Most people have beliefs or superstitions they hold on to, and gamblers are not exempted from this. Since gambling at casinos is mostly a luck-based activity, many bettors turn to superstitions and myths to make them feel more in control. They think that with the right beliefs, they have higher chances of winning and going home with a huge jackpot.
These superstitions range from wearing a lucky charm to wearing red or staking on red when they play roulette as one of the top casino games. But whatever myths they choose, the belief remains the same: doing the good and avoiding the bad guarantees success.
Let’s examine these casino superstitions and how gamblers believe it favor their odds. We have divided them into good and bad for easy identification. Let’s get into it.
Common Myths for Goodluck
First, let’s cover various myths superstitious gamblers believe will bring good luck. Here are some of them:
Dice Blowing or Knocking on Wood
Marlon Brando suggested in the 1955 musical Guys and Dolls, that blowing on craps dice could bring good luck. And ever since, gamblers have tapped into this belief and ran away with it. Even online bettors are not exempted, as it’s commonplace for these people to give their monitors a little blow to affect the virtual dice roll when playing dice games.
Other superstitious actions like knocking on wood or tapping the slot machine are also common to gamblers.
Wearing Lucky Charms
Another myth bettors believe may bring good luck is wearing lucky charms. Sometimes, these charms may be the well-known four-leaf clover pendant or a rabbit’s foot and other times, they could be a favorite piece of clothing or jewelry. Some even go as far as taking along a lucky friend; all that matters is that the person believes it’s a good luck charm and that it should guarantee a big win.
Red is a Lucky Color
Red is a lucky color, and no amount of persuasion can convince certain gamblers otherwise. This color is especially worn in Asia on wedding days since it’s believed to make the couple wealthy and prosperous.
Because of this, bettors began wearing red clothing, red shoes, and even red underwear. Some even stake on red numbers rather than black when playing roulette, even though the chances of hitting either are equal for both colors.
Crossing Fingers and Other Physical Rituals
There are gamblers who believe in physical rituals to strengthen their gameplay. These rituals include closing your eyes before the roulette wheel or slot reel stops, crossing your fingers, or shouting a mantra. All of these superstitions stem from gamblers believing there’s a direct correlation between their actions and the games of chance.
Bad Luck Superstitions
A losing streak is almost inevitable for any and every gambler, regardless of skill level. However, many people prefer to blame bad luck for these losing streaks, and some actions they believe bring bad luck include:
Crossing Your Legs
Why gamblers believe crossing your legs brings bad luck has no known origin, especially considering that crossing fingers is a sign of good luck. But it’s safe to say that the reason for this superstition is that crossed legs are a physical display of laxity. In other words, uncrossed legs are equivalent to being focused and alert when playing table games.
Scratching Itchy Palms
The belief that an itchy right palm equals bad fortune is a myth that originated in Kenya. On the one hand, having an itchy palm is a sign that you are about to hit big, but on the other hand, scratching the palm could negate this good fortune. So gamblers with this belief often keep an eye out for itchy palms so they don’t unconsciously scratch the itch and spoil their luck.
Counting Your Money at the Table
Don’t ever count your money when sitting at the table, or so says some superstitious bettors. They believe doing so is not polite and might bring bad luck to the earnings the person counted. As a result, many gamblers avoid counting their chips when playing poker or blackjack; they only do so when they leave the table to cash out their winnings.
Playing with “Unlucky” Numbers
Some numbers are deemed unlucky, with variations in the specific value depending on individual culture. For instance, in the United States, 13 is the number representing bad luck, so it’s common to see bettors avoid playing on Floor 13 or the number 13 when playing roulette games. Players believe that playing with unlucky numbers will deter their success and trigger a series of losses.
Being Noisy While Playing
Making unnecessary noises, in general, is a surefire way to trigger evil fortune, as claimed by superstitious gamblers. Whistling, in particular, is thought to invite bad luck as those who remain quiet tend to see an improvement in their luck, as opposed to those who don’t.
Final Say
A few of these gambling superstitions and myths have some evidence to support them, while most others don’t. They are all based on personal beliefs and cultural assumptions. However, every gambler can do what works best for them so long as they always keep in mind that gambling is a luck-based activity.
