Luck is just around the corner

There's a belief in American culture that Asians, including specifcally the Chinese are quite intelligent as a group. We're lauded as the hard workers in school and work. That is quite a compliment to a race and a culture.

On the flip side of the coin, it's also well known that the Chinese like to gamble. Casinos cater to Asian guests and ads are run on the Chinese channels here in the Bay area courting Asian gamblers.

If you think about it, these two things "intelligence" and "gambling" don't quite go together. If you're scientific and knowledgeable, you know the odds are against you in Vegas. The house always wins. So why do so many smart, intelligent Chinese flock to Vegas in hopes of cashing in big?

In addition to being level headed and intelligent, the Chinese culture very strongly and has for a long time believed in the concept of "luck". You can't be a rational intelligent gambler, if you don't believe in "luck". Maybe that's why I always do so poorly when I'm in Vegas.

In Chinese culture, you have the color red, signifying luck. Red envelopes are handed out at New Years containing lucky money, the bridal dress is red, as is the wedding reception room. Banners flown for luck are all done in red. In addition words that sound like luck are often used symbolically for luck. Bats are used as decorative symbols in pottery, as are swastikas. The word for bat is "fu" and sounds like the word for happiness. The swastika as a lucky symbol, of course pre-dates the Nazi use of the symbol. There are many examples of symbols of good luck in Chinese culture today as well, including the gift of oranges, the serving of 9 courses, including "long-life" noodles at banquets, the use of fish (carp) as symbols of luck and money.

So we, the Chinese continue to flock to Vegas, in the belief that our luck will change, that there's good fortune coming, especially because of that good deed you did the other day (did I forget to mention Karma is a big part of chinese belief as well?). Even if you lose in Vegas today, your luck will change and you'll be a winner tomorrow.

And you thought the Chinese were so smart!