroad after the 2024 Presidential election and where they would move. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”. 

Fair Use?

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org 

As National Margarita Day approaches on February 22^nd, we’re celebrating by revealing America’s favorite margaritas! We utilized Google Trends to find the most sought-after margarita varieties in each state. Grab your salt-rimmed glasses and raise a toast to our beloved cocktail!  

Key Findings: 

• Skinny margaritas take the crown as America’s top choice, according to 16 states 
• Classic margaritas rank 2^nd, with Spicy margaritas in 3^rd as nationwide favorites  
• Unusual margaritas that stole the spotlight include Texas margaritas and Matcha margaritas  

Salt, sip, repeat: Here are America’s favorite types of margaritas  

Skinny margaritas rank #1 as America’s favorite margaritas, as voted by 16 states. Google Trends reveals notable spikes in ‘Skinny margaritas’ around certain holidays, like Cinco de Mayo reaching an all-time high. The cocktail also gained search popularity the week leading up to the 4^th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and in the aftermath of Dry January. Once the calendar hit February 1^st, skinny margarita searches grew by 122%! The trend suggests that skinny margaritas are the ultimate year-round cocktail choice!  

For those who crave something a bit stronger and sweeter, the classic margarita takes the runner-up spot as America’s 2^nd most popular margarita, as indicated by 10 states. The classic margarita also hit peak interest for Cinco de Mayo, but also during Labor Day celebrations. The timeless simple yet traditional blend, also serves as a holiday favorite in America. 

Spicy margaritas come in 3^rd as the nationwide favorite, according to the four states who like it hot: Alabama, California, D.C., and Wyoming. Infused with muddled jalape?o coins, this fiery variation adds that extra kick to the already delicious cocktail. It’s the perfect margarita for those who are looking to add a little spice to their life! 

Tied for 4^th, are the festive White Christmas margaritas and the virgin margaritas. White Christmas margaritas are winter cocktails filled with delicious coconut milk and cream of coconut. Garnished with cranberries, this beautiful concoction delights residents in Georgia, Maryland and Virginia. Meanwhile, those in Iowa, Kansas, and Utah opt for virgin margaritas, savoring the taste without alcohol. 

Finishing off the top five list, Mistletoe margaritas, pomegranate margaritas, and frozen margaritas share a three-way tie for 5^th place in the nationwide margarita ranking. For those who don’t know, Mistle margaritas are another festive delight, filled with cranberry juice, citrus, orange flavored liquor and tequila – a favorite in Washington. Pomegranate margaritas are a state favorite in Arizona, with frozen margaritas a cherished favorite in Vermont.   

Honorable mentions: Texas margaritas and Matcha margaritas  

When it comes to unique margarita names, flavors, and taste buds, Texas margaritas and Matcha margaritas emerged as standouts in our findings. Which states are embracing the unconventional twists on the classic cocktail?  

Surprisingly enough, Texas margaritas aren’t a Lone Star favorite, but an Oregon favorite! The only difference between a classic and a Texas margarita is that there’s fresh orange juice added in there. While the origin story of this southern-named cocktail remains a mystery, it’s ventured its way up the upper west coast of the nation! With a breakout search (search term growing over 5000%), Oregonians are clearly loving it. Could Texas margaritas be the next mimosas in Oregon?  

Extra, extra, drink all about it! Matcha margaritas are a hit in New York, as this unique flavor combo also hit breakout searches in Google Trends. The bright, vibrant, and apparently easy to drink cocktail, utilizes tequila, triple sec, agave, lime, and matcha powder. Claimed to be both zesty and earthy, New Yorkers find it the perfect cocktail for any occasion. We’ll believe it when we taste it.  

Conclusion 

With an abundance of margarita variations to explore, you won’t be short of options this National Margarita Day! Whether you prefer something classic, frozen, spicy, or unique, let our nationwide findings serve as an inspiration for your next favorite margarita.  

Methodology 

In February 2024, we used Google Trends to identify the most searched-for margaritas in each state. Our search parameters were set to the last 12 months.  

Fair use 

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors. 

