The Most Powerful Lucky Charms for Gambling
From the penny in your pocket to the horseshoe hanging above your door, the most popular lucky charms for gambling come with their own unique stories and sense of confidence, even though none influence the outcome of any game.
This guide explores the best lucky charms for gambling that players carry, wear, and involve in rituals.
We’ll touch on the beliefs behind them as well as their origins. You’ll also get a peek into the rituals that many players use when they visit the casino or play online.
Four-leaf clovers and lucky sevens might spring to mind first, but the collection of lucky charms in this guide stretches far beyond those familiar favorites.
What Counts as a Lucky Charm for Gambling?
A gambling lucky charm is an object you carry, wear, or keep nearby while gambling, in the hopes that it brings good luck. It might be a pendant, a coin you found, or a meaningful object tied to centuries of cultural lore.
You can find a lucky charm in three primary forms: an object you carry or wear, a ritual you perform before you play, or a symbol or symbols that appear within the game itself.
For instance, a penny in your pocket is a charm. Rubbing it before you spin is a ritual. A golden coin appearing on the slot reels is a game symbol.
You might be surprised to learn that the rabbit’s foot has a history in both European and African American cultures, while the Hamsa Hand represents protection and good fortune across North Africa and the Middle East.
Through trade, migration, and shared stories, these lucky charms have spread around the world.
Use the quick overview below to jump straight to the charms and stories that catch your eye.
Most Powerful Lucky Charms for Gambling
| Lucky charm | Traditionally linked to |
| 1. Four-Leaf Clover | Rare good fortune |
| 2. Lucky Number 7 | The classic lucky number |
| 3. Horseshoe | Protection and good luck |
| 4. Lucky Penny | Wealth and prosperity |
| 5. Cat’s Eye Gem | Protection and prosperity |
| 6. Rabbit’s Foot | Luck you can carry |
| 7. Maneki Neko | Welcoming fortune |
| 8. Nazar Amulet | Keeping envy at bay |
| 9. Hamsa Hand | Protection and blessings |
| 10. Laughing Buddha | Joy and abundance |
| 11. Red and Green | Colors of good fortune |
| 12. Feng Shui | Harmony and positive energy |
In the list of lucky charms below, you’ll likely recognize the familiar favorites up top, and perhaps discover unique, lesser-known lucky charms from around the world as you scroll down.
1. Four-Leaf Clover
The tradition of the lucky four-leaf clover started with Celtic priests, who carried clovers to spot evil spirits and protect themselves from harm. Over time, the symbolism merged with Christianity, assigning virtues to each leaf of the clover: faith, hope, love, and luck.
Players who follow the lucky four-leaf clover tradition may find one and keep it in their wallet, carry a clover keychain, or wear a four-leaf clover pendant.
You can find them sprinkling luck on the reels in the games Larry’s Lucky Tavern or Leprechaun Legends at SlotsLV Casino.
2. Lucky Number 7
Many cultures throughout time have deemed the number 7 lucky, as it’s been mentioned repeatedly throughout a variety of myths and religious texts.
The Christian Bible says the world was created in 6 days, and that God used the 7th day for rest. There are 7 heavens in Islam and Judaism. Hindu tradition recognizes 7 sacred cities, and more.
Players who believe in the lucky number 7 might play games that feature the lucky number, such as 777 Deluxe, where sevens are the center of attention.
3. Horseshoe
Believers in the horseshoe lucky charm say that it offers protection and good luck, which are traditions that stem from European folklore.
One English legend says that the Devil asked Saint Dunstan to shoe his hoof. Dunstan nailed a horseshoe on so painfully that the Devil begged him to remove it. Dunstan agreed on one condition: the Devil must never enter a home with a horseshoe above its door.
Nowadays, players wear horseshoes as pendants or hang them on walls or doors while they gamble.
Spin with a horseshoe in the reels in Lady’s Magic Charms.
4. Lucky Penny
One theory traces the lucky penny to ancient religious beliefs that copper and other metals were gifts from the gods that protected people against evil. Metal coins eventually added a monetary value to the protection, conveniently combining prosperity and good fortune.
Today, players tuck a randomly found lucky penny into their wallet or pocket or place one near their game screen to attract its historic good luck.
Pennies are represented as gold coins in many slot games at SlotsLV Casino, including 15 Coin Bank Bust and Coins of Alkemor.
