Some historians suggest gambling grew out of a fascination among ancient peoples with chance and things they couldn’t explain (the ever-present unknown). Past  peoples threw objects like sticks, stones and bones as a way to predict the future and make decisions. They believed a magical or supernatural power controlled the way the objects came to rest. Eventually they started to place bets on the outcome of a throw.   

Today, some modern gamblers believe in a mysterious power directing the control of dice. Others may follow certain rituals around where they sit at the blackjack table or how they handle the cards. And, still others may recall unusual coincidences and psychic experiences after winning the lottery, leading some researchers to conclude that “the lottery is the only reliable miracle left in this age of reason.”

For each thought, place a check in the appropriate category for how often this applies to you.

Questions I hardly ever think like this I sometimes think like this I often think like this