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

While the current rumor has it that Dead & Company might be the next Sphere residents for the summer, it left us thinking…’Who does America really want?’ We decided to take matters into our own hands by surveying 3,000 Americans who were willing to spill the beans on their Sphere residency wish list; and the results may surprise you.

Key Findings:

• Out of the list of current rumored artists or band: Lady Gaga secured #1 for America’s Sphere residency hopes
• America votes Dead & Company last, despite current 2024 summer residency talks 
• Outside of the rumored artists and bands: Taylor Swift dominates as the #1 Sphere residency pick from Spotify’s 2023 top-streamed artists list
• Americans voted pop as the preferred music genre to headline The Sphere

Time to end the rumors: America’s ideal Sphere residency lineup

Let’s cut to the chase and roll out the red carpet for Lady Gaga. Our nationwide survey reveals it loud and clear, as Lady Gaga takes the crown as the most-wanted artist from the rumored residency list. No surprise here, given her stellar performances in past Vegas residencies and chart-topping hits like ‘Shallow’, ‘Bad Romance’, ‘Paparazzi’, and more! Plus, name a better Vegas touch than Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ song – the perfect casino anthem fit for The Sphere! 

Who runs the world? Beyoncé! Time to put your hands up as Beyoncé claims second place in our most-wanted Sphere residency list amid the rumors. Like Lady Gaga, she’s a Vegas residency veteran, where she graced Wynn Casino Las Vegas back in 2009 with her ‘I Am…Yours’ shows. Fresh off her Renaissance tour and blockbuster movie (raking in a cool $21 million in its opening week), America is clearly head over heels, and crazy in love with Queen Bey.

Landing in third on the rumored Sphere residency lineup, Coldplay secures its spot in America’s residency wishlist. Picture this: ‘Yellow’ is playing as the dome saturates in a sea of mesmerizing yellow lights. With other hits like ‘Viva La Vida’, ‘Fix You’, ‘The Scientist’, and more, Coldplay would in fact, be the perfect band to take the stage in Vegas’s entertainment dome. 

Contrary to the current buzz about Dead & Company in talks for The Sphere’s 2024 summer residency, our data paints a different picture…as they’re voted last overall. It seems that America isn’t exactly in agreement with their turn in The Sphere, either signaling their disinterest or little enthusiasm for the rock band. 

Other prominent artists to consider for the future of The Sphere

We opened up the floor to our 3,000 US respondents and asked them the following question:

‘Considering Spotify’s top 2023 most listened-to artists and the rumored residency contenders, who would you prefer to headline The Sphere’s upcoming residency?’

Securing the top spot (as she does) is America’s pop royalty, Taylor Swift. As Taylor dominates the year 2023, she shattered records and achieved more awards than we can count. While she’s currently ruling the music industry with her global Eras tour until the end of 2024, we’ll (unfortunately) have to bid our time for a few more years before she even considers a Sphere residency. 

Even with over 50-top streamed artists in the mix, Lady Gaga still finishes strong, as she secures second place overall. This strong vote definitely hints at America’s profound wish for the actress-singer-songwriter to retake the stage in Vegas – but now, in a more captivating setting. Snagging third place is none other than the rizz-king himself, Bruno Mars. With his current Vegas residency and chart-toppers like ‘24K Magic’, ‘That’s What I Like’, ‘Lazy Song’, and ‘Uptown Funk’, this collective vote is a total no-brainer! 

To finish off the top-streamed 2023 residency wishlist: Eminem (4th), Paul McCartney (5th), Beyoncé (6th), Eagles (7th), Bon Jovi (8th), Coldplay (9th), and Billie Eilish (10th).

Speaking of all things-future, we also asked our respondents the following question:

‘Which genre should The Sphere feature in the next residency?’ 

In the grand scheme of musical preferences, pop takes the lead as the top-ranked genre, as voted by our nationwide survey. Following behind, rock secures second place, hip hop claims third, metal/punk rock in fourth, and R&B grooves into fifth place overall. 

To finish off the music genre list: ‘other’ (6th), EDM (7th), country (8th), K-pop (9th), jazz (10th), and rap (11th).

