Busted: The Truth Behind Common Casino Superstition

Gamblers can be a sentimental bunch, probably a result of dabbling with risk taking and chance. Superstitions get a bad wrap in gambling circles, and most serious gamblers try to distance themselves from these seemingly arbitrary rituals. But there are seemingly innocuous practices that can be defined as superstition. They could relate to where you sit at a table, to the clothes you wear and the way you handle your chips. For the most part, they having superstitions is completely harmless.

There are varying degrees to which players are superstitious. And funnily enough, certain games or types of bets attract more superstitions than others. The blackjack card counter is less likely to follow rituals or believe in superstitions than the weekly lotto player who swears by their children’s birth dates or anniversary, and bets on those numbers all the time. Here, we will dive a little more into some of the main types of superstitions and break them down.

Defining Superstitions in Gambling

Superstitions in gambling are any kind of action or belief systems that players believe can influence the result, but have no logical or statistical basis. Like thinking you will play better at poker because you are wearing your lucky socks. The socks will not change the cards you are drawn, or have any say in which hands will win the round. There are many little habits that we could define as superstitions. Even having a bias towards betting on the banker bet in Baccarat because you had more luck with it last time you played. That is a superstition too, flavored with some optimism bias.

But we could go on a witch hunt here and pick out little routines or habits from virtually any player, and pin it down to superstition. We don’t want to do that, because it dilutes the essence of superstition, and how it can be harmful. You may have a set stake that you stick with when playing slots. Or a favorite game that you like coming back to. Not because it has won anything specifically, but just because the characters resonate with your inner sixth sense for luck.

You may cross your fingers every time you spin the reels in a slot game. Circling your fingertips around your poker cards before looking at them is another one. As is blowing on dice, praying or repeating a mantra, closing your eyes or turning away from the game while the round unfolds. Even things you do unconsciously can also have superstition ties. Your posture, breath intake, any fidgeting or unnecessary little habit you do for every bet may be part of a superstition that you didn’t even realise you had.

These shouldn’t fall into the same category as going all in on a whim or playing recklessly because you’ve picked up a sign or feel the allure of a jackpot prize. No, those are harmful, and must be called out to help gamblers avoid making big and costly mistakes.

Gambling Habits That Could Bring Luck

Some rituals are so widespread and mainstream that they can even trick beginners into thinking they actually bring luck. For instance, in Macau casinos, it is very common to see gamblers blowing on dice for more luck. They could do this at dice based games, such as craps or Sic Bo. In Japan, there are players who bring omamori, or Shinto lucky charms, when they go to play Pachinko. These aren’t just little quirks, they are quite rooted in the gambling traditions, and some of these habits date back generations.

Other typical ones include bringing a rabbit’s foot to the casino, knocking on wood, wearing lucky clothes or not touching the gaming chips during play. These are all quite innocent, and most gamers will not get carried away because of them. You bring your lucky shirt because you feel good in it and hope it will bring you luck. If it does, you can wear it again next time you play. But you won’t get too upset if it doesn’t, and won’t blame the shirt either. It is not a belief system that has any logical foundation.

Harmful Superstitions and Beliefs

On the flip side, other superstitions can have a much stronger and lasting impact on players. For example, the belief in lucky games, winning streaks, an ability to predict outcomes, and ultimately the belief that you can win back all your lost funds if you just try hard enough.

Not strictly superstitions at first, but let’s explain why they come up. Lucky games are the belief that some games or tables win more than others. There is no such thing as a lucky table or a loose slot game. The outcomes are always completely random and casinos don’t rig their games to make some win and others lose.

Some players may feel an added surge of confidence when they are winning, which is fine in itself. So long as you feel on top of the world and accept the fact that the streak is just down to some favorable variance. But if you start betting more and try to milk it, that superstition and cognitive bias will work against you.

Predicting the outcomes of a game is impossible, but still some players try to read historical results to find:

a) lucky games

b) bets that are overdue wins

They may see a pattern such as the Player Bet at a Baccarat table winning 6 hands in a row. And for the results to better reflect the true probability, the Banker bet should then win next. But the previous results don’t impact the following draw in any form whatsoever.

Chasing Losses and Superstitions

Chasing losses is an impulse to regain any money you lost. It hits hardest after you have won a big wad of cash, and then slowly start losing it. The desire to reach those peak winnings again is difficult to suppress, and the feeling is more associated with loss of pride or frustration than superstition. But there are strong ties to esoteric thinking and mystical contexts in which fate may be testing you.

It may be connected with a basic understanding of variance, or volatility in games. The idea is that you have to ride out a storm before the good results come rolling in. And an initial wave of bad luck may be taken as a sign that the big prize is waiting at the end of the tunnel. This is completely false, as mentioned before, each result is completely independent of the last in casino games.

Which Games Attract More Superstitious Players

The skill based games, such as blackjack, video poker or any poker cashgames generally don’t attract much superstitious belief. These players can build strategies around the decision making aspects of the game, and don’t tend to be concerned with mystical signs or lucky habits. Instead, they tend to buy into cognitive biases and misinterpret the role of luck in skill based games. Because even with the most mathematically optimised strategy, you can’t change the fact that those games revolve around the draw of a card.

Traditional superstitions tend to foster in players who dabble in pure chance or luck games. For example, roulette, slots, dice based games, and lottery games. In these games, you leave everything to chance, without any say or decision to influence the games. So any outcomes can feel deeper than the game itself. Possibly something fate-related or magical.

Not all superstitions are unhealthy, and so long as players don’t take them seriously, they can’t do much real life damage. In fact, some superstitions actually add an enjoyment factor to the games. You might feel better if you are playing with your lucky necklace. Or find more solace in sticking to your lucky Roulette numbers.

If you have a superstition that makes you feel good when you play, then there is no reason why you should avoid it. After all, these games are ultimately designed to entertain, and you shouldn’t look at casino games as a means to make quick money.

Superstitions vs Good Gambling Practices

The best way to identify a superstition is by talking a little about the real good gambling practices and measured approaches that gamblers should take. Instead of blowing on dice or carrying a rabbit’s foot, we are talking about bankroll management and controlled spending. Or the difference between sitting at a lucky table, to preparing yourself for short-term variance.

Creating a bankroll for your gaming and a stake for each round is a great forward thinking initiative. Don’t think of it like measuring how many times you will spin a slot machine and counting out a stake. It is more of a guideline to help you allocate your bankroll to ensure you can enjoy a longer gaming session without going bust.

Learning the game mechanics and testing the demo game to gauge the volatility is another fantastic practice. Demo versions of games help you learn the ins and outs of a game without spending a dime. High volatility games may take a while for you to win anything, but when you do, the amounts tend to be larger. Whereas low volatility games have more frequent wins, but the payouts are smaller. You can test this out in a demo, and feel the mechanics of the game at the same time.

Superstition and Discipline in Gambling

You shouldn’t just have full control over your bankroll, but over your emotions too. It is easy to get carried away with wins or get hung up on losses. However, you should try to be realistic in your expectations. Make a plan for your gaming, and stick to it, whatever happens. Don’t think twice to take a break. They usually help you regain focus ,and you will be refreshed when you return to your game. If you have any harmless superstitions that don’t interfere with the gameplay, you can still practise them by all means. Just don’t let it tamper with your discipline or focus. And remember it is always better to walk away than gamble on an impulse.