Gambling superstitions

30 December 2017

By John Marchel

According to the Study of Public Opinion Research Center in 2011, 54% of adults believe in at least one common superstition. Gambling, in particular, has an extraordinary number of superstitious beliefs. Why? An activity completely dependent on luck naturally leads people to create superstitions which could control the outcome in their favor.

Gamblers, as a group, are probably the most superstitious people in the world and they will do almost anything to improve their chances of winning. Whether it is carrying a lucky charm or performing some sort of ritual before or during their gambling sessions, they will try a variety of things to influence lady luck to smile on them.

Psychologists have done many studies into the relationship between gambling and superstitions. The conclusions of several of these studies show that superstitions can develop in many gamblers and become a basis for future gambling sessions. One survey sent to gamblers reported that 80% of them said that they believed in superstitions or carried out some sort of lucky ritual while gambling.

Not all superstitions are developed by personal observations, and many gamblers just buy into the current beliefs that have been passed down through the ages. There are also many books and web sites which have lucky spells especially for bringing luck to gamblers.

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW

• The luckiest seat is the one which faces the door; the most unlucky is that which has its back to the fireplace.

• The most unlucky card to hold in one's hand is the four of clubs.

• When changing seats at the table you should always move in a clockwise direction — that is, from right to left.

• Never pick up your cards with the left hand or one card at a time.

• Friday is a bad day for card playing.

• See a penny, pick it up; all day long you’ll have good luck.

• If you tie the heart of a bat to your right arm with a red silken string, you will win every game of cards you play.

• In October 1492, sailors aboard Columbus’s ships, trying to find a shortcut to the spices in the Far East, threw away all their playing cards thinking they were bringing them bad luck; almost immediately, land is spotted.

• Some blackjack players believe that if another player at the table makes a bad move, like hitting a stiff while the dealer has a bust card showing, it will put a curse on that table.

• At craps, it is bad luck when a 7 is showing and the stickman sends the dice to a shooter.

• There are craps players who believe it is bad luck if the dice bounces off from the table. They believe the next throw of the dice will result in a seven-out.

• Blowing into the dice before rolling them will bring “life” and good luck to the shooter.

• Many blackjack players believe that if a new player enters the game in the middle of the shoe, he will definitely lose.

• Lodestone, or magnetite, is a natural magnet. A pair is considered by some to be lucky. People who believe in the lodestone’s power would not gamble without a pair on their person.

• Small troll figurines with fluorescent hair are a lucky charm for gamblers, in particular bingo players.

• Ten-time WSOP bracelet winner Johnny Chan is often at the poker table with an orange. Once used to clear his nostrils in the smoke-filled casinos, he now credits the same orange with his high-stakes wins.