The truth behind the number 13

Have you ever wondered why 13 is a bad luck number? Friday 13 or Tuesday 13 in Spanish-speaking countries, or why do people play EuroMillion choosing the thirteenth ticket or just purchasing 13 tickets? There are many reasons, and here we’ll show you the truth behind the myth everyone has in mind, from sports to gambling.

Where does the myth come from?

The exact origin of the myth is well a sort of mystery since it has different versions. For example, there were twelve Christians during the Last Supper until Judas appeared, raising the number to 13. But in a whole separate space and culture, Nordic mythology considers Loki as the 13th god from the Nordic Pantheon, a belief that was Christianised and later linked the 13th angel with Satan or the devil. 

Later in the Middle Ages s Friday 13th of 1307, Phillip IV of France and Pope Clement V ordered the arrest and murder of the Knights Templar. A curiosity that reinforced the belief was the curse thrown by Jacques de Molay, the last of the Templars Grand Masters, over Phillip IV and Clement V, whose deaths came in less than one year for both. Therefore, Friday the 13 has been considered a day of mourning among Christendom. So basically, the origin of the number 13 reputation is not linked to any bets or gambling and deeply impacts superstitious beliefs from ancient cultures to nowadays. 

Did you know about lucky 13?

Despite the bad reputation among 13, some others consider it a lucky number, and no, we aren’t talking about lotto per se. Still, one could occasionally try to catch the Irish lotto's luck, Jackpot or Scratch cards and see how it goes. In addition to what has been told, you must know that the 13 has a global reputation, and in fact, it has its phobia, triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear or excessive avoidance of the 13 number. 

But not everything related to the 13 is wrong. For many, there is a lucky 13 about prosperity and fortune. Sports players have used the 13 as a good omen. Germany’s national football team has made emblematic use of the number through the years with figures such as Gerd Müller, Michael Ballack, Max Morlock, and Thomas Müller. In that case, the team’s best player wears the 13 number on his back. Another point of success in sports is Baseball; most of the top Venezuelan baseball players wore the 13 on their backs as a good luck omen, such as Oswaldo Guillén, David Concepción, and Omar Vizquel. Considering their success, the 13 is often chosen in the lotto in Venezuelan culture.

What about gambling?

The relationship between the 13 number and the gambling world is not defined. For many, it brings luck and for others, misfortune. It is not a surprise that people who spend money on bets tend to have rituals when they win and others to avoid bad luck. After all, nobody can control the actual chances of winning or losing in gambling. However, if you go to a casino, you’ll probably find people who bet for the 13 or 31 on the roulette or try to sit in the thirteenth slot machine and even pick up the thirteenth table to play poker or blackjack. 

Contrary case, some people bet on numbers avoiding the 13 to stay away from bad luck and put their chances on other numbers such as the 7, which is considered a lucky number or any that “brings luck”. Despite the form of the ritual, the 13 as a number profoundly impacts gambling and bets worldwide.

If you feel curious about your odds, there is no need to go to a casino to try your luck with the 13, and here you can Play EuroMillion Online and give it a shot. There are several ways to bet and gamble. After all, it is all a matter of luck. 

To conclude …

Superstitions are part of our society and will prevail in any case. People search for good or bad omens to justify their actions and give a sense of it. Nevertheless, nobody can know if the 13 is good or bad. After all, it is a number, and who knows, you may end up winning the EuroMillion or any other competition for having your lucky ritual.  

Disclaimer: Play responsibly. For help, visit www.rgf.org.mt. Players must be over 18