Gambling isn’t just winning and losing. It’s an experience. And cultures across the world have developed rituals to enhance this experience, from the Chinese who rub a laughing Buddha’s belly to the simple custom of accepting a cup of tea in an English casino before sitting down to play.
Taking part in time-honoured traditions helps players feel part of a community and a sense of camaraderie with fellow gamblers. And some folks just do it for fun. The rituals are less about trying to improve your odds and more about feeling a part of something a bit bigger than your current bet.
We’ve rounded up some interesting gambling rituals from all over the globe. And in keeping with our cultural theme, we’ve capped the list at eight, a number that many Chinese people associate with good fortune since it sounds similar to another word that means wealth and prosperity.
Squeezing and creasing cards
Chinese baccarat players in Macau casinos have been known to tightly squeeze the cards in their hand and crease corners to obscure their values. This builds suspense—both for themselves as well as anyone watching—as they slowly move their fingers and unfold the corners to reveal suits and numbers.
Blowing on cards
Another ritual often observed by Chinese and Indian gamblers involves blowing on cards before they’re revealed. Unlike blowing on dice before throwing them, where the idea is to get a better roll, the hope here is that the “bad” numbers will be blown away, leaving only the good. It can be done with such focus that spectators will often cheer players on.
Ringing a bell
In Japan, where pachinko arcades filled with slot machines are a popular spot for gambling, bells are often installed beside terminals. If a player hits a jackpot, they’ll ring the bell not just to celebrate their win, but to elevate the sense of excitement for everyone in the room.
Rubbing Dala horses
Dala horses—those colourful wooden sculptures that are among Sweden’s most recognizable national symbols—are also known for being tokens of luck. Some Scandinavians carry small ones in their purses or pockets while playing casino games, rubbing them before throwing dice or hitting spin on a slot machine.
Knocking on wood
No one’s completely certain where this one began, but some believe it was among the pagan Celts, who knocked on tree trunks to receive blessings from forest spirits. Nowadays we see gamblers from all over the world knocking on the wooden accents of casino tables and chairs hoping to tap into a little of that old world luck.
Getting dressed for the casino
Some casino rituals begin before players even leave their rooms. While dressing for a night out, some people will choose red (believed to be a lucky colour in many Asian countries) clothing and accessories. It might be splashy and vibrant, like a candy apple red dress, or more subtle, such as a ruby ring. It could even be hidden from plain sight.
Avoiding the front entrance
Among the most famous of North American gambling rituals is simply avoiding a casino’s front door. This one seems to stem from a casino entrance in Las Vegas that was framed by a giant lion’s head. Going through it was seen as entering the belly of the beast, an image some gamblers didn’t much like. And so the gamblers’ custom of using side entrances was born.
Spiritual traditions
Some gambling rituals have a spiritual aspect. Chinese gamblers often light incense and meditate or pray in the fragrant smoke, while indigenous North Americans are known to sometimes use smudging herbs like sage. Southeast Asian gamblers are known to perform cleansing rituals involving the sprinkling of holy water, and Indians sometimes offer sweets to various gods before heading out for a bit of gaming.
Rituals are even more fun if you know the game
Using rituals is a great way to enhance your gambling experience and feel connected to a larger community. Just keep in mind that a ritual in one culture may not fit the gambling etiquette of another.
Take baccarat. While the Chinese custom of creasing cards—which makes them unplayable, meaning they need to be destroyed and replaced—may be tolerated in some Macau casinos, establishments in the west typically don’t allow it (though they often accommodate cultural traditions in other ways, such as ensuring no seats at a baccarat table include the number 4, which is seen as unlucky to many Asian people).
And keep in mind that while gambling rituals can be fun, the mathematical odds of each game always remain the same. Your best chance of winning is simply to understand the rules and learn how to play. You can learn the rules, odds, and etiquette of every OLG game at PlaySmart.
Once you know how to play, feel free to get decked out in your best red duds, burn a little incense, and blow on those cards!
