Game Night Cheating: America’s Hidden Epidemic
Did you get caught cheating? Look, relationships are complicated. You’ve got love, trust, shared passwords, and the delicate balance of who takes the garbage out first. But according to a…
UNO card game packaging are seen in a store in Poland on April 19, 2022. (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Did you get caught cheating? Look, relationships are complicated. You’ve got love, trust, shared passwords, and the delicate balance of who takes the garbage out first. But according to a new poll, a staggering 33% of Americans are in relationships where their partner has openly admitted to cheating.
Before you start furiously texting your significant other, relax—no one’s talking about secret rendezvous at a sketchy motel off the interstate cheating. This is about cheating at poker, "Monopoly," and "Mario Kart."
Yeah. The real homewreckers? Blue shells, fake Draw Fours, and people who insist on being the banker in Monopoly without any oversight. Or people who write about their favorite board games (sounds to me like Screamin' Scott is trying to trick us). There are even guides on how to cheat at Uno!
How Often Do People Cheat at Games?
A poll asked people how often they, uh, “strategically bend the rules” in board games, card games, or video games. The results? CHEATING is a national crisis:
- 51% of people claim they never cheat. (These are the ones who get blindsided when Grandma pulls out a stash of hidden Scrabble tiles.)
- 19% say they “rarely” cheat. (Uh-huh, sure.)
- 9% admit they cheat “sometimes.” (Which means all the time.)
- 3% say they cheat “often.” (Psychopaths.)
- 2% just straight-up admit they “always” cheat. (If you’re reading this, you know who you are.)
- 13% of people said they never play games, which is absolutely the kind of answer someone who’s lost too many times to their cousin at Uno would give.
- And 3% said they ‘prefer not to say.’ (Let’s be honest, if you refuse to answer an anonymous poll about game night shenanigans, you’re hiding something.)
Who Are the Biggest Cheaters?
Turns out, some people are more likely to embrace their inner game-night villain than others.
- Men cheat more than women. (Shocking. Next, we’ll find out they also steal fries off your plate.)
- People from the coasts cheat more than Midwesterners. (Something about fresh sea air makes people morally flexible, apparently.)
- Young people cheat more than older folks. (Which is wild, considering how many grandparents have never lost at Rummy. Coincidence? I think not.)
Speaking of seniors—out of 6,000 people polled, exactly 0% of them said they “always” cheat. Only 1% said they cheat “often,” and 2% admitted to cheating “sometimes.” Either older folks are truly honorable, or they’re just way better at hiding it.
Why Do People Cheat?
One word: Winning.
Some people are just built differently.
- 12% of people say they care a lot about winning casual games. (These are the ones who “practice” before game night.)
- 30% say they care a fair amount. (Competitive, but not scary.)
- 32% say they care a little. (The ones who pretend not to care, but definitely keep track.)
- 17% claim they don’t care at all. (These people are liars.)
Final Thoughts
So, what have we learned? If you’re losing at game night, there’s a pretty good chance someone at the table is stacking the deck against you. Maybe it's your partner. Maybe it's your best friend. Maybe it’s your sweet, innocent grandma who’s secretly a master manipulator. And not everyone is going to take it well.
Either way—keep an eye on the banker. And if you see someone "accidentally" knocking over the game board when they’re losing? They were never your real friend.
