When it comes to playing any games of chance, enhancing your luck is a practice as ancient as gambling itself. Gamblers are notorious for being a superstitious bunch, so if you look at the widest variety of items and symbols that are supposed to bring good luck on a casino floor, you will find many interesting and bizarre examples. In this blog article, you will discover which are the classic good luck charms for gamblers, as well as their modern interpretations. Now bear in mind that although there are some “personal rituals” that players do in order to potentially increase their luck on the gambling floor, this article will focus specifically on items and symbols.
It is universally accepted that a horseshoe symbol is associated with good luck and fortune – which is why it is one of the most commonly featured symbols in a variety of land-based and online casino games. Although the real luck came from finding a real horseshoe and carrying it with you, the size and weight of the thing might be a bit too cumbersome for modern standards. Note that in some parts of the world, a horseshoe will be considered to be a real good luck charm if it’s found randomly!
It is for this reason why today, people usually carry their own horseshoe in the form of a symbol on a trinket, a piece of jewellery, or even tattoo it on themselves, so their luck will always be with them. An interesting thing is that depending on where the horseshoe is, it will serve a specific function. For example, if it’s hanged on a door, It is supposed to prevent evil from coming in; however, if carried by a person, it’s meant to enhance their luck.
In the 1800s, as the world was booming with change, superstition was also something that didn’t fall behind – which is where the legend of the rabbit’s foot experienced its second wind in popularity. An interesting thing about this particular good luck charm is that it’s also used for protection against evil as well as for the attraction of good luck and fortune. Superstitions associated with good luck charms are usually associated with a specific culture; however, the rabbit’s foot phenomenon is unprecedented and downright creepy, as it has the same meaning as a lucky symbol in the Americas, Europe, and Asia!
Although today there are synthetic versions of a rabbit’s foot and are meant to represent the real thing in a novelty way, the most dedicated casino players carry an actual rabbit’s foot. Whether it is macabre or not is left to interpretation; however, the process of properly creating a rabbit’s foot as a talisman is a little bit creepier than you think. The most common practice is to slaughter a rabbit, on top of the grave of a murderer or a criminal, under the light of a new moon. Apparently, this is done to imbue the rabbit’s foot with its fortune-giving powers!
Like the horseshoe, the four-leaf clover is often defined as one of the luckiest of charms that exist, which is why just like the horseshoe, a clover symbol is often incorporated into many casino games. Although in Ireland, the three-leaf clover is also considered to bring good luck, its four-leaf counterpart is more popular due to the fact that it’s incredibly rare. Today, players worldwide either carry a real dried out clover in a packet for good luck or incorporate it as a symbol in either their clothing, jewellery or accessories.
The popularity of the number 7 as both a protective symbol and a bringer of fortune, literally defined as “perfection itself”, has been known for thousands of years. The reason for this is because the number was made famous by the Christian religion (God created everything in seven days). Since then, this particular number has been used by many people and casinos in the industry. While the “lucky properties” of the 7 have been recognised by many casino players, there is only one instance where people don’t want to see it, hear it or mention it – at the Craps table!
While the 7 is present more in European, British, and American cultures, other continents also have their own numbers. For example, Japanese casino players often carry an amulet with the number 8 on it. The shape of the number eight does resemble the symbol for infinity, which is why it is also considered to be very lucky.
Regardless of their culture or country of origin, there are many casino players that would either carry a lucky chip or dice with them when playing. Usually, these charms are considered to be personally “lucky”, as they might have been obtained during a winning streak that was exceptionally beneficial for the player. Out of all mentioned lucky charms up to this point, these types of items are considered to have the shortest “half-life” of all. Long story short, if they don’t help the player achieve a lucky streak, they are usually disposed of – some hardcore gamblers believe that a losing streak can “corrupt” their charm with misfortune.
Clothes of any kind – hats, pants, jeans, shirts, t-shirts, dresses and everything else can become a good luck charm for every gambler out there, and they do. Although the concept of wearing your lucky stuff isn’t foreign, casinos often struggle with players who do – all because of one simple reason. Players with lucky clothing don’t wash their clothes! This famous superstition comes from the fact that if the player cleans their clothing, their luck will be “washed away”; which in turn, will render the lucky garment to become ordinary, hence – unlucky. Although the dress code in most casinos tolerates the use of lucky clothing, sometimes the odour from them can be a bit challenging to other casino visitors.
Although some of the items and symbols mentioned above have found widespread use among gamblers worldwide, there are still some items that are culture-defined. They can range from figurines and jewellery to plants and insects. We have listed some of the most common fortune symbols along with the geographical area they are most associated with below:
Some precious stones, falling stars, Carp scales, wishing wells, bamboo, stray eyelash, circle – there is an unlimited number of things that are considered to be bringers of good luck and protectors against misfortune. While there is no scientific way to actually test out the “luck powers” that items might possess, some of them seem to do the trick for their owners. The next time you find a penny on the ground, pick it up – it might just be the lucky charm that can change your life in a casino!
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