The Strangest Gambling Superstitions From Around the World

China Red, But Avoid the Four

The color red is considered to be good fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture. Many
gamblers will come to the casino wearing red clothing or accessories, believing it will increase
their chances of winning at the tables, or the slots. It’s also known some will throw on their
favorite red undies for extra good luck. Definitely worth a shot!
While the red is favorable, the number four is not. It’s considered extremely unlucky. The
reason, well, the pronunciation of the number four in Mandarin and Cantonese is similar to the
word ‘death.’’ There are even some casinos that go as far as removing tables numbered four or
replacing them with another number. Some Chinese people even avoid the number 4 in their
everyday lives and don’t select a phone number or license plate that includes a

4.
Americans Avoid $50 Bills But Blow on Dice

It’s been glorified in Hollywood movies , the ritual of blowing on the dice before rolling. While
your odds in craps will be the same on every roll, many believe blowing the dice before each roll
will bring good luck at the table. Some players may even ask a woman near the table believing
her blowing on the dice will return good fortune.
Another long-standing superstition that many people may not know, is the avoidance of the $50
bill. The myth is, these notes will bring bad luck to the table and everyone around. And if you’re
wondering what the myth is, it stems from the old mob days. According to folklore, gangsters
would place $50 bills in the pocket of their victims in the early 20th century. While there isn’t
real concrete evidence this happened, many players stick to the superstition and refuse to
accept or use $50 bills in casinos.
Brits Keep Lucky Coins, No New Shoes
In British culture, the lucky sixpence coin is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity and a
common lucky charm for gamblers. Curiously, a survey found nearly 35% of British punters
admitted they carry a lucky charm or follow a ritual when playing a certain game. The British
sixpence was discontinued in the early 1970s after circulating for 400 years, but the Royal Mint
still produces special silver sixpences for luck. On the flip side, Brits believe wearing brand new
shoes to a casino will invite bad luck, leading to losing streaks.
Japanese Players: No Money Counting, Don’t Cross Legs
In Japan, there are two major gambling superstitions; you never cross your legs while gambling
and you never count your money while playing, it’s thought to bring bad luck. The myth goes,
crossing your legs means you’re crossing out good luck. A survey in Japan found that more
than 60% of gamblers admitted to following at least one of those two superstitions,
Italy, Touch a Hunchback For Luck
While some of the others are unique, this one may be the weirdest of them all. Italian gamblers
say touching a hunchback brings good fortune. My question is where do you find a hunchback?
This belief extends beyond gambling and into everyday life and some people even seek out
hunchbacked people before making important decisions. Other gamblers carry a cornicello—a
small, horn-shaped amulet—believed to ward off bad luck and negative energy.
Russian Sit in Silence, Then Gamble
In Russia, gamblers have a very quiet ritual, sit in silence for a few minutes before heading into
a casino. Seems strange, but it’s believed to bring good luck and help players focus on their
upcoming wagers. But another odd one for bad luck, Russians won’t whistle indoors, especially
in a casino, when money is on the line. So many Russians believe that casinos actually put
signs up discouraging whistling inside.
Itchy Hands
You probably have heard this before when your palms are itchy, someone tells you that money
is coming your way. Depending where you’re from, many think that itchy hands means you’re
going to come into money. But others will say you will lose money, depending on which hand is
itching. The origins of this superstition comes from ancient African and Native American
folklore. In Bulgaria, itchy hands are a sign of bad luck while in Serbia, it’s the opposite. In
some countries people will take advantage of this, and when their hands itch, it’s time to hit up a
casino
Never Enter Through Front Entrance
This is one of the more truly bizarre ones as many believe that entering a casino through the
front entrance will hinder their chances of winning a game. The origin of this comes from when
the MGM in Las Vegas opened and had a huge entrance sculpted as a big, roaring lion’s mouth.
Many superstitious people avoided this as they considered it walking into the mouth of an
animal and believed it was a curse to do so. Others believed they’d come into contact with
people leaving, who probably lost, and their bad luck would rub off, so they too, would avoid that
entrance.
The Bottom Line
Whether you believe or not believe in rituals or superstitions, they are an essential part of the
gambling experience. The next time you’re in a casino and closely watch some players, you’ll
notice they may pray, hold a drink in a certain way, or avoid touching cards, thinking it’ll help
their luck. But it’s important to remember that gambling is a game of chance and the outcomes
are completely random. While a rabbit’s foot or a bracelet adds fun, they do not influence the
results. Let’s be honest, the odds of winning are determined by the house edge, not by
personal superstitions. If you choose to gamble, play responsibly