We all know that gambling is a mix of luck and skill, but just how much control do we have over our luck? Some say there are lucky things to wear or casino lucky charms that sway the odds in your favor. Whether the superstitions are true or not, it’s always fun spicing up your gambling experience with a ritual or two. From a rabbit’s foot to lucky numbers and colors, here’s everything you can try to help you win big at the casino.
Many gamblers believe there are rituals that bring them the big-money jackpots at Las Vegas casinos. These rituals are usually carried out before dealing hands, spinning the roulette wheel, or rolling the dice.
Blowing on dice is a classic ritual we’ve seen in movies for decades and it supposedly brings a gambler casino luck. The most iconic way it has been used is by a man asking a pretty lady to blow on the dice before he rolls. While it’s a nice compliment to be asked to do this, that’s not the only way to better your fortune. Blow on your own dice before you roll and see how much luck that brings you!
Fun Fact: Some believe this ritual can be traced back to the early days of gambling when gamblers tried to cheat by coating one side of their dice in a sticky substance that could be activated by blowing on the dice.
Everyone is familiar with the common ritual of crossing your fingers. While it’s done all the time in daily life to show hopeful support for someone else’s life, it can also be used for a little extra casino luck.
As far as history goes, there are two main theories behind the start of this superstitious ritual. One dates back to a pre-Christianity Pagan belief in Western Europe that it symbolized the cross. The other ties in with early Christianity when practitioners were being persecuted for their beliefs. People came up with hand gestures, like crossing your fingers, to recognize fellow Christians.
Fun Fact: Crossing your fingers for good fortune used to be a two-man job. People would cross their index finger over someone else’s while they made a wish to show their support.
Much like crossing your fingers, knocking on wood is yet another ritual that is done outside of the casino too. Knocking on wood when you aren’t gambling is usually done to prevent anything bad from happening (especially when you speak of that bad event). For example, if you say you haven’t gotten sick in months, you’d want to knock on wood to not jinx yourself. Otherwise, it is believed that your words will come back and bite you.
In the gambling world, knocking on wood brings you casino luck. Whether you’re playing slots or testing your skill at blackjack, quietly knock on the wooden table before the game starts to bring you luck.
Fun Fact: This ritual for casino luck came from the pagan belief that good spirits live in the roots of trees, giving it divine power. Touching a tree (or in this case, a wooden table) is a way of recognizing its supernatural power and by doing so, you earn protection from bad luck.
If you’re looking for a subtle way to earn some casino luck, lucky charms are one of the best ways to go. Here are a few of the most popular ones.
If you don’t already have a lucky number, try using seven when you gamble. This number is considered to be significant around the world and we see the result of that in everyday life. Think about many things that come in groups of seven: seven days of the week, seven deadly sins, seven continents, seven seas, seven Wonders of the World. The list goes on, so it’s no surprise that serious gamblers wager with this number for casino luck!
Fun Fact: In the casino, getting a combination of three sevens (777) gives the biggest winnings.
Before you start laughing at the thought of bringing a horseshoe into a casino, keep in mind that it can be any size. Set the regulation-size horseshoe down and think about buying a necklace or key fob with a small horseshoe decoration. These are perfect to bring in your purse or pocket and will supposedly bring you just as much casino luck.
Fun Fact: It’s believed by some that if you turn a horseshoe upward, it will collect all the luck inside its “U” shape.
This casino lucky charm is a lot harder to come across, but if you’re lucky enough to find a four-leaf clover, pick that sucker up and bring it to the casino with you! It has been said that four-leaf clovers bring good fortune in life and of course, gambling, because they are extremely rare. In fact, they are so uncommon that for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers, there’s only one four-leaf clover.
Fun Fact: The four leaves represent hope, faith, love, and luck.
For a soft and convenient casino lucky charm, consider getting a rabbit foot. This is one of the most well-known items to bring you good luck and depending on your beliefs, you can either get a real or faux one.
We often think of the rabbit foot as an American superstition, but it’s actually a celebrated good luck charm across the world in places like Europe, China, Africa, and South America. The stories of how the rabbit foot came to be auspicious vary greatly, but all of them seem to tie back to how, where, and by whom the rabbit was killed. The history can be pretty dark, so you might want to get your casino lucky charm and skip the background story!
Fun Fact: It’s said in many scriptures that you must have the left hind foot of a rabbit to earn good luck.
Besides lucky charms and rituals, you’ll be surprised to know that garments are also used for favorable luck. Here are a couple dress choices to keep in mind before you head out for the Strip.
If you haven’t ever considered red as your best color, it’s time to reconsider! Anything red is considered a lucky thing to wear at a casino, so you better search your closet or go on a shopping spree. The best part about this superstition is that it’s not strict. You can either be the brightest person in the room with your head-to-toe ensemble or keep it subtle with a pair of shoes. Showing confidence and vibrancy in a sleek red dress may be the luckiest way to go!
Fun Fact: In Chinese culture, red garments are a lucky thing to wear as the color red represents luck and good fortune.
This superstition is a little more specific and obvious. Some people choose to wear clothing or accessories they’ve previously won in before. For example, if you were wearing your favorite black hat the last time you scored big at the roulette table, you should wear that same hat the next time you gamble.
Fun Fact: This goes for any piece of clothing, so make sure to remember to wear those lucky socks when you hit up the casino next!
Now that you’re all brushed up on the lucky things to wear in a casino, as well as casino lucky charms, cross your fingers that you’ll be the next person to win the wild jackpot! If you’re also a sports fan, take a look at the history of sports betting in Vegas and the much anticipated expansion of Circa | Sports, the soon-to-be largest sportsbook in Las Vegas.
