Customers at Newcastle casino have noticed an interesting trend on their Roulette tables in recent months as the amount staked on the colour black seems to rise and fall in line with the fortunes of Newcastle United.
The bets from each table are closely monitored for security purposes and, as the club has recovered from the shame of relegation and risen to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship in recent months, it has become clear that more people place their bets on black when the team is doing well.
"It was one of the gaming team who first pointed this out and we thought he was having a laugh," said Alan Barnes, Head of Gaming at Aspers, which is the busiest casino outside London. "When we looked in more detail, however, there was a definite trend with the percentage of bets on black going up and down in line with the club's fortunes.
"Black always scores well above red anyway, which is possibly due to red's association with Sunderland and Middlesbrough, but when Newcastle have topped the table this season, the percentage of bets placed on black jumps to more than 60 percent. Conversely, when it was reported that the naming right to St James' Park were up for sale, it sank closer to 50."
Roulette, which literally means 'little wheel', was first introduced in 18th century France and is now one of the most popular games at the Newgate Street casino, where it is played 24 hours a day. Players can choose to place their chips on a single colour, black or red, or aim to win higher by selecting specific numbers around the wheel.
"It's something that wouldn't normally occur to you, but when it was pointed out, we have noted that black is more popular than red," says <?> <?>, a croupier at Aspers who is also a Newcastle fan. "Football means a lot to people here on Tyneside, so I'm sure it's entirely possible that black could be viewed positively or negatively according to the team's performance."
A study on the meanings of different colours suggests that black is an authoritative colour that can evoke strong emotions, although too much of it can be overwhelming. Red, on the other hand, is a stimulating and inherently exciting colour that draws attention to itself and focuses attention. To Newcastle fans, the simple association of black with their team's performance could have a subliminal effect on their choice of colour.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Aspers at The Gate
by Point Pleasant Communications
For further information please contact Rob Lawson
on (0191) 519 7219 (Mobile: 07940 501 993) or email rob@point-pleasant.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
- Aspers is a 45,000ft2 leisure facility in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.
- The venue includes bars, restaurant, beauty spa, live entertainment and state-of-the-art gaming facilities.
- Aspers has attracted almost 137,000 members in just over three years from a catchment area covering Northumberland and County Durham, reaching across to Cumbria and down to York.
- In late 2007 Aspers became the first casino operator in the country to launch a loyalty club - Aspire - that allows customers to collect and redeem points throughout its operations (including gaming). Customers are now able to gain points for every purchase made on the premises and can also earn bonus points on selected promotions.
- In April 2008, Aspers became the first British casino to go 'membership free' which means that virtually all visitors can freely walk through the reception area without completing membership forms. Photo ID is required if you look under 21 and to join our Aspire Loyalty Club.
- Visitors to Aspers must be 18 or over
- At every Aspers location, the company has set up the Community Action for Responsible Gaming (CARG) programme. This initiative is unique to Aspers and is based on similar successful schemes in Australia and New Zealand. CARG is a voluntary, not-for-profit group that seeks to constructively address problem gambling issues in society through a working partnership between local community-based interest groups.