Page 6 - February 2008 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
DPo You Have a Lucky Ritual for Playing at the Casino?
erforming rituals to insure a favorable outcome dates back to early man. Sacri ces, tribal dancing, and other assorted ceremonies were performed to attract the favor of the gods. Somewhere along the way, individuals started to carry or wear a talisman, lucky charm,
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
February 2008
or amulet to attract good luck or to keep safe.
Although most of these ancient rituals and practices have disappeared, there are still many intelligent people who carry on some of the old practices, especially many players who visit the casino. Most players know that hitting a jackpot is a matter of luck, but some gamblers resort to interesting and sometimes bizarre rituals to insure that good fortune is on their side while they play.
I love to watch people in the casino, and over the years I have observed players performing some entertaining, bizarre and diverse rituals as they play slots or table games. I know that I have not seen it all, so I asked the readers of my About.com website and a few other Internet forums I post on to share some of the rituals that they have observed or even practiced in the casino. e response I received was amazing. I found that there are many more players than I originally imagined who try to in uence Lady Luck when they play. If you have ever openly or secretly performed a lucky ritual, rest assured, you are not alone. Although some rituals are unique, there are several general categories that these practices fall into.
will disguise the real purpose they have them at the poker table.
Wishniks and trolls seem to be the lucky charm of choice among the bingo crowd. Walk through any bingo hall and you will see more di erent hair colors than in a box of crayons. Some of these are even on the trolls.
Teddy bears and other stu ed animals can sometimes be seen on the casino oor. A couple was seen playing slots with a bear dressed in a Chicago Cubs uniform. Since the Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908, I wonder why they thought this bear would be lucky.
One of the strangest sights was a man at a Las Vegas casino who played slots with a large teddy bear, about the size of a four-year old child, on his knee facing the machine. He talked to the bear in a very animated way between spins and even used its paw to hit the spin button. I don’t know who was the luckier of the two.
Getting Personal with a Slot Machine
Most players know that there is no way to in uence the outcome of a spin on a slot machine, but many will try di erent approaches as if the slot machine had feelings
watched tapped the screen ve times before hitting the Spin button.
e most common practice I have seen is the player who removes and reinserts his players club card as he plays. I once asked a player why he was doing this and he told me it was because the machine would then think there was a new player playing. Another player I saw constantly cashed out and put fresh bills into the machine and cited the same reason for doing this. ey actually believe that the machines are aware.
Unlucky People
Are some people bad luck? Several players told me that they stop playing when any casino cleanup crew are around them, dusting, cleaning trash and ashtrays, and vacuuming. One player swears that her slot machine always cools down or she earns less in her bonus rounds when the cleaners linger around.
I was also surprised by the number of people who told me that the presence of a friend or spouse could change their luck. Most reported that the other person had a negative e ect when they watched them play.
My friend Lisa says her good luck always changes when her husband comes where she is playing. “I will stop playing and act like I am looking for the waitress or looking in my purse for money. If that doesn’t work, I give him ‘the look’ and then he will tell me where he is going and walk away.”
Make Your Own Luck
ere is no proof that charms, clothes, spouses or anything else can change your luck at the casino. However, I do know that people who feel lucky and happy seem to have a much more enjoyable time in whatever activity they engage in. If carrying a lucky charm or performing a ritual while you play makes you feel good, then go right ahead—as long as it does not infringe on your fellow players.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About.com, located at http://casinogambling.about.com. He is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at www.billburton.com. He is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps, http://www.thecrapsclub.com.
Before Going to the Casino
Some players will try to attract good fortune before they even leave for the casino. A number of players told me that they have lucky clothing or jewelry that they always wear to the casino.
Debbie told me about a lucky meal she prepares.
or was conscious of outside in uences.
Some players like to get personal with the machines they play. ey will kiss, fondle or even talk intimately to the machine in hopes of persuading it to give up a jackpot. One player told me she always says hello to the machine before she starts playing. My friend sat next to a woman who begged the machine saying, “Please, please, let me win, come on give me the money,” as she rubbed her hands all over the slot.
Another player told me that if she is playing video poker and has won a hand,
she will push the Deal button. If she loses a hand, she will hit the single Bet button ve times. She is not alone in trying to in uence a slot by changing her routine while playing.
Another player said,“I like to tap the right side of my video poker machines before hitting the Deal button. I seem to think I’m hypnotizing them, and I then tell the machine what cards to deal. Sometimes it works!”
Players will rub or draw patterns across the slot monitor. I have seen many players sweep a big X from one corner of the screen to the other. One player I
“There is no proof that charms, clothes, spouses or anything else can change your luck at the casino. However, I do know that people who feel lucky and happy seem to have a much more enjoyable time in whatever activity they engage in. If carrying a lucky charm or
“Several times when we performing a ritual while you play
went on gambling trips,
we had a ranch-style
casserole on the night
before we won pretty
big. So now my husband
insists that on the night
before every casino trip, we have to have this dish.”
Many players check their horoscopes or biorhythms before they begin their casino trips. I don’t know about you, but I have never see a horoscope that read,“Today is your unlucky day. Stay away from the casino!”
Lucky Charms
Carrying a lucky charm is the most popular ritual that players do to try to bring about good fortune. Some display them out in the open, while others keep them secretly hidden away. Many poker players like to use their lucky charms as card protectors. ey think this
makes you feel good, then go right ahead—as long as it does not infringe on your fellow players.”
About Gambling with Bill Burton