Superstitions, talismans, charms, and rituals. These are all things historically associated with the spooky season. But did you know that they’re also directly tied to gambling?

Ever since the first roll of the dice, bettors around the world have adhered to certain superstitious rules. They’ve put their faith in lucky charms, avoided certain slots, and worn specific colors in an attempt to change their gambling fate.

From lucky charms and unlucky numbers to rabbit’s feet and fortuitous fruit, here are some of the spookiest superstitions and gambling rituals. 

Red for go ahead, black for stay back

Red and black are two superstitious colors that are inextricably linked to gambling. Whereas red is viewed as a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Chinese cultures, black is often linked to poor fortune. When playing roulette, the most superstitious of bettors will bet exclusively on the former.

black cats are traditionally a symbol of bad luck and witchcraft

Red and black are also two colors that are commonly associated with Halloween. Superstitious players are particularly wary of black during the spooky season since black cats are traditionally a symbol of bad luck and witchcraft. 

That said, cats themselves aren’t considered unlucky. In fact, the maneki-neko – the famous Japanese beckoning cat – is a fortuitous symbol, and games like Maneki 88 Fortunes and AbraCatDabra experience a surge in popularity during Halloween. 

But back to black. If you’re off to a costume party and plan on gambling in your get-up, you may want to pick an outfit that’s mostly red or at least minimize the amount of black. Bad news for those who were considering a bat or a spider (though we’ve saved you from an uninventive costume, so there’s a silver lining after all). 

Lucky underwear

Many gamblers have lucky charms that they believe will bring them good fortune on the casino floor. These can be universal symbols of luck like four-leaf clovers and horseshoes or ancient rituals like rubbing a rabbit’s foot (the latter dates back to the Celts in 600 BC). Alternatively, it could be something more personal – like lucky underwear. 

Yep, you read that right. Many players put their faith in a pair of lucky boxers. Perhaps they won a sizable jackpot while wearing them and decided to wear that specific pair every time they gamble to keep the lucky streak going. Whether you believe in the superstition or not, it’s widespread enough to have inspired games like Lucky Pants Bingo. Maybe there’s some truth to it after all?

make sure to keep your trousers on when grabbing snacks from the kitchen

The key to keeping your lucky underwear lucky (or so the theory goes) is to never let anyone see them. So, if you’re gambling online, make sure to keep your trousers on when grabbing snacks from the kitchen. Alternatively, if you’re betting in person, always double-check you’re not flying low before joining a table.

Orange is NOT the new black

Oranges are another superstition of Chinese origin. Thought to bring luck and happiness, the Mandarin word for “orange” sounds like the word for “wealth.” Somewhere along the way, the age-old tradition of exchanging oranges during Chinese New Year was borrowed by superstitious gamblers as a way to attract a lucky hand. 

Ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Johnny Chan even goes as far as to bring an orange to every poker game. (He actually started doing it to mask the smell of cigarette smoke after he quit, and the tradition just stuck. But why let the truth get in the way of a good story?). Fortunately, casinos are positively overflowing with fruit-themed slots like 3 Fruits Win and Fruits n Sevens. 

What’s more, the color orange is pretty much impossible to avoid during Halloween. Sure, the superstition traditionally applies to the fruit and not the color, but who can say it won’t work for both? Test out the theory by giving an orange-themed slot like Mocha Orange a try, and hope that these lucky oranges prove fruitful during your gameplay!

Leave the books on the shelf

When it comes to gambling, books are a big no-no. Even the mention of books is said to bring bad luck to all those unfortunate enough to be standing nearby. This stems from – you guessed it – an ancient Chinese superstition since the Mandarin word for “book” (shīqù) sounds awfully similar to the word for “lose” (shū). 

players should steer clear of book-related games like the Book of Dead

To avoid any literary losses, players should steer clear of book-related games like the Book of Dead, the Book of Atem, and the Book of Christmas (though the latter is pretty self-explanatory, given that it’s Halloween). The verdict is still out on the contradictory Book of Fruits…

Unlucky 13

The number 13 is mythologically, theologically, and mathematically unlucky. Loki was the 13th attendee at the dinner of the gods, where he tricked one god into killing another; Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper; and because 12 is widely considered the perfect number – think calendars, the 24-hour clock – 13 is therefore imperfect and unusual. 

While historians cite these examples as the root of the superstition, there is a far more realistic reason we all still believe the number 13 (and, moreover, the specific date, Friday the 13th) is unlucky. And that’s good ol’ Jason Voorhees. 

many roulette players refuse to bet on the number 13

Voorhees was the terrifying antagonist of the “Friday the 13th” franchise, which solidified the cultural association of the number 13 with horror and misfortune. Today’s society is so scared of the number 13 that it’s often skipped in restaurants, planes, and hotels. The same applies in casinos; many roulette players refuse to bet on the number 13, and some retail casinos (like the Bellagio in Las Vegas) will miss the number 13 when labeling their hotel floors. 

If you prefer to ignore the superstitious warning bells and throw caution to the wind, give Book of Horror – Friday the 13th a spin. Combining books, the color black, and the number 13, this triple threat of bad luck is not for the faint of heart. We can’t promise you won’t hit a monstrous losing streak, but at least you’ll find out for sure whether there’s truth to these spooky superstitions. 

FAQs

What are some lucky charms for gambling?

There are several popular lucky charms that players associate with gambling, including horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, and rabbit’s feet. Some bettors use more personal items like photographs or lucky clothes (particularly underwear). 

Why is 13 considered unlucky?

The unlucky 13 has several roots, including in Christianity and Norse Mythology. Some consider it unlucky because it comes after the “perfect number” 12, while others fear its connections to Friday the 13th, the “unluckiest day.”

What are the best Halloween slots?

There are hundreds of Halloween-themed slots to choose from. Some of the most popular spooky games include Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass Halloween, Microgaming’s Immortal Romance, NetEnt’s Blood Suckers, and 1x2gaming’s Halloween Horrors.