Sports obsession: Nevada takes top place, according to new research

  • Nevada is the most sport-obsessed state in the US, according to our new research
  • Analysis of Google search data reveals the states most obsessed with sports
  • East Coast states dominate the list, taking six out of the top ten spots
 
nevada-takes-top-place-according-to-new-research
Patrik Lidin
Writer: Principal Writer and Editor / Head of Content
Experience: Sports Trader, Market Maker, Product Owner Sportsbook, Professional Gambler, Poker Player
Reviewed by:   Expert review board

Nevada is the most sports-obsessed state in the US based on research made by JustGamblers, and it’s not without a reason that The Silver State ranks number one according to our online gambling experts.

We analyzed Google data for the most common searches related to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC and WWE to determine which states are the most obsessed with sports.

Sports obsession: Nevada takes top place, according to new research Infographic
Nevada takes top place, according to new research - Infographic.

Nevada: The Sports-Obsessed Leader

Known for desert landscapes, vibrant nightlife, and, most importantly, Las Vegas. The state tops the list with a monthly average of 85,406 sport-related searches per 100,000 people. NFL is by far the most popular league in the state, with 31,182 of the total average monthly search volume dedicated to NFL-related terms.

It’s noteworthy that Nevada comes out on top despite its relatively small population. The reason for this is that Nevada is home to the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. For residents and visitors alike, sports betting is a common pastime that drives up the search numbers.

Delaware: Second Place Despite Size

In second place below Nevada is Delaware, with a monthly average of 72,283 searches per 100,000 people. Despite being one of the smallest states in the US, Delawareans are die-hard sports fans, and the NFL is the most searched league in the state, with an average monthly search volume of 34,132 per 100,000 people for NFL-related terms.

New York: Third Place with a Passion for NBA

Close behind in third place is New York, with an average of 71,514 sport-related searches each month per 100,000 people. New York’s most searched league is the NBA, with an average monthly search volume of 22,866 per 100,000 people – only narrowly edging out NFL searches at 22,310 monthly searches per 100,000 people. 

Rhode Island: Fourth Place for the Smallest State

Rhode Island ranks fourth with an average of 69,428 searches per 100,000 people. The smallest state in terms of area in the US, little Rhody, is full of sports enthusiasts. The most searched league is the NFL, with an average monthly search volume of 26,770 per 100,000 people.

Massachusetts: Close Behind in Fifth Place

Massachusetts is very close behind in fifth place. With a total average monthly search volume of 69,088 per 100,000 people, the Bay State only just lost out on fourth place. NBA narrowly edges out the NFL to be the most searched league in the state, with an average monthly search volume of 23,882 per 100,000 people, compared to the 23,358 of that of NFL.

New Jersey: Sixth Place Sports Obsession

The remainder of the top ten features New Jersey in sixth place, with a monthly average of 67,312 sport-related searches per 100,000 people. NFL is the most searched league in the state with an average monthly search volume of 23,869 NFL-related terms per 100 people, clear of second place, which would be NBA at 19,288 average monthly NBA-related searches per 100,000 people. The people of the Garden State are least interested in the NHL, with only 4,875 NHL-related average monthly searches per 100,000 people – somewhat surprising given the success of the Devils this season.

Arizona, Hawaii, California, and Maryland: Rounding Out the Top Ten

Seventh place goes to Arizona, with 64,846 searches per 100,000 people. Hawaii comes in at eighth place with an average of 64,200 searches per 100,000 people. California is hotly contesting eighth place in ninth place, with a total average monthly search volume of 63,868. Finally, rounding off the top ten list in tenth place is Maryland, with 63,566 sport-related searches per 100,000 people.

NFL Dominates Searches in Most States

NFL is almost universally the most searched league across every state, except New York, Massachusetts, California, Illinois, and Georgia, in which NBA narrowly beats NFL as the most searched league.

Sports obsession: Nevada takes top place, according to new research search volume

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the state with the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, is responsible for the most sports-related queries. This study further signifies the relationship between sports and betting, in the same way we know that betting drive viewership numbers of sports events. When viewed as a type of engagement, for me, sports betting is unrivalled in getting fans to interact with their favorite sports and teams.”

- Patrik Lidin, Head of Content at JustGamblers.

Methodology: 

Top keywords related to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC, and WWE were gathered using keyword analysis, and monthly search volume data was analyzed using Google Keyword Planner. Results were then calculated per 100,000 state residents to give a ranking of the most sport-obsessed states.

RankStateTotal Search Volume Per 100kRankStateTotal Search Volume Per 100k
1Nevada                                                      85,406 26North Carolina                                                        48,160 
2Delaware                                                      72,283 27Oregon                                                        47,406 
3New York                                                      71,514 28Ohio                                                        46,695 
4Rhode Island                                                      69,428 29Georgia                                                        46,301 
5Massachusetts                                                      69,088 30Wyoming                                                        44,381 
6New Jersey                                                      67,312 31Missouri                                                        44,360 
7Arizona                                                      64,846 32Montana                                                        44,054 
8Hawaii                                                      64,200 33South Dakota                                                        44,022 
9California                                                      63,868 34Utah                                                        43,784 
10Maryland                                                      63,566 35South Carolina                                                        42,835 
11Connecticut                                                      62,814 36Mississippi                                                        41,789 
12Pennsylvania                                                      62,522 37Iowa                                                        41,371 
13Colorado                                                      62,037 38Michigan                                                        40,547 
14Illinois                                                      58,899 39Alaska                                                        40,291 
15New Hampshire                                                      58,558 40Indiana                                                        39,944 
16Minnesota                                                      57,690 41Kansas                                                        38,300 
17Florida                                                      57,233 42Louisiana                                                        37,618 
18Wisconsin                                                      53,417 43Tennessee                                                        37,290 
19Virginia                                                      53,407 44Nebraska                                                        37,044 
20Maine                                                      52,655 45Idaho                                                        36,885 
21North Dakota                                                      52,325 46West Virginia                                                        32,622 
22Vermont                                                      51,715 47Kentucky                                                        28,877 
23Washington                                                      51,664 48Arkansas                                                        28,544 
24New Mexico                                                      51,598 49Alabama                                                        27,362 
25Texas                                                      48,288 50Oklahoma                                                        26,281 
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