Unlucky 13? Not if you win the Mega Moolah Jackpot worth 13 million!

It's all happening in the world of Mega Moolah at the moment! We saw our first winner of the year land a CA$16.4 million prize back at the start of April and this has been followed by the release of the second new Mega Moolah powered slot of the year.

Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah hit casinos on the 5^th May and it offers punters a chance to play a 243 Ways to Win, complete with Rolling Reels and a Multiplier Trail, and a chance at the Mega Moolah's top progressive prize, the Mega Jackpot. The Alice's Adventures in Wonderland themed slot, based predominantly on the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, was released on the 5^th May to the public.

And the release of that slot could not have been timed any better as also on the evening of the 5^th to 6^th May 2020, the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot reached another milestone when it surpassed the 13 million mark.

Now of course, 13 is an unlucky number for many and as yet, no player has ever won a jackpot prize worth 13 million in any currency. We have had prizes just below that amount, as well as a number not too far above it, but nobody has hit the jackpot when it has been in the 13-millions.

So, is the number 13 really jinxed? We decided to take a look at the myths behind the number and to ponder if one day, one Mega Moolah player could land a 13 million prize!

The "Unlucky" 13

Each year, around 10 percent of the population of the United States of America share a collective dread. It is called "paraskevidekatriaphobia" which is rather a mouthful, but which essentially means a fear of the date of Friday the 13^th.

Historians seem to trace back our mistrust of the number 13 back to the ancient times. Firstly, in the bible where Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus, was viewed as the 13^th disciple. Similarly, in Norse mythology, the god of mischief introduced evil and turmoil into the world when Loki turned up to a dinner party in Valhalla as the 13^th guest.

Since then it seems, generations of people have been wary of anything to do with the number.

However, sometimes our fears get the better of us. Many years ago, the fear of the number 13 grew when it emerged that one of the world's oldest legal documents, known as the Code of Hammurabi, had omitted a 13^th law from its list of rules.

In more modern times, it is estimated that the number of people that avoid marrying, travelling or eve working on Friday the 13^th sees the world's budget take a hit of $800 million annually. Around 80 per cent of high-rise buildings in the US also do not have a 13^th floor. Hotels, airports and hospitals also avoid using the number.

The number 13 also suffers because it is next to the number 12, which is viewed by many as a 'perfect number'. Divisible by 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as 6. 12 is a much more convenient and easier to use number (Day and Night are roughly 12 hours each, 12 months in a year etc.

However, the number 13 isn't quite so unlucky in all cultures.

The "Lucky" 13!

There are plenty of examples where the number 13 is regarded as a lucky number, In Italy, Friday the 13^th is any normal day, it is Friday the 17^th that Italians feel is unlucky. In Italian "fare tredici" means to hit the jackpot and it translates as "To do 13".

In Chinese culture, the sounds of numbers influence how they are viewed and 13 is viewed as a positive number and it is the number 4, which when pronounced sounds a little like 'death' which is viewed as an unlucky number.

Perhaps the most famous person in the world at the moment who advocates the number 13 as her lucky number, is Taylor Swift. The U.S. pop star is famous for wearing or drawing the number 13 on her hand for all of her live performances and she revealed in an MTV interview that many of her life's highlights have been influenced by the number 13.

She was born on the 13^th December, turned 13 on Friday 13^th, her first album sold enough copies to achieve a gold record after 13 weeks, her first number 1 song had a 13 second introduction and and she also claimed that any time she has won an award, she has been seated in seat number 13, the 13^th row, the 13^th section or in row M, which is the 13^th letter of the alphabet.

So it is clear that it is social and cultural factors, as well as your own personal beliefs, that influence whether you see the number 13 in a positive light. There is absolutely no incontrovertible evidence that the number 13 is unluckier, or luckier, than any other number. It just seems to draw most of the bad press!

What would 13 million buy you?

So, if you were to become the first player on a Mega Moolah slot to land the top jackpot prize when it was at the 13 million mark, what would your money be able to buy you?

Well back in 2019, a Lake Geneva property in Wisconsin was the most expensive for sale at $13 million dollars. Set in 3.5 acres and on a lake front, you not only had your own luxurious pool area, but your own boat pier, a 4-car garage, 12 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.

New York is a busy and crowded city but for 13 million you could buy two private islands 30 minutes from bustling Manhattan. Located in the Long Island Sound, the island has its own house, generating its own electricity, as well as a pier for those shopping trips to the mainland.

If you preferred somewhere close by, Bruce Willis was selling his own New York mansion for a cool $13 million back in 2019 too. So at least you have a choice if you wanted to splurge all your money.

So whether you view 13 as unlucky or not, when it comes to 13 million, there are few people that are going to turn down the opportunity to win a prize like that. Would it not be fitting to perhaps see the next big Mega Moolah winner land their prize on the 13^th May?