If you know what (this is a family site) is the oldest profession known to man... then gambling must be one of man's oldest pastimes. Considering the early beginnings of games of chance and our desire to know or have influence over the outcome, gambling and superstitions go together like seven and eleven (on the come out roll).
Without much thought you can probably think of a few superstitions that you subscribe to or know someone who believes... don’t touch the dice before you go... don’t bathe if you’re winning, red underwear is lucky and never gamble with your legs crossed.
Whenever I query people about gambling superstitions my list grows... don’t carry a fifty dollar bill, never touch a $2 bill, blow on the dice before you roll, turn on all the lights at home before you go, bring ti leaf and Hawaiian salt and don’t forget the lucky frog.
We’re so superstitious we have proclaimed some numbers good and others bad. Ever wonder why 7 is considered lucky? Is it because there are Seven days in a week, or the Seven Wonders of the World, maybe it’s because of the Seven Ancient Planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus or the seven seas. Perhaps it’s because it represents the sum of the square (four sides) plus the triangle (three sides) equals our favorite number. We’ll never know why 7 is lucky but three in a row on our favorite slot is always a winner.
Why is 13 unlucky? This number is so unlucky we have a name for it: triskaidekaphobia. It’s so bad we give it a difficult to remember, unpronounceable word. It’s so unlucky I’ll bet you a hundred dollars you can’t find a room on the 13th floor anywhere in Vegas.
And if you’re Chinese, we’ve got an extended set of superstitious rules to consider like avoiding hotel rooms with the numbers 4, 58 and 84 in them. Ever hear about the hi-roller from China who filled her bathtub with water before going down to the casino? When she returned to her room after losing $2 million dollars, she was horrified to discover that a maid had emptied the tub (if you’re wondering the casino refunded her entire loss).
Why are dogs near a gaming table bad luck? If this is true why do we have all those pictures of dogs playing poker?
And why is a rabbit’s foot lucky? It wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit.
Never pick up your cards with your left hand... don’t count your money while you’re gambling, don’t gamble if you see a nun before entering a casino, don’t enter a casino through the main entrance, wear a piece of dirth clothes for luck, go to the bathroom if you’re losing, walk around your chair to change your luck, and never let someone put their foot on the rung of your chair!
The analytical side of my mind reasoned that it’s impossible not to do something bad luck after all who can remember all the things not to do. Just as I was about to give in to this logic I remembered that Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships wearing his "lucky" college gym shorts under his uniform and that Tiger Woods believes that red is his lucky color.
Hey if it’s good enough for Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods... who am I to disagree.
Next month here on Oceanic’s Around Hawaii, Title 31 what to expect the next time you’re in the casino.
Good Luck! Get the latest Vegas news and more Kimo’s Vegas in both editions of MidWeek, Friday Morning at 7:35 with Billy V on Hawaiian105 KINE and online at www.KimosVegas.com.
