Ignition Casino Study: Rhode Island Tops Luckiest US States

A recent study by Ignition Casino identifies Rhode Island as the luckiest state in the US, with New Jersey and New York trailing closely. The ranking uses a model combining four weighted categories: lottery 'wins', 'gaming' access, 'anomalies', and 'superstitions'. Each state's score is summed to a total of 100 points.

Breakdown of the Luck Index

The luck index assigns up to 40 points for lottery 'wins', ranking states based on Powerball and Mega Millions winners since 1992 and 1996, respectively, per million residents. New Jersey excels in this aspect with the highest 'wins' score of 21.6.

'Gaming' access, worth 30 points, measures the number of casinos per state and population density. Nevada leads here with a score of 29.9, supported by 231 casinos and a high density of people per casino.

The 'anomalies' category assigns 20 points based on significant weather-loss events and related injuries and deaths over 10 years, with Connecticut scoring the highest at 12.2.

'Superstitions' accounts for 10 points, using Google Trends data on searches for 'lucky charms', 'horoscopes', and 'win the lottery'. Wyoming leads this category with a superstition score of 7.9.

Top and Bottom Performers

Rhode Island scores 58.7 overall, outperforming other states in the luck index. New Jersey follows closely at 56.5, and New York at 54.9. Tied at fourth place are Michigan and Delaware, both scoring 54.3. Ohio, South Dakota, and Maryland complete the top eight.

At the bottom, Hawaii is marked as the least fortunate state with a score of 5.2. Utah ranks second most unlucky at 7.4, and Tennessee follows at 9.9. Texas, scoring 11.4, is also in the bottom tier due to low 'gaming' (1.2) and 'anomalies' (1.1) scores.

Data Sources and Methodology

The study compiled its data from several trusted sources. This includes the US Census, Powerball and Mega Millions data for lottery 'wins', and the American Gaming Association for casino counts. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information provided data on disaster losses, while injuryfacts.nsc supplied information on weather-related injuries and fatalities. Google Trends was used for the 'superstitions' category.

Implications for the Industry

This ranking by Ignition Casino highlights how different factors collectively frame a state's luck profile. For industry stakeholders, understanding regional variations in these areas can guide more targeted strategies, whether in marketing or regulatory approaches. The diverse data set underscores the complex interplay of natural and cultural factors in determining luck at the regional level.

This insight is useful for operators and regulators aiming to understand gambling behaviors and superstitions across varying jurisdictions.