23/09/2010, Players

Chinese players are the most superstitious gamblers worldwide. The Chinese race is well-known for its large number of superstitions and passion for numbers. They have always been passionate about games. Asians are superstitious, but the games of chance are part of their traditions.

Let's take a few examples. The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas had to rebuild its entry because it was initially decorated like a lion's mouth and it scared all Asian gamblers. Asians think the mouth of a lion brings very bad luck.

Baccarat is by far the most played casino game in China, where gamblers use to blow on their cards for getting rid of any bad numbers.

Other common Chinese gambling superstitions include: to wear red underwear, to switch on all the lights at home before heading to the casino – I personally do it for security reasons :) -, etc.
In 2008, 86 percent of the Chinese gaming revenues in Macau, totaling 11.8 billion, came from Baccarat games.

Other Chinese superstitions:
Do not count money during a gambling session;
Do not touch someone's shoulder during his gambling session;
Avoid seeing monks or nuns before going to a casino;
Avoid casinos' main entrances for there are coursed;
Do not make sex before going at the casino;
Female players are more likely to win during their period;
Wear the same red underwear every time you go at the casino;
Do not check into a hotel room whose door number contains the unlucky figure 4.

Figures like 3, 6, 7 or 9 are known as lucky figures, especially when there are put together with figure 8. The seven days of the week, seven deadly signs, seven wonders of the world, seven colors of the rainbow, seven continents, the 7th heaven and so on. The seven figure is considered to be linked to happy events, so it remains a figure on which gamblers can place their bets without any hesitation.

So no wonder that Microgaming has released a new slot machine which uses the Chinese New Year as a theme for the game. During the Chinese New Year, players perform different rituals that are thought to increase their chances in the game.

Even the online games have attracted lots of Chinese players lately. Macau is the only place in China where gambling is allowed. In 2001, Macau region counted only 6 casinos, compared to 25 this year, and the resorts are continually growing, offering more table games and slot machines to millions of visitors who enjoy these institutions.
Macau region also welcomes 22 million tourists each year, 11 million of which are Chinese and 7 million are Hong Kong residents.

Whether you chose to follow the Chinese superstitious or not, that is totally up to you. But if you do not believe in these theories, then you should not judge the Chinese players, because you do not have this right.