It is strange how our lives can be completely turned around by chance; being in a certain place at a certain time, or even not being there, can have a profound effect on the rest of our lives, and on those of other people close to us. For some random reason we might be delayed, and as a consequence just miss out on meeting that special person who was otherwise destined to become the most important person in our lives. Then again, that delay might be the cause of our meeting that special person. It is no wonder that we have a tendency to be superstitious and to believe in lucky charms.

Some of the most superstitious people around are those who play sports professionally along with professional gamblers. Often these superstitions are associated with undertaking a specific ritual, wearing a specific item of clothing that is associated with previous success, or carrying a lucky charm. Do these do any good?

In fact scientists have shown that belief in superstitions can have a profound effect. The so-called placebo effect that is associated with a test subject reporting benefits from taking a medicine when in fact the medicine just sugar is one such example. It is thought that the power of certain magic, in particular Voodoo, is derived as a result of such phenomena.

Many of us feel that if we really believe that something is going to happen, then it is more likely that it will. This certainly applies to bingo. A recent survey of bingo fans showed that over half of them carried a lucky charm of one sort or another and about an equal number performed some sort of ritual prior to playing a game. Even some people who play online bingo will ensure that they are wearing an item of clothing that they consider to be lucky, and of course when it comes to choosing a bingo card lucky numbers are very important.

Is luck just a random event, or is it possible to make one’s luck? Does believing that one will win increase one’s winning chances? Many believe this to be so, and they have yet to be proven wrong.