Lady Luck

[ProfWag]

Skeptics and Non-Skeptics, I'd like to hear some thoughts.
I'm on my way to a casino in a couple weeks for a "bachelor weekend" of gambling. Is there anything I can do to improve my luck? Is there anything to luck at all? Does being superstitious such as having my lucky underwear on improve my luck? I'm not really looking for gambling advice itself (I've already looked into odds and how to play, etc.), instead I'm looking more towards the "paranormal" side of gambling, if you will...
Also, and I mean this sincerely, I'm not looking to poke fun at believing in luck at all, I'm just wanting to learn and hear what you have to think. I'm not an experienced gambler at all and have probably set foot in a casino a half-dozen times in my life.
Wag

[Kevin Kane]

I wrote a piece about this once .. I may be able to find it, but essentially .. you make your own luck.

But

Casinos are built and operated to win and they don't take chances. They know they will win and they do. If you can't be as sure about winning as they are, don't gamble.

[ProfWag]

[Kevin Kane]

Yes, I believe you can improve your chances. If your first thought about luck was to wear lucky underwear .. go with it. If you feel unsafe or unsure about something, don't do it. But look instead for things/courses of action that will increase your feelings of saftey and certainty.

Casinos are fun and enjoyable places. You can be certain that it will be enjoyable and entertaining. Armed with the right attitude is a sure way to win ... a good time.

The same is true for the other stuff too.

[ProfWag]

Thanks Kevin and I think you're right on point. Luck, I believe, is in the eye of the beholder. For example, if I'm prepared to blow a little cash, even if I walk away having lost everything I budgeted for, I can still claim that I was lucky that I was able to go and enjoy myself for a period of time (thanks to my lucky blue pair of underpants...). Of course, gambling addictions can be dangerous, but if one has done their homework, made a plan/budget, and sticks to it, then it can be considered fun. The problem is for people who don't know when to stop or are not able to stop when they need to. Similar with going to psychics. If one does their homework, has a little extra cash, and able to reason with themselves after leaving the psychic, then it can also be considered fun. Again, the problem is for people who have witnessed people like Uri, Sylvia, and John Edward and believe in these abilities and make poor choices with money and emotions they should probably have spent elsewhere. (Hense my problem with these people and why I think it's not okay to just let them spread their word about psychic abilities.)

[Kevin Kane]

A psychic or astrologer is a personal advisor. They would have provided advice just like I did in my previous posts. You are free to take it or leave it, but I'm sure that it's good advice, and I would advise you to take it. Some people go to psychotherapists, with varying degrees of success and failure, and I've seen many people become "addicted" and shuffle from one therapist to another for years .. at considerably greater expense, I might add.

[NinjaPuppy]

I have often wondered if I am a 'lucky' person or not. I agree with Kevin that you make your own luck. In a gambling situation, 'beating the odds' seems to be more apppropriate than 'luck'. Even if they are the same thing.

I know a couple who won the lottery twice. Talk about beating the odds. I'd probably stop buying lottery tickets after my first multi-million dollar win. They continued to play and did it twice.

I don't consider myself to be 'superstitious' but then again my definition of superstition and religious practice might be seen as the same exact thing by some. We Wiccans have a ton of different spells or rituals that can be done for a multitude of purposes. I tend to use only those deemed 'protection' rituals as the others seem to come with some possibly nasty or unexpected side effects.

[ProfWag]

[ProfWag]

[Kevin Kane]

[ProfWag]

[Kevin Kane]

That's reasonable. But people who are good at something usually develop it into a profession or semi-profession, based on experience and reputation, and may advertise themselves as such. Based on these criteria .. every profession is open to skepticism.

The problem of choosing one profession to criticize or mistrust shows bias, shows an agenda to discredit or ruin. What gives skeptics the right to do such a thing? Shouldn't a professional skeptic also be qualified or certified? Should skeptics also earn the public trust? Or should we just let skeptics disparage or slander any business they choose to, for whatever reason?

[tiger]

How to win at a casino.
1. Get a job at the casino.
2. Do not place any bets at the casino. Watch other people loss their money.
3. Be very lucky. Do not depend on this.
4. Play black jack and know the secret of winning. Then you will win about 51 - 60% of the time. Sorry this method is complex and needs lots of practice.

As for buying tatts tickets. If the prize is $10m how many times better is that than $10?
a. 1 million.
b. More than 1 million.
c. Who cares? I am not buying it for the win. I am buying it for the fantasy of the win.

None of the answers are incorrect.

[ciscop]

[ProfWag]