The first casino opened its doors in Venice during the year 1638 and not much has changed since then. This was the start of an era of opulence, fame, and unrivaled Hollywood glam – and the casino hasn’t strayed too far from its roots. Having always been surrounded by a huge amount of mystery and excitement, it brings with it an abundance of funny superstitions. Like with everything in life, there will always be people who start a thought process and it gets carried on for generations – which is exactly what a superstition is.
No matter if you’re spinning the wheel or placing a bet on the table, you may have seen your fellow players doing a few little rituals before they take their turn. This can range from a lucky handshake to a certain seat selection, all in the hopes of trying to chase Lady Luck. And it’s not just the casino that gets involved in these quirks. Chances are, if you’re an avid sports watcher, then you’ve seen your favorite player do a thing or two with their bat before they go – but hey, we don’t judge.
How much truth is behind these certain beliefs? You’d be shocked to realize, like many things, it’s all in the psychology. In this blog, we’re going to explore 4 of the biggest superstitions we’ve seen on the betting floor – and whether they stack up against the odds. Disclaimer: usually superstitions are just that, so don’t get your hopes up.
1. The hot and cold machine myth
If you’ve headed to the casino on your night out with friends and ever heard one pal talk about a hot machine – then this is for you. One of the biggest myths out there is the belief in a “hot” and “cold” slot machine. Players often claim that when a machine pays out a huge win, it is then “hot,” and when it’s “cold,” it hasn’t paid out for ages. These “cold” machines are thought to be more likely to pay out soon, which makes potential gamblers flock to the coldest machines. Is it true?
Perhaps with some older machines, it could have been a factor – but that isn’t the case anymore. Modern, high-tech slot machines use random number generators (RNG) to determine the results, meaning that the odds of winning these casino games are the same at every go. They use special technology to make sure that the odds of winning don’t change from spin to spin, and therefore, we are sorry to say – this is all a pretty big superstition.
Note that some people use “hot” and “cold” machine to refer to the return-to-player, so watch out for this confusion!
2. Lucky numbers
We all have our own lucky numbers and that’s okay. Many players have specific numbers they swear by, and they often use them to direct the path of the game. This is usually a birthday, an anniversary, or a special date, and it is used throughout the whole of the casino for the player. For instance, you may see players avoid the “unlucky” number 13, whereas some who aren’t superstitious will often choose it – it’s all about personal preference and what you deem lucky or unlucky.
By using the lucky numbers in question, players usually think they have more of a chance of winning, but this is incorrect. While it can be fun to follow the results on specific numbers you like, they have no bearing on the games. The ball or spinner has no memory of where it landed on prior, meaning that every spin is completely random. By fixating on a number, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment when it doesn’t come through – so pick a bunch, and have fun with it. There’s no point chasing a random figure!
3. Rituals
Another huge superstition we have seen on the gambling floor is personal rituals. Just as you follow your favorite sportsmen do their pre-game routine, gamblers often find peace doing one as well. In gambling, the rituals we have seen can be as small as tossing a coin into a fountain, performing a special phrase before playing, or wearing your favorite “lucky” outfits. Players believe that these actions can affect their gameplay, but it is, sadly, incorrect.
Rituals are another myth we’ve seen stemming from decades of casino playing. While they enhance the gameplay and build excitement, it’s better not to put all your hopes on them!
4. Winning streaks / losing streaks
Last but by no means least – a winning or losing streak. This one is all in the mindset, as it is completely superstitious to believe in being in a specific streak. Casinos are high-energy and you often ride the wave of being on a high, but that doesn’t mean it foreshadows your future.
Many gamblers think small things like changing your seat position may affect your luck, followed by staying in the same position all night. They’re in fear of losing their winning streak, yet it’s entirely superstition. The concept of luck changing with a shift in location might be exciting and maybe it helps you keep your head in the game – but it’s not actually changing anything. The reality is, that the casino is all based on probability and random results, so no matter what you do, you can’t alter the outcome through your seat.
As we have seen, the world of the casino is saturated with superstitions. It’s super easy to get caught up in all of these, especially if you have grown up playing this way, but be cautious! Playing is fun and exciting, and the whole point of dabbling on the tables is that you never know what’s going to come next. Why would we want to change that? Here’s to ditching superstitions and putting all our hope into Lady Luck!
