Gambler Superstitions: The Causes and Evolution
Why Are Gambler Superstitions?
What causes gambler superstitions? Well, to a degree, we all suffer from silly superstitious beliefs. Whether it’s a black cat crossing your path or walking under a ladder there is any number of places we won’t go and things we won’t do, simply because of an irrational fear stemming from a superstition. But there’s a group of people who are probably some of the most superstitious in the world, though we’d imagine deep-sea fishermen to be up towards the top of there results as well. Let’s have a look at gamblers and their gambler superstitions…
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$50.00 Bills Are Unlucky
This is pretty universal when it comes to gambling. No one wants to accept their payouts for winning jackpot games with $50 bills. These gambling superstitions go back to the days of the Mafia. When a member of the mob would have someone killed, they would stuff a $50 in their top pocket when they buried the body.
Gambler Superstitions: Wear Red When Gambling
This has more to do with a cultural significance, and mainly that appertaining to Chinese gamblers. As you know, the Chinese are a very superstitious bunch, and when they’re gambling, these ideas come to the fore. They believe that red represents both good fortune and wealth. In fact, to cater to these superstitions, many casinos in the West will have red as part of their decor. You’ll also find that a lot of gamblers will wear something red, be it socks, ties, or shirts.
Don’t Enter Through the Main Casino Door
We have no idea why! But any gamblers swear that the use of the casino’s side doors will have a positive effect on their gambling. In 1996, when the MGM Grand opened, the main entrance was through the mouth of a lion. This was thought to bring horrible karma to all gamblers, but for oriental ones it was even worse. Quite how the casino got it all quite so wrong is a mystery, but you can be sure the person who signed it off, is still looking for another job! In the end, the casino got the message and changed the main entrance to that with doors. The original lion was to be later replaced with a massive casting in bronze, which now sits above the entrance.
Don’t Count Your Money at the Table
In the immortal words of Kenny Rogers, “You never count your money when you’re sitting at the table, there’ll be time enough for counting when the dealing’s done.” This is another very common practice. So much so, that even the casinos themselves will advise players not to count their cash at the table. Once again, the reason is unknown, though we imagine basic security has something to do with this.
Don’t Cross Your Legs When Gambling
OK…we appear to be entering the realm of the silly. This idea comes down to the thinking that crossing your legs = crossing your luck. This probably dates back to the times when women were actively discouraged from taking part in gambling activities. Back then, any woman sat at a table would have her legs crossed. So it follows that by discouraging women from playing, that the crossing of legs would be discouraged as well.
Gambler Superstitions: Unlucky Numbers/ Colors
The use of some numbers goes pretty deep. For example, the number 13, has real significance in western culture thanks to Judas Iscariot. Placing a bet on the number 13 is not considered one of the best jackpot winning strategies. You’ll notice that many hotels omit the 13th floor, or that this floor is used solely for housekeeping. A really weird one is that many gamblers will tell you that black is an unlucky color. In the game of roulette, there are only two color choices…is one only supposed to bet on the red? Nuts!
No Whistling or Singing at the Table
Well, we can definitely see how this could be very annoying for some. After all, many players sitting playing jackpot slots or sitting up at the games table are there to try and make a profit. So we imagine how any singing, humming, or whistling might break their concentration. It’s super distracting. And mainly because most people don’t realize just how out of tune they really are! To that end, this isn’t really about gambler superstitions, but more about casino etiquette.
Do any of these work?
The six million dollar question. Who knows the answer? Often people will resort to superstitions simply because it’s the only way to be in some sort of control. Using these will help enforce the idea that it’s you who is deciding your own fate as opposed to Lady Luck having a good or bad day. Having said that, many superstitions come from things that have practical consequences in life. For example, not walking under a ladder seems quire sensible in avoiding a bucket of paint dropped on your head. Likewise not treading on the cracks in the pavement saves you from a broken ankle when the pavement gives way.
To that end, we can see how these ideas have evolved. A long-winded example might be a hunter, who, thanks to the sound of the grass behind him moving, realized that he too, was being stalked by a lion. Later, in retelling this tale, the noise of the grass takes on a significant meaning. Fast forwards a few generations, and the reason for the grass moving behind you has become lost or altered. But what we do know is that the sound of the grass moving behind you can be unlucky.
Hard-Wired Into Our DNA
The survival instinct is primary in humans. And we’re bright enough to understand the idea of cause and effect. So though the actual cause is forgotten, the link between these two factors remains. Just that over time it becomes adulterated. So it’s quite possible that the lion moving the grass is the reason why whistling in the casino is frowned upon. Yes, that’s a stretch, but you get the point! Maybe the color red was worn by someone very successful in their chosen field. As their luck continued, then many began to form the connection between them wearing the color red, and themselves having good fortune. Fast forwards a few millennia and now red is seen simply as a symbol of good luck. The reason has been lost. But the idea persists. Now all Chinese culture considers that red is the sign of good fortune.
Conclusion: What Causes Gambler Superstitions?
At the end of the day, these gambler superstitions probably came about as the need to survive was of paramount importance. New threats would bring new fears. And, in the face of the unknown, we invented stories of our defeating these monsters. And the means of defeat became tales which in turn gave rise to superstitions. These have stayed with us. After all, the fear of the number 13 or the color red are completely random and ridiculous. And yet, they persist.
A lot of gambling revolves around the concept of luck, or some other unknown force or even another monster to be tamed and controlled. Then is it any wonder that we resort to the ways of our primitive ancestors and resort to magic, spells, and superstitions? After all, in gambling, the skill will only get you so far. For that extra lift, that force that’ll ensure the face-down card will be the one you need, then you have no choice other than to call on those same supernatural forces your forefather called upon. Be thank you there are no lions lurking in the casino!
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