Gamblers are a superstitious lot. With so much money changing hands based purely on chance, players have come to believe in all kinds of rituals and practices that can affect their luck and bring fortune their way – or so they hope.
When it comes to gambling online, players allow their various superstitions to play out in virtual form. Some repeat specific mouse clicks or keyboard taps in hopes of influencing the randomly generated result. Others point and shout at the screen as if their reaction can help send the dice where they want it to land.
Of course, none of these superstitions actually sway the impartial computer algorithms that rule online casino and dictate payouts. But that doesn't make players any less committed to their belief systems. Let's look at some of the most common superstitions that arise around internet gambling.
Wearing lucky clothes or hats while playing
Some players firmly believe that wearing certain clothes while gambling online will bring them luck. Red is considered a particularly lucky color in many cultures. Other players may have a lucky hat, socks, or even underwear that they wear during gameplay for extra luck!
Of course the computer cannot see what you are wearing. But this clothing superstition can act as a psychological boost for player confidence. If you believe you will get happy results, you are more likely to take risks and keep playing.
Specific rituals for placing bets
Many players engage in small rituals before placing a bet or hitting the button to spin the slots. This can include things like:
- Fingers crossed
- Rub a lucky charm
- Knock on wood
- Saying a little prayer
- Blow the dice on the screen
These rituals give players a sense of control over an outcome that is actually completely random. The computer does not know if you knocked wood before sla bet, but that action makes some players feel lucky.
Believe certain days or times are more fortunate
If a player has had good results playing online poker on a Friday in the past, they may consider Friday a lucky day. Others may believe that they get better online gambling results at night instead of during the day.
This also extends to numerology. If a player's birthday is on the 7th, they may claim that 7 is their lucky number. So they always bet $7 or look for slot games that feature sevens.
Of course – assuming that the site's games are truly random – the computer doesn't actually pay anymore on Fridays or at 19:00 or to people thinking about lucky number 7. But these beliefs give players a sense of control.
Do not change from “happy seat” when on a winning streak
Some gamblers who play online from a laptop have a favorite place where they sit with their computer while gambling. If they have had good results for several games, they can refuse to get up from that chair until their winning streak ends. They believe that changing seats will cause their luck to run out.
Similar to the lucky clothes superstition, this probably works because it removes worries from the mind of the player. They may worry about: If I get up now, will my luck disappear? By staying they do not destroy their mentality.
Fearing certain numbers as bad luck
Just as certain numbers are considered lucky by players, other numbers are labeled as unlucky. In Western cultures, 13 is often seen as very unlucky. Some online gamblers avoid slot machines or betting positions with the number 13 featured prominently.
If a player gets a run of bad beats happens involving an unlucky number, confirmation bias can set in. They will selectively remember all the times number 13 caused bad luck, while forgetting failures do not involve that number.
Belief in a higher power affects outcomes
Religious individuals who gamble online often think that their winnings or losses may be the will of a higher power such as God, Fate, or supernatural forces such as luck itself. When events don't seem to follow chance and chance, it's easy to chalk up outcomes to divine intervention.
This belief can inspire some players to keep gambling when they are on a losing streak. They may believe that because they have been very unlucky up until now, God or the universe “owes” them a streak of luck to compensate.
Spotting patterns in truly random outcomes
The human brain is wired to look for patterns. So online gamblers often fall victim to seeing patterns in results generated by truly random number generators. Two heads in a row in a coin flip may seem to indicate that you are “due” for tails next. A run of 7 red outcomes in roulette may seem to imply that black is overdue.
Of course, no such patterns actually exist in random systems like this. But that doesn't stop players from seeing and believing. When events line up with the perceived “patterns”, the player feels smart and happy without realizing that they fell for an illusion.
Games change when results seem “cold”.
By losing multiple games in a row, a player may come to believe that their current game has “gone cold” – meaning that the random number generator is currently not working for them. So they go out to try a new game, believing that other games may now offer better luck.
Just like changing seats or changing clothes, this represents an attempt to “reset the luck.” There is no real truth in it. But the psychological refreshment of moving to a new environment can boost players' morale and confidence.
Don't gamble on someone's “unlucky day”
Some players put a lot of stock in daily horoscopes, fortune cookies, or other assigned indications of lucky vs. unlucky days. If a horoscope says to avoid risk today, they can skip their online gambling session altogether instead of “tempting fate” and gambling on an unlucky day.
Sure enough, confirmation bias can make bad results on such “unlucky” days stand out while players forget every time the horoscope predictions were wrong. But skipping sessions seems wise to players if they feel it helps them avoid some bad luck.
So while none of these common superstitions have any real impact on randomly generated gambling outcomes, they do serve purposes. They give players a sense of control amidst chaos. They allow players to maintain and reset mindsets. And they make games more exciting by giving players an illusion of influencing outcomes through rituals and beliefs.
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