5. Cat’s Eye Gem
Cat’s eye chrysoberyl takes its name from the narrow strip of light that cuts through its center, just like a cat’s pupil. The gemstone was first discovered in ancient Sri Lanka, where miners pulled it from the soil. It became a symbol of protection and prosperity. More north in ancient India, people called it Vaidurya and believed it could attract wealth and protect them from the evil eye.
Today, players who believe in its lucky powers wear it in a ring or pendant, hoping to bring those same blessings to the casino.
If you enjoy the mystical theme, you can explore similar symbols within the game Mystic Elements.
6. Rabbit’s Foot
In early 1800s European folklore, some people believed witches could disguise themselves as rabbits. They kept rabbits’ feet as talismans, hoping to harness their supernatural power to protect themselves. Later, enslaved African Americans revered the talisman as a symbol of cunning and cleverness.
Today, players carry a rabbit’s foot or an imitation version on keychains and rub them before a bet.
You can spin the reels with a rabbit and both its feet in Bunny Heist or Lunar Rabbit.
7. Maneki Neko
One Japanese legend says a cat beckoned a samurai into Gotokuji temple, sheltering him from a thunderstorm. He thanked the struggling temple with donations, making the cat a symbol of good fortune.
People later bought beckoning-cat figurines, right paw waving to attract the same prosperity.
Shopkeepers display them to welcome customers, while players keep the figurine in their play area for luck.
At SlotsLV Casino, you’ll find the cat in Fortunes of Maneki and 8 Lucky Charms. See the 8 Lucky Charms slot review to learn more.
8. Nazar Amulet
People across the ancient Mediterranean believed an envious stare could curse someone’s success. They wore eye-shaped charms to protect themselves from such stares. Blue glass versions appeared around 1500 BCE, which are now known as the nazar amulet. “Nazar” stems from Arabic, meaning a ‘gaze’ or ‘look’.
Today, people wear the blue-eye charm on bracelets and necklaces to ward off misfortune, including the misfortunes that may arise through casino games. In fact, many players consider the nazar the most powerful amulet for gambling.
The slot game Celestial Gems has similarly radiant gems to the nazar amulet.
9. Hamsa Hand
Historians aren’t entirely certain of the origins of the Hamsa, but we know that people in the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean used hand-shaped symbols for protection. Jewish and Muslim communities later gave it names connected to their faiths, such as the Hand of Miriam and the Hand of Fatima.
Both used it to ward off the evil eye. The Hamsa has extended to modern times, where people now wear Hamsa necklaces and bracelets for protection and blessings, both in life and casino sessions.
At SlotsLV Casino, try games with a similar theme to the Hamsa hand, like the Arabia-inspired slot Oasis Dreams Hot Drop Jackpots.
10. Laughing Buddha
Budai was a wandering monk in 10th-century China whom people remembered for his laughter, generosity, and cloth sack full of toys for kids in need. Over time, people came to associate his smiling figure with happiness and abundance. Today, players keep small statues nearby and rub his round belly in the hope of attracting prosperity.
You can discover the laughing Buddha as a wild symbol in the Fortune Turtle slot.
11. Red and Green
The color red has been a long-standing symbol of luck and fortune in Chinese culture. According to legend, a beast called 年兽 (nián shòu) terrorized villages until people discovered it feared red and loud noises. They hung red decorations and lit firecrackers to drive it away.
Green has long been considered a lucky color, thanks to Irish shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, and more recently in the U.S., money.
Today, players wear red or green to bring good fortune to the gambling table. Both colors are a vibrant feature within the Chinese-inspired slot Fa Fa Fa.
12. Feng Shui
Early Chinese farming communities used feng shui, meaning “wind-water,” to choose safe places for their families to live and flourish. Later, believers applied its principles to palaces, public buildings, and entire cities, aiming to achieve harmony and prosperity through their surroundings.
Today, some online players make their play space part of the ritual by practicing feng shui, clearing their desk, and arranging their seat so they can see the door.
Good Luck Rituals Players Swear By
A charm is something you carry, while a ritual is something you do. For the people who use them, these rituals are how to get good luck at the casino before or while you play.
Blowing on Dice
Nobody can pinpoint who started this ritual, but the musical and 1955 movie Guys and Dolls helped popularize it. Players blow on the dice or pass it to someone else to blow, instilling them with good luck.
