Lunar New Year is considered important to gamblers because, in many Asian cultures, particularly Chinese culture, it is seen as a time of heightened luck and fortune. This makes it a socially acceptable time to engage in gambling activities with family and friends.
This is also a time of the year that has many people seeing red. That’s because of the cultural association of the color red with prosperity and good fortune during this time.
2025 is The Year of the Wood Snake and encourages all zodiac signs to embrace introspection, strategic planning, and relationship-building. Three key elements you'll need to have a happy lunar new year in 2025.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year, called the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea, is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries.
It starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and lasts 15 days, ending on the first full moon. The official dates of the Lunar New Year vary by culture, but it's usually celebrated about a month after January 1 because the lunar calendar is about one month behind the solar calendar. This year, it begins on January 29.
Many diaspora communities around the world also celebrate the Lunar New Year. A diaspora community is a group of people who share a common identity, culture, and sense of belonging, but live outside of their country of origin. The term "diaspora" comes from the Greek word for "scatter".
How Lunar New Year is Celebrated in the United States
Across the United States, Asian American communities actively organize parades, carnivals, and festivities for the Lunar New Year. These events feature lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food, and cultural performances. People also clean their homes, buy new items like furniture, and decorate with orchids and other brightly colored flowers.
Some Asian American Christians and several Catholic dioceses, along with other churches, also celebrate the Lunar New Year as a cultural event.
The Connection Between Lunar New Year and Gambling
Today, people celebrate the Lunar New Year by focusing on getting rid of bad luck and welcoming good fortune and prosperity.
Since the holiday is deeply tied to the concept of good fortune and new beginnings, many believe they have a better chance of winning while gambling during this period. That’s why, across cultures, it's common to gamble and play traditional games during this time.
Many consider red to be a lucky color for the new year. In many Asian cultures, red symbolizes good fortune and joy. To celebrate, people wear red clothes, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns, and give money in red envelopes to family and friends, symbolizing good wishes for the year.
Casino Attendance Rises During Lunar New Year
Casinos globally experience a notable increase in Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year, reflecting the holiday's cultural significance.
Among the favored games is Chinese Blackjack, especially in Singapore, video poker, and baccarat are also played a lot.
Traditional games such as Mahjong and fish crab prawn are synonymous with the celebrations, offering a chance to test luck and attract good fortune.
Celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 with Online Casino Games
Online gambling sites like BetMGM, Caesars Palace, Borgata, and Golden Nugget offer exclusive promotions to help you fund your bankroll in celebration of the Lunar New Year in 2025. You can also take advantage of online casino bonus offers.
And if your state does not offer legalized online casino games, you may want to try your luck in a sweepstakes casino. At a traditional online casino, you use real money to gamble. However, you use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins at sweepstakes and social casinos like Pulsz Casino, The Money Factory, and Hello Millions. Happy Lunar New Year!