Methodology

In January 2024, we surveyed 3,000 US residents to gather insights on their preferences for the next Sphere residency. Our list included the most speculated artists for the upcoming residency. For the second question of the survey, we utilized Spotify’s most listened-to artists of 2023 list. 

The average age of respondents was 40.4 years old. The representative sample comprised of 53.7% female, 44.4% male, 1.2% non-binary, 0.6% transgender, and 0.1% other. 

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org

Love is a battlefield and so are the gifts that surround it. What does a partner actually want to receive? How much is too much and is a $20 gift considered “cheap”? Is three dates enough to buy your love interest a gift? A card?

We were just as curious when it came to the (monetary) matters of the heart, so we took to the masses. By interviewing 4,000 participants across the US we were able to gather American sentiment around Valentine’s Day gifts, how much should be spent, the timeline for giving a gift, and more. 

Key Findings:

• Americans will spend $51.32 on Valentine’s Day gifts this year, on average
• Idaho had the highest V-Day spend at $84.38, Alaska had the lowest spend at $20
• Dinner was the #1 choice for a gift while underwear is the most poorly received Valentine’s Day gift

Big-ballers, Shot Callers: States Spending the Most on Valentine’s Day

Roll out the red carpet because the big Valentine’s Day spenders are here. If you’re hoping for rose petals on the bed, Dom Pérignon in the fridge, and maybe a bit of bling-bling, some states offer a better bet than others. When we asked participants from each state how much they were planning to spend for the upcoming holiday, some didn’t hold back!

If you want to spend Valentine’s Day in luxury, you’ll have to head to the potato state, as Idaho ranks #1 biggest spender for Valentine’s Day gifts. These studs are giving more than just spuds with an average spending of $84.38. Right now the average cost of roses in the US is around $80 (yikes, we know), so Idaho is feeling generous enough to throw in a box of chocolates too. 

Heading to the East Coast, a second-place winner emerges. They don’t call it the Diamond State for nothing as Delaware ranks #2 biggest Valentine’s Day spenders. Small in size, mighty in spending power: Delawareans will spend $78.13 on average this Valentine’s Day.?

The third-place winners follow closely behind. Oregon ranks #3 biggest Valentine’s Day spenders with an average of $77.50 on gifts. Just remember, Oregon, and Portland even more so, is considered a weirdly wonderful place, so don’t expect that $80 to go to your typical bouquet of flowers. America’s weirdest Valentine’s Day gifts are covered later, so hold onto your (heart-shaped) hats. 

Cities projected to spend the most this Valentine’s Day

If we get more granular we can see that some cities defy their state average. Where their state counterparts might be stingy, these cities are going all out! The top spender cities were as follows: 

1. Houston – $105.27
2. Atlanta – $89.04
3. Myrtle Beach – $87.50
4. Phoenix – $85.63
5. Dallas – $79.25
6. Baltimore – $78.75
7. Tampa – $73.75
8. Denver – $71.79
9. Detroit – $67.15
10. San Francisco – $65.36

If you’re from any of these big 10, you can expect a gracious gift this Valentine’s Day, but remember: it’s a two-way street down lover’s lane!

The Cheapskates of Valentine’s Day

We’ve celebrated the most lavish of lovers, but what about those who are sore to spend on amor? Praise be the Idahos and Delawares of the world, but we’ve got to call out the other side of the spectrum too. 

Our stingiest Valentine’s Day gift-givers have hearts possibly just as frozen as the lands they live on. That’s right- Alaska takes first place for the stingiest Valentine’s Day spending in the country. On average, Alaskan couples will spend $20 for gifts this February 14. Not all is lost, however. Over half of Alaskans said they prefer homemade to store-bought gifts for the holiday. It’s the thought that counts!

America’s Dairyland: known for their kindheartedness and cheese-loving spirit. Wisconsin is known for many things, but gift-giving isn’t one, unfortunately. Wisconsin ranked #2 stingiest state when it came to Valentine’s Day spending. On the plus side, 84% of Wisconsites said that a card is enough for Valentine’s Day so at least expectations are met. The latest data shows a greeting card will run you about $5, so Wisconsin’s average Valentine’s Day spending of $30.26 won’t get you much further than a card and candy.

