24 Feb 2021
Gambling superstitions have been around as long as betting itself. By wearing a lucky shirt or red panties to the casino to only gambling on slots on a Tuesday, gamblers around the globe have developed a peculiar pair of rituals that they believe will aid them in the long term.
Obviously, gambling and casino superstitions are too crazy as placing your entire bankroll on 36 Red and crossing your fingers. Here are a few of the ways that players alter their habits to bring good or bad luck.
Bad Luck Casino Superstitions
To begin with, let's start with a few gambling superstitions that allegedly bring bad fortune. Not all these beliefs are stored in each part of earth, and local culture may play a big part. Do you ever worry about getting itchy hands?
1. Unlucky 13 and 4
Every country around the world has its own unfortunate numbers. In Western culture, for example, Friday the 13th is seen as a day for misfortune and death. And some airlines won't have a 13th row on their planes and lots of building do not have a 13th floor.
In the same way, online casino floor 13 is supposed to bring bad fortune.
In China, meanwhile, the number 4 is considered unlucky. Some office blocks, for example, avoid having a 4th floor. Some office blocks, for example, avoid having a 4th floor.
Therefore, what's the big problem with 4? In Mandarin, the word for "four" --"Si" -- sounds like the word for death --"Siwang."
2. Crossing Your Legs
Physical tics and rituals are popular with gamblers wanting to attract fortune at the table. One of the oddest casino superstitions is that crossing your legs brings bad fortune.
The causes of this odd faux pas being poor luck are not known, unless you especially unlucky gambler dropped a fortune whilst relaxing at the table. That said, with legs uncrossed, the player is much more alert and focused on the task in hand.
3. Counting Your Money at the Table
This is only one of the most popular gambling superstitions. It stems from the ancient road gamblers who'd never count their chip stacks until the conclusion of a poker match. The superstition has transferred to the casino where it is deemed bad luck to count chips during a big blackjack session.
4. Using the Casino Front Entrance
This is a frequent gambling superstition among several Asian gamblers. The rear entrance is preferred, and the ritual extends back into the 1990s when the MGM Grand redesigned its renowned lion's mouth entry.
Similar gambling superstitions about architecture are more recent. The Hippodrome Casino in London, England, needed to redesign its brand new VIP hall because the design was considered to not possess the required"feng shui." It was totally reimagined for the benefit of this well-heeled, and very superstitious, clientele.
5. Itchy Hands
In some European nations, having itchy hands is said to bring bad fortune. Either that, or the gambler is becoming sweaty from an especially stressful session at the craps table. However, in other country like Serbia, using itchy hands is viewed as a fantastic omen.
The belief may originate in the ancient superstition an itchy left hand meant you were about to lose money. Look out for an itchy right palm, however: It could be a sign that you are going to hit the jackpot.
6. Using $50 Bills
Receiving $50 bills is seen as unfortunate by some gamblers. Much of the counterfeit money seen from the U.S. comes in the kind of $50 bills, and sometimes they are just too hard to crack when you stop by the shop.
However, the original reason for averting $50 bills may have a foundation in U.S. Mafia history. The Mob would bury their victims at the deserts of Nevada with $50 bills in their jackpot pockets. That's got to be one of the unluckiest outcomes for any hapless gambler.
7. Lending Money to Another Player
If you want bring poor gambling luck on yourself, lend money to some other player. As well as the financial considerations, committing money to other gamblers is thought to adversely affect your own games.
8. Whistling While Playing
Whistling is seen as one of the more peculiar casino superstitions. While crossing fingers or touching wood brings good luck, which makes noises in the table is thought to bring bad luck for the gambler.
The sources are not 100% certain, but might be related to British sailors whose whistling was considered to bring powerful winds. Nowadays, the only thing whistling is very likely to bring in the casino would be a couple stern glances from fellow players.
Good Luck Casino Superstitions
We've covered what could bring a superstitious gambler bad luck on the casino world, but what about good fortune? From great luck charms such as a lucky rabbit's foot to wearing the ideal clothes and only betting during a full moon, what casino superstitions do players have?
1. Blowing on Dice
Blowing on craps dice to bring good fortune has been popular because Marlon Brando made the proposal from"Guys and Dolls."
However, once playing at online casinos, gamblers can tap to this belief and provide their tracks a little blow should they want to impact the virtual roll of the dice in craps.
Dice are treated badly in casino gambling. In many casino towns in the U.S., dice are kept locked up until they are needed in the tables. Regular tests include checking for flaws or marks that could affect the roll of the dice. Moreover, special micrometers are used to ensure the measurements are uniform.
By blowing it, it would moisten the adhesive to change where it landed. But with such stringent checks made on the stunt, cheating is much easier to spot.
2. Wearing Red at a Casino
Red is regarded as a lucky colour, especially in Asia where it is worn by the bride on her wedding day. Red is also believed to bring wealth and prosperity. Gamblers in China will frequently wear red shoes, a red shit and even, yes, red underwear to tap to this superstitious belief.
Betting on red is also among the very popular casino superstitions. Roulette players will wager more on red numbers than black, even though the statistical odds of hitting color is identical.
3. Lucky Charms for Betting
Poker players have been known for their good luck charms when gambling. They might have a recognizable card protector or favorite cap which reminds them of a huge tournament they've won. Long-time ace Johnny Chan won the World Series of Poker with a Jaffa orange by his chips online poker table, while Irish player Andy Black displays a bronze card protector each time he plays.
In the casino, a gambling lucky charm could be anything from a ring or piece of jewellery to something more common like a lucky rabbit's foot or four-leaf clover pendant. It might not bring good fortune, but when the player happens to win big while they have it, it's proof enough!
And the gambling superstitions are not just confined to casino gambling games. In a recent UK study, approximately 30 percent of bingo players admitted to using a fortunate dauber, while 4 percent admitted bringing along a blessed friend out on nights.
4. Sitting or Standing While Gambling
While crossing your legs is believed by some to bring bad luck, sitting or standing is regarded to attract good luck. Your physical demeanor does not have any bearing on whether you win or lose, but psychologically it may mean a lot for gamblers.
Most of the time, the best way to sit or stand can be tracked back to when you had a big triumph. You may have hit a 20-spin winning run at roulette whilst sitting down. Consequently, you build a belief that you must always sit down so as to continue winning.
Whether you sit or stand is among the greatest gambler's fallacies: It is linked to the belief that your actions can affect whether you go on a cold or hot streak. In the event that you were winning while standing up in a slot machine, why break the habit?
5. Crossing Fingers and Other Rituals
As well as sitting or standing, gamblers create casino superstitions in other bodily ways. It can be anything from closing your eyes before the roulette wheel stops, shouting out the numbers, or tapping the slot machine since the reels spin.
It might involve covering the track during a roulette spin or chanting a good luck mantra while the reels spin in online slots.
Essentially, gambling superstitions such as crossing fingers or tapping on the displays stem from players believing there is a connection between the games and their actions. They do not wish to admit that casino games are games of chance. And by having rituals, they could better deal with the belief that each casino game is random.
6. Unlucky in Love, Lucky in Gambling
There is a frequent proverb that says if you are lucky in gambling, you'll be a loser in love. The Germans have a similar saying ("Gluck im spiel, pech in der liebe").
The idea is that to be a good gambler you must either sacrifice personal relationships or be awful in understanding the emotional needs of different men and women.
This gaming superstition has very little proof to back this up. Indeed, some of the greatest poker players in the world are happily married.