Posted by Friday the 13th is the lottery! On this special day, lottery prize pools around the world soar.
In New Zealand, on the 13th of every month, especially if it’s a Friday, the National Lottery prize pools skyrocket due to the influx of hopeful players. This phenomenon is also felt in online casinos and land-based gambling halls.
On Friday the 13th, the real money pokies are a big hit. As for table games, the number 13 box on the Roulette wheels has the most bets.
Dates for a Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th can occur up to three times a year, but there is at least one every year!
So here is a table of crazy Fridays for the next ten years:
| Year | Number of 13th’s | Date |
| 2022 | 1 time | May 13 |
| 2023 | 2 times | January 13 |
| October 13 | ||
| 2024 | 2 times | September 13 |
| December 13 | ||
| 2025 | 1 time | June 13 |
| 2026 | 3 times | February 13 |
| March 13 | ||
| November 13 | ||
| Year | Number of 13th’s | Date |
| 2027 | 1 time | August 13 |
| 2028 | 1 time | October 13 |
| 2029 | 2 times | April 13 |
| July 13 | ||
| 2030 | 2 times | September 13 |
| December 13 | ||
| 2031 | 1 time | June 13 |
| 2032 | 2 times | February 13 |
| August 13 | ||
With three “lucky” Fridays in 2026, there’s no doubt we’ll see record lotto and pokie jackpots.
He may not have done it on purpose, but Pope Gregory, the thirteenth in the papal line, imposed the Gregorian calendar in 1582. This calendar has one to three Friday the 13ths per year. So, we can project that over the next thousand years; there will always be at least one Friday the thirteenth per year.
Friday the 13th at Casino Sites
Online gambling sites attract more superstitious players than ever, especially the Cosmo Casino and Zodiac Casino sites. In addition, these online casinos attract fans of online progressive pokies which are hungry to win a fortune on Friday the 13th.
Buildings and means of transport
The number 13 (outside of Fridays) often causes problems in architecture and transport. For example, in buildings over 12 stories, they usually skip over the 13th floor and label it as 14. The same goes for street and house numbers!
In terms of transport, like in buses and planes, you won’t often see row N°13 due to superstitions.
Friday the 13th mysteries
The origin of the fear of the number 13 comes from the New Testament. The story says that Judas, the thirteenth guest at Christ’s last supper, betrayed Jesus, who would later suffer crucifixion on a Friday. But, of course, everything is subject to interpretation, and between fiction and reality, there is plenty to create a good story around the number.
Friday the 13th is both seen as lucky and unlucky. But, it’s down to all the superstitions, beliefs, and lucky charms, that more gamers try their luck on this special day.
Betting on a Friday the 13th
The big question? Is the 13th lucky or not? Again, it’s all about perspective. Scientists would say that it has no impact, while an average person might doubt it. In any case, it certainly does have an impact psychologically. However, the odds of losing and winning are the same as any other day.
More logical minds fear nothing on a Friday the 13th, while heavily superstitious people spend the day full of fear. But, funnily enough, both parties are often ready to bet on a Friday the 13th and try their luck at all types of gambling.
The lucky number in the game
The betting and lotto offices are packed, and the casino pokie machines payout giant jackpots to the luckiest players.
For the craziest players, Friday the 13th is an opportunity, while it’s just another day for others.
Lotto and lucky casino numbers
The most popular numbers in NZ Lotto and Roulette are: 7, 17, 21, 27 and 33.
The number 7 is played the most, and people believe it is the luckiest digit. It is no coincidence that the number 7 appears on slot machine reels. There are also numbers 8, 18 and 28! Some bettors associate the number 8 with infinity.
As for the number 3, a symbol of stability, the numbers 3, 23 and 33 are extra popular with people familiar with geometry. The 13 is an exception, as it can swing either way in people’s minds.
People tend to avoid, and even fear, the wheel’s Zero [0] space. Moreover, people don’t consider the Zero a number; it is a zero value. So at Kiwi betting sites, the zero spaces of the wheels receive the least bets.
Cultural habits
In Latin countries, Asia, and parts of the Pacific, thirteen is a lucky charm. As such, the 13th of each month marks peaks in attendance at gambling houses in Latin, Asian and Oceanic regions.
As the world becomes more and more liberal, we take any form of superstition with a touch of humour. The old superstitions are left aside, and the fun side takes over.
