Have you told a little white lie lately? Iowans may be lying more than you expect

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register
·2 min read

How good is your poker face? If you're a true Iowan, it's probably better than you think.

Iowa recently claimed the top spot for best poker faces in the U.S., based on a survey conducted by BetMGM. Iowans earned a perfect score of 100, revealing that residents of the state aren't only telling frequent lies, but they're frequently getting away with it too.

BetMGM, an online sportsbook that operates in Iowa through an agreement with the Diamond Jo Worth Casino, surveyed more than 3,100 people from 44 U.S. states and asked them questions about how frequently they lie, how good they are at it, how comfortable they feel doing it and how successful they typically are when lying.

How do other states compare?

BetMGM conducted a survey to find the best poker faces in the U.S.
BetMGM conducted a survey to find the best poker faces in the U.S.

Massachusetts takes the second position for best poker faces in the U.S. With a score of 70.3 out of 100. While the East Coast residents may be proficient in telling a white lie, they still don't come close to Iowans. Connecticut residents scored 69.6, coming in third place.

The worst liars in the U.S. are Ohioans, according to BetMGM, with a low score of 9.4 out of 100. Idaho came in second to last, with a score of 17.2. Most Idaho residents claim to be unskilled liars, expressing that it makes them highly uncomfortable to do so.

What does lying look like in the U.S.?

  • 24% of Americans do not consider "little white lies" to be lying.

  • 19% of Americans informed BetMGM that they were currently lying about something.

  • Once Americans have told a lie, 46% believe it is better to keep it going rather than confessing the truth.

What are lies that Americans have gotten away with?

  • "That I didn't lose as much money as I really did at the casino."

  • "My salary when purchasing a new car."

  • "I broke my parent's table and blamed it on the new puppy."

  • "To my doctor about quitting smoking, when I have not."

  • "I am married, but I hide it in my office."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's liars claims top spot for best poker face, according to BetMGM