To top off the bottom three, Iowa hits the hot seat. Iowa ranks the third stingiest Valentine’s Day gifters with an average spend of $34.77. On the flipside, Iowa comes in #5 for lowest cost of living, so we can imagine that the dollar for devotion stretches a bit further in the Hawkeye State.?

Best and Worst Gifts to Give

The 93” Giant Teddy Bear from Costco is $399.99 and just because it costs a lot doesn’t mean it’s nearly as wanted. Every year, partners half-smile through the unpackaging of their new vacuum cleaners or hard swallow a box of plastic-tasting chocolates. Through the moans and groans, we wanted to know: what is it that people really want for Valentine’s Day? The proof is in the (data) pudding.

Hungry for a happy Valentine’s Day? So is the rest of the nation! The #1 favored gift for Valentine’s Day was dinner. A candle-lit meal at your sweetheart’s favorite restaurant will do just the trick. Following a flavorful theme, the second-best Valentine’s Day gift goes to chocolates.?

Food may be the greatest of gifts, but you can’t go wrong with bling-bling! Jewelry ranked #3 for top gift to receive. It’s worth noting that women put jewelry as a top choice 96% more than men. It’s true what they say, diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

There are winners and losers on this day of affection. The #1 worst gift was underwear with 99% of respondents saying this would be the worst gift to receive. The bottom two goes to household appliances. Although a robot vacuum cleaner is handy, it certainly doesn’t scream romantic for 96% of respondents. To round off the bottom three, stuffed animals ranks third worst gift to receive for Valentine’s Day. Save Teddy for the tots this Valentine’s Day. 

Timeline for gift giving: what’s considered acceptable by popular vote

What’s the line between creepy and caring when it comes to gift giving timelines for V-Day? Is a couple of dates too soon to gift give on February 14? 4,000 Americans weighed in on the exact timeline they believe is appropriate to gift someone a Valentine’s Day present.

Over half of Americans agree that the sweet spot of Valentine’s Day gifts is after 1-3 months of dating. The romance is still blooming, but a small gift wouldn’t hurt at this stage. Another 26% believe that the right time is 6 months after dating.  A small 9% of extremists believe that Valentine’s Day gifts shouldn’t even be considered until over a year of dating! 

Men vs. Women: What’s an acceptable gift??

Love may be a universal language, but we’ve found that men and women speak it quite differently. What constitutes as “heart-eyes” for men, might be a real eye-roll emoji for women, and the reverse. 

Let’s start with the card. We asked male and female respondents if a card is good enough for Valentine’s Day or if there should be a gift to accompany it. Surprisingly, the majority of men (54%) said a card is not enough while 65% of women said just a card is fine. There goes the myth of women being high-maintenance! 

Both men and women agreed that dinner was the best gift to receive, but they diverged on their second and third-best options. Where men said chocolate would be a good #2 gift to receive, women cited jewelry as their second choice for a Valentine’s Day gift. The third best option was flowers for women and a gift card for men. 

How much are men and women expecting their darlings to spend? The numbers are in and, ladies, get the wallets out. Women expect their male partners to spend $49.59, but men expect their female partners to spend more, $60.61 to be exact! 

*Insufficient data for transgender, non-binary, other gender identities, and non-heterosexual relationships to draw conclusive findings.

Weirdest Valentine’s Day Gifts from Survey Findings

As a little cherry on top, we’re uncovering the weirdest gifts Americans have ever received as well. Below we’ve categorized the strangest gifts with the top responses.

Edible and Food-Related: 18%

Boxes of produce

Clothing and Accessories: 17%

Edible underwear

Artistic and Handmade: 11%

Poorly done hand-drawn portraits

Entertainment and Media: 10%

Unwanted DVD’s

Tech and Gadgets: 7%

Backscratchers

Plants and Animals: 18%

Venus flytraps

Miscellaneous: 12%

Ties, guns, toothbrushes, Trump merch

Although these were the top answers, we’re tipping our hats to those poor souls who received a bundle of hair (!!) from their partners, Cheech and Chong figurines, a toilet plunger, and…Chex Mix. Roses are so mainstream, right?

