Has anyone ever asked you what your lucky number is? If so, did you have an instant answer, or did you have to think about it a bit? A lot of people have a pre-chosen lucky number, a digit (or set of digits) that they just automatically feel good about. Of course, for lots of people, that’s 7, but plenty of other people would choose a different number, whether for a particular reason or simply because they like how it feels to them.
And really, that’s what lucky numbers and other lucky symbols are all about. Some of them are based in logic, myths, or other beliefs, while others may be unique to you and might have a completely different reason behind them.
But if you look at an online casino, a place famously populated by lucky symbols, you might find yourself wondering about how this works and why some numbers and icons are more “fortunate” than others.
What Are The Common Lucky Symbols?
A quick glance at mBit Casino will show you immediately that lucky symbols are everywhere in our world. It’s not just clovers and 7s, although those are certainly icons you will see a lot if you spend any amount of time looking at a casino page – Gambleman, for instance, has a clover emblazoned on his chest, while Bonus Mania Deluxe showcases multiple 7s on its title page.
Look a little further, though, and you’ll see tigers, one of China’s lucky symbols, dolphins, which are considered lucky by many cultures, 8s, another Chinese icon, and more. And if you just search the word “luck,” you will quickly see a whole litany of games and symbols, including things like:
- Lucky Animals Lock 2 Spin
- Lucky Stamps
- Lucky Jane in Egypt
- Lucky Snowlight
- Lucky Foxilian Hold and Win
- Alice Wonderluck
- Lucky & Brave Hold & Win
- Lucky Coin Hot
- Lucky Meow
- Lucky Sakura
- Lucky Apocalypse
- Lucky God
- Captain Lucky
And so much more! Each of these games is playing on the idea that you might enjoy good fortune by playing the slot, drawing on a variety of images and ideas to create a sense of prosperity. Indeed, it seems like almost any symbol can be paired with the concept of luck, even if it’s not what might immediately spring to mind for you.
So, why do so many concepts get associated with the idea of good fortune? Let’s find out!
What Makes Something “Lucky”?
It’s hard to pinpoint what makes a symbol lucky because the answer changes between cultures and is often more complex than it might appear on the surface, frequently drawing from a multitude of sources.
Some, like the 4-leaf clover, are to do with the rarity of the symbol in the real world, or to do with, for instance, an animal’s majesty or beauty. Others will draw their association with luck from a more subtle source. Let’s take, for instance, lucky numbers in Chinese culture. 8 is considered particularly lucky because it’s associated with wealth and success. That’s because the pronunciation of the word is similar to words like “facia,” which means to become rich.
That’s an interesting idea: that the rhyme of a word could affect its meaning, and it’s a strong example of how challenging it can be to trace the source of lucky associations.
Another option, the lucky cat, is a Japanese association, and this is an example of luck stemming from folklore instead. A traditional Japanese tale tells of a traveler arriving at a temple and finding a cat beckoning him along via a raised paw. The traveler follows the cat, only for lightning to strike where he was standing just moments before. The cat saved the traveler’s life, and in gratitude, the traveler donated to the temple and brought wealth to it. This shows how we can end up with associations that stretch back into a culture’s traditional stories – and the Japanese lucky cat with its raised paw has become an internationally recognized symbol.
And yet, you might also be aware that other cultures take more mixed views on cats; black cats can be seen as both lucky and unlucky, depending on the circumstances. Interestingly, it’s possible that the lucky associations come from Ancient Egypt, where black cats were associated with Bastet, the goddess of protection. At the same time, some Western traditions associate them with witchcraft and view them as unlucky, creating a mixed approach. However, glancing back to Japan, black cats are connected with warding off evil spirits and creating peace.
Last Thoughts on Lucky Symbols
It’s clear, then, that whether a symbol is lucky or not depends heavily on the culture, the context, and a whole host of other factors. What feels lucky to an individual can also be influenced by their experiences in life, their personal preferences, and the culture they’ve grown up in. If you’re going to choose lucky games at a casino, the good news is that you’ve got lots of options to pick from, so no matter what feels lucky to you, you can probably find a game that will fit the bill!