Crossing Fingers
One explanation that was popularized in 16th-century England says Christians formed a miniature cross with their fingers to protect against evil. Over time, the gesture became a general wish for good luck.
Wearing Red
In China, families who celebrate the Lunar New Year traditionally use red clothing or decorations to invite prosperity and good fortune. Some players extend the tradition into their casino wardrobe with a red shirt, socks, or bracelet.
Knocking on Wood
In the British children’s game Tiggy Touchwood, players escaped capture by touching wood.
Looking back even further, ancient pagan cultures, such as the Celts, believed that knocking on tree trunks would awaken spirits within for protection. Today, people knock on wood to avoid a jinx after mentioning good fortune.
What to Do Before You Play to Attract Good Fortune
What can you do before going to a casino to attract good fortune? While no charm or ritual will help you win, you can draw from these cultural traditions to create your own pre-session routine.
- Choose your charm. Slip a lucky penny into your pocket, wear a protective pendant, or place a Maneki Neko by your screen.
- Wear your lucky color. Choose red for its traditional Chinese association with prosperity or green to attract cash.
- Arrange your playing space. Follow the principles of feng shui and place your playing area so it faces the room with a solid wall behind it and you can see the door.
- Set your budget before the first spin. Decide how much you can comfortably spend on entertainment and stop when you reach that limit.
Do Lucky Charms Actually Work?
A casino lucky charm or ritual has no effect on the outcome of a spin or a hand.
Every online slot spin depends on a random number generator, which is software that produces the numbers the game uses to determine its result. It doesn’t connect or respond to objects beside your screen, rituals before you press spin, or the position of your chair.
Our guide to how random number generators work explains the process in more detail.
But that doesn’t mean your lucky charm has no place at the casino. In a study published in Psychological Science, participants’ golf performance improved after researchers told them they were playing with a lucky golf ball. This improvement was likely linked to an increase in confidence as they played.
Along the same lines, you can use a sentimental charm to add a comforting touch to your gambling session while staying grounded in the fact that the game’s RNG and house edge are active.
The house edge is the casino’s expected advantage over a long period of play. One of the most prevalent slot machine myths is believing that a charm or ritual can reduce the house edge or improve your chances of the game spitting out a positive result.
As long as you understand that the underlying math of a slot doesn’t change, you can enjoy the sentimental value of your lucky penny and the ritual that comes with it.
Put Your Lucky Charm to the Test
From horseshoes in Lady’s Magic Charms to beckoning cats in 8 Lucky Charms and four-leaf clovers in Leprechaun Legends, familiar lucky symbols fill the reels at SlotsLV Casino.
Explore the best slots to play online for real money with a special lucky charm by your side and a dash of confidence to your session.
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More About Lucky Charms for Gambling
What is the most powerful lucky charm for gambling?
Four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, and lucky number 7 are the most recognizable gambling charms. These lucky charms are mostly based on cultural traditions, but none changes the outcome of a game.
Do lucky charms really work?
Lucky charms don’t influence the outcome of your slot spins, the cards in blackjack, or where the ball lands in roulette. What they can do is help you feel more confident or comfortable, but that’s a feeling that belongs to you. It has no effect on the result of the game.
What are the 7 lucky charms?
The seven most common lucky charms are the four-leaf clover, horseshoe, lucky penny, rabbit’s foot, lucky number 7, Maneki Neko, and nazar amulet.
What should you do before going to a casino to attract fortune?
Players hoping to attract fortune choose a lucky charm, wear a lucky color, and/or arrange their playing space according to the principles of feng shui if they’re playing at home. If you follow any of these practices, set a budget so you have a clear spending limit on top of your personal traditions.
What is the luckiest color to wear when gambling?
Red is a popular choice because it’s associated with prosperity and good fortune in Chinese tradition, although no color actually alters your chances of winning.
Which lucky charms appear as slot symbols?
You’ll commonly find four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, lucky sevens, and beckoning cats as slot symbols. At SlotsLV Casino, you’ll find these symbols in Lady’s Magic Charms and 8 Lucky Charms.
Is it unlucky to count your money at the table?
Counting money at the table doesn’t affect your luck. It’s a superstition that says you’re tempting fate by celebrating your winnings before the play ends. Kenny Rogers’ song “The Gambler” helped popularize that advice.
