Picking Roulette Numbers
The superstition, psychology and humor behind peoples number choicesThe Number 6
To quot Iron Maiden, in their classic 1982 Album:
Woe to You Oh Earth and Sea
for the Devil sends the beast with wrath
because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding
reckon the number of the beast
for it is a human number
its number is six hundred and sixty six.
That’s a pretty rocking start for the number 6 I think you’ll agree.
Eddie, the quintessential masscot of one Britian's greatest heavy metal bands.
The Number 7
Lucky number seven.
7 is a classic gambling number, commonly associated with slot machines such as Triple 7 Inferno. It’s also the age of all people one year older that 6 (ok, that factoid was a little contrived).
The lucky number 7
So why do people revere the number 7 so much? Is it based on religion, or superstition, or mythology? Or was it just forced upon us by the people who invented gambling? Let’s find out…
The Number 1
Somehow the number 1 feels a little lonely. Like a taunted outcast picked last for the soccer game. For one (parden the pun), it’s usually way out of reach (unless you are playing online (smart cookie that you are).
One is by definition… Lonely
Just the one ticket please...
But what other factoids can I bring to light to spur you into action?
The Number 13
Aaah, the big one. Lucky (or unlucky) number thirteen. As far as superstition goes (in the western hemisphere at least), 13 is one of the most talked about and respected (or feared) numbers of them all.
Don't go out in the woods today, Jason is still alive and well...
After that dramatic entrance, I promise to stop using parenthesis to counter argue my point (perhaps).
Misquoting Wikipedia slightly, “the number thirteen is the.. number after 12 and before 14″. A remarkable insight.
Getting to the point, 13 is unlucky, here’s a few ways that people try to avoid the number 13:
- High rise buildings don’t have a 13th floor (although John Malkevic might have the answer to that
- Friday the 13th makes some people nervous and walk faster down dark streets
