Get Lucky on Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. Be on the lookout for black cats, ladders, broken mirrors, and someone opening up an umbrella inside. There are many superstitions that some people are highly aware of all throughout the year, but today is a day to be particularly suspicious and cautious.

There are some who make a living being superstitious. You might find a few of them around a poker table or anxiously lurking around the slot machines. The gambling world is full of superstitions and good luck charms. Approximately 80 percent of gamblers have some superstition that they tend to stick to. Spinning the roulette wheel without your lucky sunglasses or playing your hand at blackjack with a dog sitting near the table could be the difference between a payout and a loss.

The 13th

The first and most obvious of superstitions and phobias is the fear of the number 13. Yes, there are probably some people that decided it was best not to risk a traffic accident during rush hour, replying to all with an inappropriate email, or a tumble down the stairs because they thought the elevator would be too risky. This condition actually has a name, Triskaidekaphobia. This fear is why some casinos refuse to have a 13th floor. There is even an ancient law code that avoids using the number 13.

Rolling for the Money

Blowing on dice before throwing them down the craps table is a common practice that you might see in the movies or on television, but in fact it all started much sooner than that. Some gamblers will blow on cards and/or dice. There was a time that blowing on dice might be a sure bet. Gamblers would cheat by rubbing a sticky substance on the dice that would become active when you blew on them. Putting the substance on a certain side would increase their chances of make it fall where they wanted, or at least avoid the dreaded snake eyes.

The Asian Way

There are a few superstitions that originated from Asia. For instance, in Asia wearing red undergarments while gambling is considered to be a symbol of prosperity. This is the reason why a lot of casinos tend to use a lot of red in their decorating. But don’t think that anyone will have the pleasure of seeing these undergarments. The Asians also think that men should refrain from sexual relations the night before they gamble.

Lucky Tricks

A few things we’ve learned from some of world’s best gamblers are you must always have the proper head gear. Sunglasses, hats, headphones, and eyeglasses are among the most popular luck charms around the World Series of Poker. Always keep a horned toad toenail for good luck, never gamble at a table that a dog is sitting at, always enter from the back of the casino, and never use a $50 bill when gambling.