Auspicion and Superstition. The hunt for luck in India
Superstition
/ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃ(ə)n/
“a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief.”
How simple superstition has shaped the Bharat gambling culture
It’s no secret that Indian culture is heavily influenced by religious traditions. After all, it’s one of the things that makes India such a fascinating country filled with festivals, religious temples, history, and religious practitioners.
The ways in which tradition is entwined with everyday habits also affect the ways that Indians gamble, which, in turn, blends with some of the most well-known superstitions in regards to casino gambling known to man.
Auspicious beliefs and gambling in India
One of the most prominent auspicious traditions in desi gambling is to invoke Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Some use Lakshmi mantras for this very purpose, repeating them 11, 21, 51, or 108 times, while others refrain from sweeping after sunset as sweeping at that time of day is said to result in her not paying them a visit.
Other beliefs include using the number 786 (Trimurti) when placing bets, or keeping specific plants (Money Tree, Baby Jade, Lucky Bamboo) at home to bring good vibes and increase financial luck.
Well-known superstition in gambling
Superstitions go far beyond the borders of India. As a matter of fact, online casinos and land-based ones are filled with superstitious players, adhering to their beliefs for a chance at better luck at the games.
Baccarat players might be the most superstitious of the bunch, with reading Baccarat roads being considered one of the most complex ways to strategize in an otherwise quite simple game.
Numbers also play a big part in luck and abundance-based superstition. Lucky numbers such as 7, 14, and 21 are popular betting options in roulette and online lottery, as is 13 in Asian countries where it symbolizes luck, and not misfortune, as it does in Western culture.
Blowing on the dice when playing Craps or Sic Bo is also supposed to bring luck.
”Lucky” gambling strategies
Adjusting one’s gameplay to follow a specific strategy is probably the most common way of attempting to get luck on one’s side.
Some games allow for several different strategies to be used, while others are shaped so that there might be one strategy that’s more favorable than others.
Do strategies actually increase one’s luck? It’s very hard to tell!
But we think that if you are using a strategy that is fun and entertaining for you and that you are using it responsibly, it will increase your overall gambling experience.
When superstition turns illegal
Although there are plenty of ways one can attempt to increase luck and abundance in life, some states have created specific laws to prevent superstitious practices.
The Karnataka Anti Superstition Bill of 2013 and Maharashtra’s Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, 2013 are two examples of such laws.
These laws aim to combat dangerous and harmful practices set to physically or mentally hurt oneself or others in order to prosper.
This is especially important to keep in mind when gambling, as placing bets in real money games should be seen as entertainment; not a solution to problems.
