A Fun New Poll Reveals Insights into How Superstition is Carried Over to the Age of iGaming
Published November 27, 2021 by Lee R
Traditional superstitions clearly remain real in sportsbetting's age of information and technology.
So sports betting is all science these days?
Traditional Superstition Prevails
Well, despite the proliferation of data and betting combinations available to today's punters, research shows that traditional superstitions still prevail and have a greater effect on gambling behavior than any statistical data that has arisen since.
Family Rivalries
A new OnePoll survey conducted on behalf of Tipico Sportsbook revealed rivalries between family and friends drive betting activity, with 71% of Americans believing “the stakes of the game are even higher when watching with friends or family, and love to up-the-ante by betting on the game’s outcome or a player’s performance."
Personal Pessimism
Another traditional superstition that leads to more gambling is the Murphy's Law regarding home team outcomes, with a majority of fans, are so pessimistic about their home teams as 62% admitting to blaming themselves for their home team’s loss.
People as Bad Luck
The superstition of people being “bad luck” has carried over as well, and remains targeted towards people punters are familiar with, with 38% of gamblers admitting they feel someone in their own family is “bad luck” and 84% of positive respondents asking those family members to leave the room when the game is on.
Different Forms of Payment
Continuing the family member tip: beyond cash wagers, 59% of participants revealed that they are prone to making friendly bets with loved ones while watching games and insisting on debt payments in other forms (including but not limited to paying a tab at a bar; wearing a rival jersey or getting a humiliating haircut).
Game Day Rituals
Respondents remain cautious not to jinx their teams: specific game-day rituals to this end remain wearing a specific jersey (which many fans say they never washed all season) or always sitting in a specific spot on the sofa to view games.
Avoiding the Jinx
The most popular things to avoid from traditional betting superstitions include banned sayings such as saying “you can’t lose" or wishing “good luck;" using a $50 bill; betting on one’s favorite team, or not betting on one's favorite team.
Outlook
The more things change, the more they stay the same—even in betting. Keeping aware of traditional superstitions may make for a more convivial betting experience online.