The romance rundown

Remember when love is in the air, you better hope there’s at least $51.32 in your wallet, as that’s the expected Valentine’s Day budget for Americans. Who says you can’t put a price on love? With dinner, chocolates, and jewelry coming into the top places for gifts, we would argue otherwise. If all else fails, just remember that 42% of Americans are okay with homemade gifts. So you might just get away with that handwritten note instead of a Michelin-star dinner. Maybe. 

Methodology

We surveyed over 4,000 Americans in January 2024 to discover the gift-giving habits and sentiment surrounding Valentine’s Day. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”.

Fair Use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.

For any press questions, please contact riley.clark[at]casino.org

But how are Americans planning on expressing their affection during this romantic holiday? Will they be prioritizing quality time? Buying thoughtful gifts? Writing cute little notes around the house? Cooking up their sweetheart’s favorite meal? Or perhaps, cozily snuggling with their partner with a classic Valentine’s Day film? To find out, we surveyed 3,000 Americans to discover each state’s chosen love language. 

Key Findings:

• ‘Acts of service’ takes the spotlight as America’s top love language (to express), winning the hearts of 33 states
• ‘Quality time’ emerges as America’s favorite way to receive love, as voted by 27%
• ‘Giving gifts’ ranked as the least favored love language among respondents across all demographics (generations, genders, and state location)

The #1 love languages goes to…

Out of the five universal languages — acts of service, quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, and gifts — Cupid clearly left its mark in America! Here are the love languages respondents love to express towards their partners. 

Acts of service stole the hearts of 33 states, making it America’s #1 love language and the truest ‘heartthrob’ of affection! These states will express affection through thoughtful actions and gestures on Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s baking a favorite treat, tackling their partner’s disliked chore, or brewing a morning coffee with an ‘I like you a latte’ card. Sweetness sure is served in these states.

In eight states, every second counts as quality time emerges as the 2nd most popular love language in America. Watch out for the lovebirds in these states — Alabama, Arkansas, D.C., Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, and Utah — as they’re gearing up to give their sweethearts focused and undivided time on Cupid’s day. Romantic getaways and shared activities seem to be on their agendas for Valentine’s Day. 

In a tie for third place, physical touch and words of affirmation have taken 18.8% of each of America’s hearts. While some sweethearts plan to pour their love into thoughtful, handwritten cards, the other 18.8% are preparing for cozy cuddles with a favorite movie this holiday.

Wrapping up the love language rankings, giving gifts ranks last as it’s only used by 9.4% of Americans. Don’t let its unpopularity fool you, as it’s still a romance-packed love language! These few participants are planning to showcase their love through thoughtful presents this Valentine’s Day. So if you’re in Alaska or Oklahoma, get ready for a wish list come true!

Love languages best received by the nation

We opened the floor to our respondents with the following question to gain perspective on the receiving end of love:

“What’s your favorite love language to receive from your partner?” 

The results? Quality time shines high in the rankings once again, but this time, reigns as the #1 favored love language on the receiving end, as cherished by 27%. Every second truly matters in America.

Physical touch secures second place, at 25%, with acts of service closely behind in third, at 22%. Words of affirmation finds itself in fourth according to 20%, while receiving gifts, once again, wraps up the top five list at last place (6%). 

Honorable Mentions: Love language preferences by gender and generations

Across the spectrum of genders — female, male, non-binary, and transgender — acts of service rank first as the favorite love language. No matter the gender, the language of actions tugs at the heartstrings of the nation. 

When it comes to love across the generations, Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen Xers unite in their affection for good quality time as their chosen love language. Boomers, however, are dancing to a different rhythm – favoring physical touch as their expressive language of love. 

A heartwarming conclusion

It’s evident that love knows no boundaries or restrictions, as it shows differently through the five universal love languages in their own ways. If you’re on the lookout for an intentional and meaningful way to express your love this Valentine’s Day, let our state-by-state love language breakdown be your compass on the 14th. 

Methodology

In January 2024, we surveyed 3,000 US residents across the country about their love language preferences. The average age of respondents was 38.9 years old. The representative sample comprised of 60.6% female, 36.7% male, 1.9% non-binary, and 0.8% transgender. 

Fair use

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