With the 2024 MLB season underway, and the NBA Playoffs set to kick off towards the end of April, fans all over the US will be getting ready to cheer their teams on. Could a lucky shirt or singing team chants influence the outcome of the game? Many Americans seem to think so.
According to new research from Betway, over half (51.9%) of adults believe in at least one sports-related superstition. The research compiled a list of 18 common superstitions, then asked over 2,000 US adults which they partake in, revealing the most common beliefs and which states – and fans – are the most superstitious of all.
Over one in five Americans believe wearing the same jersey for every game will bring their team good luck
Over half of sports fans turn to superstitions to boost their team’s luck. The most common belief is the power of prayer (23%), followed by wearing the same jersey for every game (20.5%). Kissing their team’s logo and singing team chants come in joint third with 19.1%.
Interestingly, Gen Z (21 to 24-year-olds) are the most likely to believe kissing their team’s logo brings luck, with 26.9% believing this versus just 7% of those aged 55 and up.
| Brings good luck | ||
| Rank | Superstition | % who believe in superstition |
| 1 | Praying | 23.0% |
| 2 | Wearing the same jersey for every game | 20.5% |
| =3 | Kissing the logo or emblem of your team before the game starts/ throughout the game | 19.1% |
| =3 | Singing team chants/songs | 19.1% |
| 4 | Watching games with specific people because you believe them to be lucky | 18.6% |
| 5 | Wearing a lucky pair of socks/underwear | 18.3% |
| 6 | Athletes need to wear specific jersey numbers | 17.8% |
| 7 | Sitting in the same seat for every game (at the stadium, bar, home, etc.) | 16.8% |
| 8 | If you start watching the game after it’s already started, and your team is winning, you turn it off | 15.6% |
More than one in 10 Americans avoid watching games with their partner because they believe them to be unlucky
When it comes to bad luck, the survey found that over one in 10 Americans (12.3%) avoid watching games with their partner because they believe them to be unlucky. Another 12.2% think that turning off a game if their team is losing is bad luck, while 12% admit to never washing a “lucky” jersey.
Additionally, men (17.4%) are significantly more likely than women (9%) to believe changing their sex habits during playoffs brings bad luck.
| Brings bad luck | ||
| Rank | Superstition | % who believe in superstition |
| 1 | Avoid watching games with your partner because you believe them to be unlucky | 12.3% |
| 2 | If you start watching the game after it’s already started, and your team is losing, you turn it off | 12.2% |
| =3 | Not washing your jersey, ever | 12.0% |
| =3 | Avoid watching games with specific people excluding your partner) because you believe them to be unlucky | 12.0% |
| =4 | Not washing your jersey during playoffs | 11.8% |
| =4 | If you start watching the game after it’s already started, and your team is winning, you turn it off | 11.8% |
| 5 | Not leaving your seat throughout the game | 11.6% |
| 6 | Changing my sex habits during playoffs | 11.5% |
| 7 | Wearing a lucky pair of socks/underwear | 11.3% |
| 8 | Not shaving during playoffs | 11.2% |
Kansas is the most superstitious state, with residents believing 7.4 sports-related superstitions on average
Betway also analysed the average number of superstitions that people from each state partake in, based on how many of the 18 superstitions they said they believe.
Kansas takes the crown as the most superstitious sports state in the US, with residents believing an average of 7.4 superstitions. Their top belief? That praying brings their team good luck (28.6%).
Mississippi follows closely, averaging 7.3 superstitions. Their most common quirk is the belief that if you start watching a game late and your team is losing, it’s best to turn it off for luck (33.3%).
Texas takes third with 6.2 superstitions, while Maryland (6) and California (5.7) round out the top five.
| Rank | State | Mean number of superstitions believed |
| 1 | Kansas | 7.4 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 7.3 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.2 |
| 4 | Maryland | 6.0 |
| 5 | California | 5.7 |
| =5 | Delaware | 5.7 |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5.6 |
| =7 | Michigan | 5.5 |
| =7 | Florida | 5.5 |
| =7 | Connecticut | 5.5 |
NHL fans are the most superstitious, believing an average of 7.5 sports-related superstitions
NHL fans top the league for superstitions. The survey reveals they believe an average of 7.5 sports-related superstitions, with the most popular being that kissing their team’s logo brings good luck (31.7%).
NBA fans come next with an average of 7.2 superstitious beliefs, followed by MLB (6.6) and NFL fans (5.5).
| Rank | Leagues followed | Mean number of superstitions believed |
| 1 | NHL: National Hockey League | 7.5 |
| 2 | NBA: National Basketball Association | 7.2 |
| 3 | MLB: Major League Baseball | 6.6 |
| 4 | NFL: National Football League | 5.5 |
