Gambling Superstitions
Have you ever wondered why the
number seven is considered lucky?
Or why a black cat
crossing your path is bad luck?
There are many speculations about
the origins of these
common superstitions, but without
any logical explanations, they
remain just that
superstitions that have
successfully been passed down from
generation to generation.
A superstition is an irrational
belief that an object, ritual or
circumstance can positively or
negatively influence the outcome of
an event. The phenomenal thing
about them is that, even though
they’re often illogical and range
from moderately reasonable to
completely absurd; people around
the world still believe them. We
all have varying degrees of
superstition that can impact our
behavior on a conscious or
subconscious level.
What does superstition have to
do with gambling?
Superstition and gambling have had
a very close relationship since
ancient times. Both gambling and
superstitions have remained strong
over thousands and thousands of
years into the twenty-first
century.
For example, if you ever visit Las
Vegas, North America’s casino hub,
you will find that nearly every
hotel you enter lacks a 13th floor.
This is because of the longstanding
superstition that the number 13 is
bad luck.
If you’ve ever played the slots,
you know that slot machines pay out
on the lucky combination of three
sevens. This is hardly a
coincidence because in many
cultures and religions, the number
7 signifies wealth, prosperity and
good fortune.
As rational human beings we know
that gambling is based on chance
and probability, yet over the
years, psychological studies have
determined that gamblers are more
superstitious than non-gamblers
Even if you’ve only gambled once or
twice in your entire life, you’re
probably familiar with the
expression “beginners luck.” It’s a
common belief among gamblers that
players who are new to a game will
always win.
Or you’ve heard someone say “the
slot machine is due for a payout”
as they continue to insert coins,
obviously forgetting about the
randomness of casino games,
especially slot machines.
When gambling at an online casino
or land based casino, people often
believe that can increase their
chances of winning through
superstitious practices, even when
facing losing streaks. Some of the
common superstitious beliefs and
rituals among gamblers are listed
below.
Good Luck
• Carrying a four leaf clover
• A horseshoe
• Being well dressed
• A rabbit's foot
• A lucky item of clothing
• Blowing on the dice before
rolling
• Stacking gambling chips neatly
• Crossing your fingers
• Friendly dealers
• The color red
• Sitting cross-legged while
gambling
• Always picking up cards in the
same way
• Rubbing the dice before rolling
them
Bad Luck
• Breaking a mirror
• The color black
• Walking under a ladder
• Dogs near a gambling table
• A black cat crossing your path
• Other people touching their chips
• Playing cards before 6pm on
Friday evenings
• Lending money to someone during a
card game
• Dropping a card on the floor
• Singing while gambling