New Yorkers Take the Cake as America’s Biggest Risk Takers

A new study from The Action Network dropped some interesting stats about which states love to take risks—and to nobody's surprise, New York tops the list. The Empire State is the most risk-friendly state in the country because we aren't afraid to roll the dice and start new ventures.

Why New Yorkers Are Winning at Risk

What makes New York stand out? For beginners, New Yorkers spent over $22 billion on sports betting last year more than anywhere else in the U.S. The state led the pack with nearly $20 billion in casino spending. Add in 21,000 new businesses starting up and you can see that we are taking chances whether it’s at the poker table or launching a new startup.

Risk Isn’t Just About Money

It’s not just gambling and business though. The study also looked at how many people are googling adventurous things like rock climbing and skydiving. New Yorkers had nearly 25,000 lifestyle risk searches, showing their appetite for thrills.

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Toss in moderate alcohol use about 2.22 gallons per person and a divorce rate that’s up there at 12.65 per 1,000 people. As you can see, The Action Network looked at a little bit of everything to come up with their conclusions

How They Calculated the ‘Risk Score’

They combined all these numbers into a “Risk Score.” Sports betting, casino spending, business startups, and adrenaline-pumping search terms each counted for 20% of the score. Alcohol and divorce rates made up the remaining 20%. Put it all together, and New York came out on top.

What This Means for New Yorkers

If you’ve ever felt like New Yorkers are a little more daring than most, this data backs it up. Whether it’s trying out a new business, hitting the casinos, or chasing that next big thrill, risk-taking seems to be part of the state’s personality. So go ahead, take a chance your in good company!

Ready to Roll the Dice?

Whether you’re betting on your favorite team, thinking about a new business idea, or planning your next extreme adventure, remember: in New York, living on the edge isn’t just a saying it’s a lifestyle.