Top 5 superstitions in gambling | Is yours among these?

Read about blowing your dice, betting on a lucky number, crossing your legs during gameplay, among others in this article. Is what you believe in listed?

  (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)

Top 5 Superstitions in Gambling

There’s a lot of discussion online looking at the relationship between superstitions and gambling. Many of these superstitions have transcended generations of gamblers. They are now part and parcel of our day-to-day gambling activities. And many of them appeared online thanks to one lucky win that changed someone’s life within a short time. For example, a player might have used the GG Bet no deposit code or any other bonuses to play and won big in the middle of the night. The following day, the player decides to play a jackpot and wins it – at around the same time of the night! 

The jackpot is one of the most sought-after, and being the lucky winner, he gives the story of how he tried the game once and won big at night. On the second try, he won the pot! If a random player tries this strategy, and it works for him, it will be easy for subsequent players to start playing the game in the middle of the night, believing they will also be lucky winners! This is just how superstitions in gambling are developed. But the truth is that gambling is entirely based on luck! Regardless of the strategy you use or whatever play you want to execute, it all comes down to luck. However, if you are the superstitious type, these are some of the top 5 superstitions you should consider indulging yourself in.  

Top Superstitions in Gambling

Blowing on your dice, picking lucky and unlucky numbers, crossing your legs during gameplay, using the front entrance instead of the rear in a land-based casino, counting money while at the table, and picking your bet based on colors are some of the top five superstitions in gambling.  

Blowing on Your Dice 

If you are a regular craps player, there’s a high probability that you’ve subconsciously blown into the dice before rolling it. It’s something many people do whenever they are playing a dice game, whether at home or in local casino. It’s also a common practice in TV and films, where you’ll witness a gusty gambler asking a beautiful lady to blow on his dice for luck (and more often, this nifty trick will always work). Well, that’s only for the movies. In real life, this is nothing more than superstition. The origin of blowing on dice before rolling originates from men who used to play dice games in the street. They believed because the dice had touched so many hands, and the fact that it was being rolled on the ground, it had dirt that needed cleaning. So, they would blow into the dice to ensure it is clean. It soon became standard practice even when the game found its way to casino floors. 

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers 

This transcends beyond gambling. Most countries in the West have a thing against the number 13. Some architects skip number 13 when designing their buildings. Some airlines avoid including the 13th row in their planes. Needless to mention, Friday the 13th is a superstition. Because of such superstitions, many gamblers avoid wagering the number 13 when at the casino or engaging in any form of gambling.  While 13 might be a frowned upon number, some countries consider it a lucky number. In Italy, for example, 13 is widely viewed as a good number as it represents St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost people. So, it’s common for many people to bet on it at the casinos.

In Asian countries, different countries have contrasting views on specific numbers. For example, Vietnam and Thailand consider the number 7 unlucky as it is usually associated with spirits and ghosts. In China, the seventh month of their calendar is referred to as ‘the ghost month.’ In China, the number 8 is mostly considered a lucky number because it sounds similar to the Mandarin word for luck. This is why you will see many online slots and other casino games with the number 8 as part of their themes.

Lucky and Unlucky Colors

Similar to numbers, colors are also considered linked to either bad or good luck. To most people, the color black is symbolic of bad luck. On the other hand, the color red is seen as favorable and symbolizes good luck. Because of this, you will see many Chinese gamblers wearing red clothes whenever they visit casinos. Moreover, the color red is widely featured in Chinese-themed slots.  

Crossing Your Legs

Who knew that crossing legs during gambling could be a symbol of bad luck? Although crossing your fingers is a universal gesture of communicating wishes and hopes for good luck, crossing your legs while gambling is the exact opposite.

Counting money at the table

“You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.”

This is a common lyric in the famous country song; The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. He didn’t just come up with this lyric out of thin air. On the contrary, many believed and still believe money should never be counted at the table. 

Are You a Superstitious Person While Gambling? 

Whether any of the listed superstitions teach you how to bring yourself some luck as you gamble is up for debate. The most important thing is you’ve learned a few things you didn’t know a while back. Have we included any beliefs you follow? What do you practice? 

This article was written in cooperation with Alex Miller