Some of the most common universal gambling superstitions stem from different parts of the world. Some of these have become recognized and are used by gamblers across the globe.
Lucky Red
The Chinese believe that red is the colour of prosperity and, therefore, it brings good luck to a gambler who carries or wears a red item while gambling. This could be anything, from a pair of underwear to a piece of ruby jewellery.
Many superstitious gamblers have luck rituals to boost their chances of winning. Some will wear red items of clothing or carry a red object with them while gambling. Some casinos even have entire designated rooms that are red from the floor to the ceiling, giving a sense of luck as you enter them.
Crossing Legs, Crossing Fingers
Many gamblers believe that if you cross your legs at the table, you’ll cancel out any good luck headed in your direction. Try not to sit cross-legged at the table, and this can be particularly difficult when the nerves start.
On the flip side, crossing your fingers can potentially bring you the luck you’re looking for. This is a practice that many superstitious gamblers will use, whether it be online or in the physical casino.
Lucky in Gambling, Unlucky in Love
This superstition goes both ways. The main aspect here is that we can’t be lucky in all aspects of life. However, there was a study carried out at the University of Michigan in the United States of America that showed gamblers who are single take more substantial risks when gambling.
Someone who’s in a relationship of sorts will always play it much safer and, as a result, will lose less. There is no satisfying answer to this one. It comes down to what you choose to believe.
Don’t Walk Through the Front Door
Some superstitious gamblers will avoid walking through the front door of the casino. They’ll prefer to use a side or back entrance as opposed to the main entrance to a physical casino building.
This stems back to the Las Vegas MGM Grand Casino entrance back in 1995. A giant lion surrounded the door, and it led into a lion’s belly. Many superstitious gamblers saw this as a bad omen and avoided entering the casino.
Since then, the casino has been renovated and now has a statue of a golden lion at the entrance. There are superstitious gamblers who still use the side door just-in-case.
Don’t Look Away? Or Vice Versa?
Many superstitious players believe that it is necessary to look away or even walk away from the game to get the winning luck. While others will continuously monitor the ongoing game in fear that they will somehow interfere with the game or bring bad luck.
Counting Money at the Table, and Why You Shouldn't do it
Apart from the obvious safety issues, this is something superstitious gamblers will never do. Some claim it’s about luck, and others see it as merely being rude and unprofessional. Try to avoid counting money at the table.
Lucky Numbers, Unlucky Numbers
When we think of numbers, many things come to mind. Many gamblers have a lucky and an unlucky number for whatever reason they might have. The universal lucky number, however, is 7, and 13 is seen as a bad luck symbol.
The origin of unlucky number 13 being is said to date back to Biblical days to The Last Supper. There were 13 people at The Last Supper, and Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus, is considered the 13th disciple. This is why the number 13 is considered unlucky in Western culture.
However, in Asia, 13 is regarded as one of the many symbols of good luck. The lucky number 7 is known as a symbol of prosperity worldwide. Seven can be seen in many casino slot games.
Use Your Lucky Charms
There are many ways this applies to gambling superstitions. Good luck charms for gambling can be anything. The most popular objects are the four-leaf clover, a rabbit’s foot, or a partner, generally a lover, relative, or friend. However, a charm can also be an article of clothing, such as a hat or a shirt.
… And Don’t Lend Money
Lending money to another player is considered to be a big no-no. Aside from the potential risk of never seeing that money again, What if that bettor wins using your money? A superstitious gambler would see this as giving away good luck.