Maine Ranks Top 10 for Game Night Cheating Searches

If you’ve ever accused a family member of “definitely cheating” during Monopoly, Uno, or cards, this might make you feel a little vindicated.

New research from World of Card Games shows Maine ranks 9th in the entire country for searches related to game night cheating.. yes, cheating. According to a study by the research team at World of Card Games, Mainers are Googling ways to bend the rules more than most of the nation.

The study analyzed Google search volume alongside population data to see which states were most curious about game-cheating tactics in board games and card games. When the numbers were crunched, Maine landed solidly in the Top 10, with 10.34 searches per 10,000 residents.

In other words… game night in Maine is no joke.

Taking the top spot was Vermont, which absolutely dominated the rankings with 20.07 searches per 10,000 people. They were followed by Alaska, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Delaware rounding out the top five. Cold climates, long winters, and lots of time indoors might be playing a role here.

Holger Sindbaek, founder of World of Card Games, says Maine’s ranking makes perfect sense.

“When you’re playing games with the same friends and family year after year, nobody wants to be known as the person who always loses at Monopoly,” Sindbaek explained.

He added that while the company doesn’t encourage cheating, the data shows just how competitive casual game nights can become, especially when bragging rights are on the line.

One of the biggest surprises? Nevada and New Jersey didn’t even crack the top 10. Sindbaek says that proves there’s a big difference between casino gambling and competitive family game nights.

Apparently, Mainers care less about money on the table and more about winning at Thanksgiving.

So the next time someone suddenly gets really good at cards or seems suspiciously lucky during game night… it might not be imagination. It might just be Maine being Maine.