New York Takes (Eats) the Crown as the Best State for Big Eaters

The festive season is here and, our thoughts turn to indulging in delicious treats and feasts. It's a time when our belts are loosened, and stomachs are put to the test in eating contests across the country.

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High 5 Casino looked into the world of competitive eating to figure out which U.S. states reign supreme in this unique sport. By looking at factors like the number of eating challenges, the number of Major League Eating (MLE) events, and search volume data for competitive eating, they found the top contenders for the title of the best state for big eaters.

New York took first place followed by Texas, Florida, California, and rounding out the top five was Pennsylvania.

A Closer Look at New York, the Ultimate Hub for Competitive Eaters

New York is the king and wears the crown as the victor with a score of 83.57 out of 100. This state is the place for those with big-time appetites, with 151 eating challenges, 9 Major League Eating events in the past year, and a remarkable 5 MLE events. The Empire State is the leader in competitive eating, with 27,410 searches related to eating contests in the last year.

Texas follows behind in second place, with a total score of 81.99. The Lone Star State leads in search volume for competitive eating terms and ranks third in the number of food challenges, between California and North Carolina.

Florida gets the bronze on the podium, with 140 eating challenges and 4 MLE events and receives a score of 64.18. The state also had two events held at Miami and West Palm Beach in the past year, helping to position the Sunshine State as a competitive eating hotspot.