Does Friday the 13th really mean a rush to gambling? In several points of sale in Marseille, the observation is nuanced. “Customers do not necessarily play bigger bets, but buy more grids”summarizes Matthieu, at the La Régence tobacco shop.
The average ticket remains stable, around three euros, but players are increasing their participation. During the week, some already play the daily lottery and add an additional grid for the “super lottery” on Friday the 13th. Result: mechanically, turnover increases.
Same observation regarding the prize pools. “They are the ones that sell the most,” confirms Matthew. Often, customers don’t come specifically to play. They discover the existence of the super lotto or an exceptional win directly at the point of sale and let themselves be tempted. More players also statistically means more winners, even if the odds remain unchanged.
“A complete myth”
At the tobacco bar La Civette du Palais, Evan especially notices an increase in attendance. “There are more people, and the scratchings are going very well. People see this date as an opportunity.” Some people spend hours scratching. “Sometimes from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. There, I tell them stop. Even if it makes us money, it no longer makes sense, it’s ridiculous, it’s better to go to the casino, they’ll have more fun playing Black Jack.” Friday the 13th also attracts fans of multiple draws: lotto and Euromillions in the same checkout.
At Le Diplomate tobacco, the look is colder. “The superstition of Friday the 13th is a complete myth”, decides the manager. For him, the attraction comes mainly from the structure of the game: higher winnings and several guaranteed winners, such as the 50 prizes at 20,000 euros. Habits change little. “In general, players stay on the basic three euros.” On the other side of the counter, new faces and faithful meet, like an ordinary Friday, but with the hope that, this time, the date will make the difference.
date: 2026-02-13 09:29:00