Putting your destiny in the hands of fate.
Dragon Tiger is a game that most gamblers will be unfamiliar with. It’s by far the simplest of all casino games, with no rules to learn, no strategy to study and only one decision for the gambler to make. Little more than a coin toss, the attraction will be lost on most Western players.
But to Asian gamblers, Dragon Tiger is the ultimate expression of what is known as the ‘External Locus of Control’ – in other words, trusting fate / destiny / the universe to help you make the right choice.
In essence, the dealer turns over two cards – one representing the Dragon, the other the Tiger. Symbolism plays a huge part in Asian philosophy and the Dragon and Tiger represent the two main forces of the universe – Yin (dark and passive) and Yang (light and active). Each person has a tendency towards one of these and is therefore characterised as being more like the Dragon or the Tiger.
Unlike the typical gambler in the West, Asian players do not necessarily see casino gambling as a way to get rich quick. Instead, they think of these games as a way to test their current state of good luck. To them, luck is considered a moral attribute. If fortune is smiling on you, you are seen as blessed.
A little like a horoscope, a session of Dragon Tiger will foretell whether or not the tide (of business, love, life etc) is with you or against you.
It’s very different to a round of Blackjack, where you’re looking for the perfect strategy to shave 0.1% off the house edge. But maybe opening yourself up to the vagaries of fortune might be an interesting experience for us all from time to time!
