We are all familiar with terms such as “knock on wood” and “lady luck”. While some would call these phrases nothing more than superstitions, the fact of the matter is that many still firmly believe in the role of fortune when playing online casino games such as those offered by Jackpot City. From a scientific point of view, there is certainly no evidence to suggest that such habits will impact the outcome of a game of slots or the chances of hitting a progressive jackpot. Still, even individuals who claim to be highly pragmatic and realistic will often claim that some type of lucky charm has influenced their lives in the past. Why is this the case and might these beliefs provide us with any perceived benefits?
Stemming from Ancient Roots
The notion of a “lucky charm is certainly nothing new. The Egyptians believed that cats and scarab beetles were associated with divinity. The Irish have always thought that clovers equated to luck. Many European residents still believe that it is lucky to come across a horseshoe while the Chinese revere jade and feel that possessing such a trinket can lead to good fortune.
In truth, the reasons behind such beliefs have often been lost within the annals of antiquity. The main takeaway point is that the concept of “luck” is important for the human psyche and that such notions played a very important role in the ancient world. Let’s take a closer look.
Feeling in Control of a Savage Environment
We often forget that survival was a massive challenge only a few hundred years ago. When we then consider that humans have existed for tens of thousands of years, it becomes clear that this was no easy task. Disease, starvation, natural disasters, and wild animals all threatened their very existence. In a very real way, humans were hardly in control of the world around them. Thus, believing in “luck” somehow evolved during these times.
Superstitions, charms and amulets allowed individuals to feel that they could influence future outcomes for the better. Some historians even believe that these practices predated mainstream religions. Therefore, attributing a positive outcome with a specific charm or set of circumstances gave people hope.
Modern Belief Systems
Of course, we now use phrases such as “knock on wood” “good luck” as nothing more than colloquial expressions; rarely giving them a second thought. It is nonetheless a fact that even the most rational individual will often still hold on to some type of superstitious belief (such as rubbing a rabbit’s foot before spinning a roulette wheel or avoiding crossing paths with a black cat). This does not necessarily signify that we are illogical in any sense, but rather that human society has not shaken off the vestiges of more ancient belief systems.
Statistically speaking, luck and chance are essentially the same thing. However, this does not stop millions of individuals from engaging in practices and harbouring beliefs that can very well be traced back for millennia.
