Friday the 13th has long captured the imagination - and the superstition - of people around the world. The combination of Friday (historically associated with misfortune in some cultures) and the number 13 (often considered unlucky) has given rise to paraskevidekatriaphobia, the specific fear of this date. It even has roots in folklore and psychology, though empirical evidence of bad luck is thin.

But what about betting behaviour on this date? Does superstition translate into measurable shifts in bets? 

According to Nicole Attard, Brand Manager at IZI Group, the operator of the National Lottery of Malta, a large network of retail outlets providing gaming experiences, and the Dragonara Casino, the answer is surprisingly straightforward - and surprisingly limited.

“The only relevant pattern observed is that the number 13 is played more frequently on the day itself. No other significant changes were observed in the overall sales or activity, she tells WhosWho.mt. 

In other words, while some might be drawn to the number 13 on this date - perhaps influenced by the day’s notoriety - there’s no evidence that people bet more overall on Friday the 13th than on a regular Friday.

There’s a long-standing cultural association between Friday the 13th and risk‑avoidance behaviour. Some people avoid travel, big financial decisions or major life events out of superstition, and certain researchers have even suggested economic impacts tied to those choices.

Social science and behavioural finance research also highlight how magical thinking and number biases can influence making bets in specific ways - such as choosing favourite numbers or attributing wins to lucky dates - even though the underlying odds remain unchanged.

So does the date affect anything? The short answer is only marginally. While Friday the 13th might inspire some players to bet on “13‑number” outcomes - such as lottery tickets, roulette bets, or other symbolic choices - it does not seem to drive a measurable increase or decrease in overall gambling activity, according to available data and IZI Group’s analysis.

In cultural terms, Friday the 13th remains a curious blend of myth, psychology and tradition - a day when the number 13 gets special attention, but when Lady Luck’s overall behaviour appears much the same as any other.