Page 6 - May 2009 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
TDo Superstitions Affect Your Luck?
wo gamblers were talking. One turned to the other and asked,“Are you superstitious?” His friend replied,“I used to be, but then I heard it was unlucky so I stopped.” Gamblers are probably the most superstitious people and they will do anything to
improve their chances of winning. Whether it is carrying a lucky charm or performing some sort of ritual before or during gambling sessions, they will try a variety of things to in uence Lady Luck to smile on them.
when he wrote: You never count your money when you sitting at the table, there’ll be time enough for counting when the dealing’s done.
at brings up another superstition. Singing or whistling while you are gambling is bad luck. If someone is whistling past a graveyard, they are trying to remain cheerful in a di cult circumstance, so perhaps the same thought has carried over that whistling or singing should not be done while gambling.
at w earing red clothing while gambling brings good luck is a common Asian superstition. Also, many gamblers have a favorite color that they wear while they play.
Another superstition, as I mentioned before, is that crossing your legs while playing will “cross out your good luck”. is could explain why casinos make seats so close to slot machines. I never have room to cross my legs, even if I were not afraid it would bring me bad luck.
Harmless Fun
Even though we claim not to be, many of us have one or two superstitions we subscribe to while gambling. Eighty percent of gamblers who responded to a survey said that they believed in superstitions or carried out some sort of lucky ritual before or while gambling.
As long as you don’t let your superstitions control you, believing in something that will bring you good luck can actually be beneficial. If you feel lucky, you will be happy and have a more enjoyable time while you play at the casino.
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.
Psychologists have done many studies about the relationship between gambling and superstitions. Some conclusions of these studies show that superstitions can develop in many gamblers and become a basis for future gambling sessions. If a player has won, she looks at what transpired during the winning session. is is where a player may decide that an article of clothing or some activity was responsible for the good fortune. Likewise, if a player loses, he may look to see what may have caused his misfortune. If a player has
however, does not stop us from believing some popular gambling superstitions. e following are a few common gambling superstitions.
Gambling Superstitions
Many gamblers feel that it is unlucky to enter a casino through the main entrance. Years ago, the main entrance of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was through the mouth of the large MGM lion. Many superstitious players would not enter the casino by
one or two losing sessions with a particular dealer, he may develop a feeling that the dealer is unlucky and unbeatable.
Not all superstitions are developed by personal observations, and many gamblers buy into existing beliefs that have been passed down through the ages. ey may choose to believe that something is unlucky and avoid it so they don’t tempt fate.
“Many gamblers have what I like to refer to as “selective amnesia.” We only remember those events that correspond
to our own personal beliefs. That, however, does not
stop us from believing some popular gambling
superstitions.”
going into the mouth of the lion. ey considered it a double curse to walk into the mouth of the beast, along with the fact that it was the main entrance to the casino.
Fifty-dollar bills are thought to be unlucky. Many gamblers will not accept being paid with a fty-dollar bill. ey are called ‘frogs.’ ere are several casinos I have visited that do not give out fties. Many of the
Others may test a superstition only to discover a self-ful lling prophecy. If you think it is unlucky to sit with your legs crossed while playing poker and you do it, you may just lose because subconsciously you expect to lose. If you do lose, it reinforces the belief.
Many gamblers have what I like to refer to as “selective amnesia.” We only remember those events
that correspond to our own personal beliefs. at,
casinos that do use fty-dollar bills often nd that gamblers will refuse them when they are cashing in their chips. Some people also regard the two-dollar bill as unlucky, and this might explain why numerous attempts to bring two-dollar bills back into general circulation have failed.
Never count your money while you are playing is also a common superstition. Kenny Rogers even immortalized this concept in his song “ e Gambler”
Page 6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
May 2009
About Gambling with Bill Burton