Roulette: The Weird and Wonderful World of Superstition

There is an obvious connection between the concept of luck and casinos, so it is no great surprise to learn of the fact that there are many superstitions and rituals associated with the individual casino games themselves. It is inevitable that when a particular location, whether online or on-site, has so many people feeling lucky or unlucky on a daily basis, a variety of superstitions begin to develop. This article has been put together to first look at the concept of superstitions themselves and then to examine those connected with the game of roulette…

There is an obvious connection between the concept of luck and casinos, so it is no great surprise to learn of the fact that there are many superstitions and rituals associated with the individual casino games themselves. It is inevitable that when a particular location, whether online or on-site, has so many people feeling lucky or unlucky on a daily basis, a variety of superstitions begin to develop. This article has been put together to first look at the concept of superstitions themselves and then to examine those connected with the game of roulette…
What is a Superstition?

Would you say that you are afraid of black cats? Would you open an umbrella indoors? Would you walk under a ladder? How do you feel about the number thirteen?

Whether are not you believe in them, you are more than likely familiar with each of the superstitions listed above.What is perhaps even more interesting, is that even if say that you don’t believe in them, you might still have a hesitation towards them. Where do Superstitions Come From?

No matter where you are in the world, there are people who knock on wood and throw salt over their shoulders to avoid bad luck. But where exactly do these superstitions come from? A huge proportion of superstitions are concerned with the supernatural and are therefore connected to a religion.

For example, the fact that the number 13 is considered unlucky is no coincidence. The number 13 is associated with the Last Supper where Jesus Christ had dinner with his twelve apostles before being arrested and crucified. This led to the line of thinking that having thirteen people present at a table was bud luck, before eventually leading to the number itself being considered unlucky generally. In fact, the fear of the number thirteen is so widespread that it even has a name, triskaidekaphobia. As a direct result of this superstition, many buildings around the world don’t include a thirteenth floor, with the numbers going directly from twelve to fourteen.

The origins of superstitions come in all shapes and forms and, while some are culture specific, others are found all over the world. The concept of the number thirteen being unlucky is known globally and for obvious reasons, it has influenced the regularity with which individuals bet on it in the game of roulette. So, while some superstitions can be easily applied to roulette, there are others that have come about based on the game itself.

It is also worth mentioning that that these superstitions have found their way into online casinos and, with more and more people playing UK casino games online, it is only a matter of time until there are some superstitions that originate based on the activity of playing online. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the superstitions that are associated with the game of roulette…

Lucky Numbers

Whether we use it often or not, the majority of us have a lucky number or, at the very least, a number we find ourselves navigating towards for some unexplained reason.

It is most commonly your birthday or wedding anniversary or, perhaps the origin of the luck is actually from a previous win at the roulette table. Some people swear by it and continue to bet on their lucky number for as long as it takes…

Sleeping Numbers

For many roulette players, the first call of duty when joining a table is to enquire with the dealer what today’s sleeping numbers are. Sleeping numbers are the numbers which have not yet won and many players believe that their moment to shine must be just around the corner.

Hot Numbers

Hot numbers are the opposite of sleeping numbers and are a great illustration of how some superstitions are at odds even with one other.

While some players do all they can to avoid the so-called hot numbers, other players always ask the croupier as they believe that they are blessed on that particular day and table.

The Form

Despite the fact that each spin can be seen as a complete reset and the odds are not determined by what has happened in the previous rounds, many players believe that the table form determines what will happen next.

For example, if the ball has landed on red three time in a row, many players believe that it is more likely it will land on black next. This is despite the fact that it has the same chance no matter what has happened before.

A Prayer

While many people will say some form of prayer before physically entering or logging-in to an online casino, roulette is somewhat unique in that it is one casino game that causes players to pray before each time they bet.

The format of the game is set up perfectly to allow the time for a player to take a moment to say a short prayer just as the dealer spins the wheel.

From here, it is up to you…