The Curse of the Pharaohs: Ancient Egyptian Gambling Myths

Gambling has been with us since time immemorial, though the way we approach and regard gambling couldn’t be more different today from what it was in the ancient world. The ancient Egyptians are among the most well documented civilizations of the ancient world. From the Neolithic age to just before the birth of Christ, ancient Egypt was the cradle of civilisation for over 3,000 years. We know about many aspects of their culture and daily life. From their eating habits to their theological beliefs. And we also know how they used to gamble.

Funnily enough, theology and gambling intertwine closely in ancient Egypt. Vengeful gods and mystical fate shaped their beliefs, and Egyptians strongly believed in curses and divine judgment. These beliefs influenced their gambling culture directly. Today’s Egyptian-themed games still carry motifs and symbolism from those ancient curses and beliefs. Modern slots use them to boost excitement and mystery. It’s fascinating how developers reimagined this mythology for today’s gambling world, and they did it deliberately.

Ancient Civilization Gambling Rituals and Divination

Gambling was an entertaining pastime in the ancient world, and traces of games with a gambling edge have been found virtually all over the world. Whether it was the Royal Game of Ur entertaining the nobles of ancient Sumer, or sowing seed games like Mancala in Africa. Coin flipping, or token throwing games were also highly popular. On one side of the globe, the ancient Incas had a coin flipping game involving frog statues called Sapo. Across the Ocean, in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, the ancient Greeks enjoyed a variant of two up, involving flipping two coins and placing wagers.

However, instead of just being gambles for goods or produce, the games also took on a mystical edge. In that they could also show some kind of divination, or favor from the gods. Like many other early civilizations, the ancient Egyptians believed in gods who were active forces in the world. They could send storms, cultivate props, flood the fertile lands, or send plagues, illnesses, or enemies. These gods would even come into effect in the games of chance, and to gamble was a way through which players could receive signs from these gods.

Gambling in Ancient Egyptian Mythology

One of the best examples of gambling in ancient Egypt was a game called Senet. We don’t exactly know where or how the game was invented, but we do know it was enjoyed by Tutankhamun, Nefertari, and many other prominent figures of ancient Egypt. This was the game of the dead, as was told in the Book of the Dead. When an individual died, they would play senet against in the afterlife, and if they won, they could progress. It was part of the trials and obstacles that individuals faced in the afterlife, before receiving judgment before Osiris.

Senet boards were found in numerous tombs, and were just as integral in the funerary practices as mummification or sarcophagi. The ancient Egyptians did have other games too, most of which used similar dice/knucklebones and racing mechanics as senet. While we don’t know the details of how the gambles worked around Senet, we do know it was symbolic of the tests individuals faced in the afterlife. But, as a game that had some strategy and an element of luck or chance, it could easily prompt gambling and props wagering.

Where the Curse of the Pharaohs Comes From

The Mummy’s Curse, or Curse of the Pharaohs, was not popularised by the ancient Egyptians. They did place curses on the tombs to ward off grave robbers from looting the tombs. But the widespread belief and recognition of the curse came much later. It started shortly after 1922, when Howard Carter and his excavators stumbled upon the grave of Tutankhamun.

Most tombs discovered were in bad shape, having already been plundered by graverobbers. But Tutankhamun’s tomb was completely untouched and no one had been inside for over 3,300 years. The patron of the archaeological project, George Carnarvon, died of an infected mosquito bite about half a year after the tomb was excavated.

This gave rise to the belief that the tomb was protected by the gods and that elementals had possibly struck the patron in revenge for opening the tomb. George Jay Goud I, a visitor to the tomb in 1923, developed a fever following his visit and died shortly after. The media coverage on these two events exploded, and scholars suggested the curse may be killing off the intruders. Even Sherlock Holmes writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, got in on the Mummy’s Curse media frenzy.

Spiritualism and Gambling

The relationship between spiritualism and gambling didn’t stop at the ancient Egyptians. Fortune telling and prophetic games have popped up all throughout history. From the 18th century up until the early 20th century, spiritualism was quite prominent in popular culture. This is when the cartomantic game of Tarot was formed in France. What were originally just regional playing cards in Italy suddenly found a new lease of life, in a fortune reading game with an esoteric wisdom.

Ouija board games, which had been around since 1100 AD, became highly popular in the US following the American Civil War. They were seen as a means through which people could communicate with the dead, specifically those lost during the war.

While they were never mainstream practices, they were highly popular in the 19th century, but the interest in these kinds of spiritualist games and fortune tellers gradually faded during the 20th century.

Superstitious Beliefs and Rituals in Gambling

In modern gambling, we don’t associate what happens in games as divine translation. Or it’s better to say, at least not in mainstream gambling circles. Gamblers know the odds and potential returns and test their luck.

These are games designed for entertainment purposes. Though it is quite a dangerous form of entertainment, as players are taking risks and either losing or getting rewarded. Some gamers just play for the fun of it and enjoy the highs and lows that these games can bring. Other players may assemble betting strategies and tactics in the hope that they can enhance their chances of winning.

But we can also form superstitions and irrational gambling rituals that are not founded in any mathematical logic. Not quite pinning misfortune or big wins on divine influence. But some players may believe in lucky numbers, practices that can summon good luck. And even practises that could bring bad luck, or “curses”.

Debunking the Curse and Other Myths

Some popular modern gambling curses include not touching your chips, or say the word seven at a craps table. Or, stuff like don’t whistle while playing, never cross your legs, don’t count your money, and avoid using the casino’s front entrance.

These curses won’t affect your gaming in any way whatsoever. But neither does looking at historical results, analysing patterns in previous outcomes, or looking for lucky tables or gaming machines.

Modern casino gaming machines use RNGs to generate completely random and unpredictable results. Table games have a high standard where game integrity is concerned too. Craps tables have bumpy surfaces to randomise each throw. Roulette wheels are designed to precision, so that there are no wheel biases or ways to predict where the ball will land. And at card based games, dealers are taught to shuffle efficiently, and to reshuffle after penetrating the shoe to specific depths.

This helps keep the results randomised and effectively makes it anyone’s game to guess as to what may happen next.

Curse of The Pharaohs in Modern Gambling

Ancient Egyptian mythology may be a dead practice, and the curse of the mummy is not a popular belief anymore. But the intrigue in the curse of the Pharaoh is still very much alive today.

From Hollywood films to the modern gaming machines, the curse of the pharaoh is a hugely popular theme that draws in the crowds. Many slot machines have ancient Egyptian mythology themes, creating stories from spooky tombs, vengeful gods, and quests for Egyptian pharaoh treasures.

• Book of Dead – Play’n GO
• Throne of Egypt – Microgaming
• Age of Egypt – Playtech
• Cleopatra – IGT
• Egyptian Fortune – Pragmatic Play

Ancient Egypt is one of the most popular themes for slots games, and many titles have since become classics in the online slots community. While you needn’t worry about curses or bad luck, you should be aware of the real dangers of gambling. Use responsible gambling tools to stay safe and control your bankroll. And the best strategy when you are losing or feeling unlucky is to take a break. You can always come back to your games later, and test lady luck.