strange rituals

[Marksman]

I'm sure others besides myself have seen ( or done ) some strange antics supposedly to make a machine "lucky". I've observed players waving their hands across the glass screen...., hitting the "bet one" button as many times they think will give a good return on that hand, spin, or whatever..... holding a lucky charm in their hands.....looking away from the screen after they hit the bet or deal button until the play is over......etc.But a few days ago, I witnessed a new one. At first I thought the man was having trouble with the player's card reader, but then I realized after each turn, he would take his player's card out of the machine, rub it briskly on his sleeve or pants leg, and then reinsert it and play a turn.This made me wonder if he knew some casinos start all over with the point countdown when you remove your card.

[cddenver]

The strangest one I've seen is a woman who plays video slots and covers the screen completely with coin cups.  

[EDC1977]

Perhaps one of the most bizarre and almost cultlike rituals I've ever witnessed was in Denver when some dude took a tinfoil hat and started doing a tribal dance around the hat. then, placed the hat on the machine and proceeded to blow smoke rings around it as he played. I don't know if it worked but it sure was wacky!

[marie meijer]

That's funny, Ed, I think I heard about that guy before! Sounds familiar!It was distracting when the gal playing next to me rubbed the entire screen EVERYTIME with her hands before placing her bet. Okay, I am guilty of that when I hit big and say TYG!One older gal, who may well have a hearing problem, HUMS LOUDLY, CONSTANTLY while playing and it's no tune I have ever heard! She's a regular where I play. Maybe she does that for luck. Maybe she cannot hear herself. Maybe she hopes to have an empty seat on either side of her. Maybe I will try that!Maybe those five or six people who meet in a casino and block the main aisle with their lengthy conversation are doing that for luck. It's only a matter of time before some irate loser deliberately rams into them, in a hurry, running late to meet hubby.

[cddenver]

then, placed the hat on the machine and proceeded to blow smoke rings around it as he played. I don't know if it worked but it sure was wacky!


 
Cat, I've trapped you in a web of lies - the casinos here have been nonsmoking for a while.   There goes your credibility...
 
I only do one thing that might be considered a ritual.  Before I start playing I make sure all of the bills in my wallet are sorted by denomination and - most important! - that all are right side up with the pics facing the front of the wallet.  It's super, super, bad mojo to have any upside down or backwards bills in there.  Really.
 
I have a pet peeve similar to what Marie mentioned.   One person in an aisle with room for 3-4 that I just can't get around without shoving them aside.  I think of them as "Slow Walkers" or "Wanderers".  You'd think these people would be the older folks with walkers, but it usually isn't.  Those older folks know the ropes, like I do.  Aisles are for missions (getting to fave machine, cashier, player's club, restroom, buffet, exit), not gawking. 

[marie meijer]

cd, My obsession-compulsion relationship with money is worse than yours. First, I would rather save and count money than spend or lose it. That said, at a church sale there was a great looking computer chair. It was up to us to donate what we felt it was worth to us. Nothing but the best for Marie. I had forgotten about a Bengi tucked away for a motel bill that weekend. It was chaotic, lighting was bad and I intended to whip out a Jackson to pay for that chair. That weekend at the motel, I could not find that Bengi anywhere! I remembered the chair cashier stating so sincerely "THAT was a very generous donation! THANK YOU so much!" I thought she was being sarcastic or over-emoting. So I inadvertently paid more for that chair than new ones were selling for at Office Max and Staples! That inspired me to keep better track of my money.2. On a flight to AC, courtesy Harrah's, whomever wanted to could put their seat number on a $5 bill. My seat number was drawn. For the rest of that flight I was trying to smooth out and organize almost $300. in marked five dollar bills, that were heading every which way. All the time my husband kept asking for half, nothing we had agreed on in advance. True, it was easier and more economical for me to borrow $5 from his wallet than for me to undo the seat belt and fish it out of my purse on the floor.

[vidopoker]

Marie,
you have great stories. They are always fun to read!
 
I notice at the Indian casinos here the older, hispanic ladies often rub the screen. one time vertically, one time horizontally.
 
I remember once at the Barbary Coast in LV years ago a woman who was losing at a VP machine was screaming and yelling and hitting the machine to get it to make her win. It didn't work.
 
I wonder if as a strange ritual, any players tape all their atm and cash advance receipts thinking the machine will sense them, feel bad for them and let them win?

[marie meijer]

TY vidopoker, backatcha! You always have interesting posts, go the distance w research and have figuratively bailed me out in the past. In fact, VP.com is fortunate to have so many contributors to forum on many levels! Humor, expertise, travel experiences, encouragement, casino pros and cons and more. YOU know who you are! kudos to new player Marksman for cleverly coming up with yet one more topic of interest that had not been previously addressed!

[vidopoker]

TY vidopoker, backatcha! You always have interesting posts, go the distance w research and have figuratively bailed me out in the past. In fact, VP.com is fortunate to have so many contributors to forum on many levels! Humor, expertise, travel experiences, encouragement, casino pros and cons and more. YOU know who you are! kudos to new player Marksman for cleverly coming up with yet one more topic of interest that had not been previously addressed!
Thanks Marie. Like the Gas Company, I am "glad to be of service!" And agreed to Marksman! It was a great idea for a new topic! With all of the regulars and not-so-regulars on the forum, it's too bad more people have not written with more of the rituals they have seen. Surely there are some doozies that need to be told!

[shadowman]

  
I only do one thing that might be considered a ritual.  Before I start playing I make sure all of the bills in my wallet are sorted by denomination and - most important! - that all are right side up with the pics facing the front of the wallet.  It's super, super, bad mojo to have any upside down or backwards bills in there.  Really.
 
 
Yes, this is very important. After one of worst sessions ever I opened my wallet to find an upside down $5 bill. Naturally, I was very angry at my carelessness.