Online bingo site unveils the lucky formula for 2010

Brits will be making their own luck in 2010, according to new research revealed today by leading online bingo site, galabingo.com.

With a whopping 91 per cent of the nation hoping this year will be luckier than 2009, galabingo.com has discovered 84 per cent of us will be using the power of thought and a positive mental attitude (PMA) to help make 2010 a lucky year.

The site, which pays out more than £65million per month, undertook the research to explore how the UK was preparing to be up on its luck in 2010.

The most positive regions of the UK were Northern Ireland, followed by the South West and East Anglia. And, with a result six per cent above the UK average, it seems the over 50’s will be the most likely to use confident thinking to influence their luck.

But however much we’re going to be ‘thinking ourselves lucky’, it seems we’re still a superstitious lot. When exploring which charm we would put our faith in, it seems a lucky person, followed by a lucky charm bracelet and popular lucky numbers are the top contenders.

And it seems more Brits have a pair of lucky underpants than the more traditional lucky charms of four-leaf clovers, horse shoes and rabbit’s foot!

Top Ten Lucky Charms:

1. Lucky Person
2. Charm given to you by someone you love
3. Lucky number
4. Jewellery
5. Lucky penny
6. Lucky underpants
7. Four-leaf clover
8. Lucky socks
9. Horse shoe
10. Rabbit’s foot

We’re also still succumbing to the old wives tales of touching wood, picking up pennies and wishing on lucky stars to help make 2010 a great year. Unbelievably one in 10 of us are even happy to have bird droppings fall on us for luck!

The old wives tales we believe will bring us luck:

1. Touching wood
2. Finding a penny
3. Seeing a shooting star
4. Making a wish on a roast turkey wishbone
5. Throwing salt over your shoulder
6. Saluting a magpie
7. Wishing on a loose eyelash
8. Seeing a black cat
9. Bird droppings falling on us
10. Catching dandelion seeds in the breeze

Meanwhile, it seems we’re a bunch of hopeless romantics with 52 per cent citing meeting their partner as the luckiest thing to happen to them.

We also believe in the “luck of the Irish” with the Northern Irish topping the luckiest people poll followed by the cheeky cockneys.

But how can we make sure that 2010 is our luckiest year? BBC3’s psychologist, Felix Economakis, has worked with galabingo.com to develop a formula for good luck in 2010.

Felix Economakis, said: “With 84 per cent of us already thinking positive this year, we’re on to a winning formula. Although we’re a superstitious lot, there is no real mystery to ‘thinking yourself lucky’ in 2010. A luckier life is achievable for us all. Having a positive mind set will enable us to keep an open mind. Grabbing opportunities as they arise, keeps us looking on the bright side when bad things do happen.”

He added: “We need to get better at looking at what’s right and what’s good in our lives, rather than focusing on what’s missing or what’s wrong. If we look for bad luck then we will always find it!”

The formula for being luckier all year = PMA + (365 X -N) + (52 X R) + (12 X +N)

PMA - develop a positive mental attitude to life.
-N - become less negative to little everyday occurrences (one a day, all year long).
R - take time to reflect on the week and to think about things. Make it a new year’s resolution to allow 15 minutes each week to stop and let your mind mull over the past few days. You’ll find ideas and memories will pop into your head that enable you to take more chances and invite luck your way.
+N - once a month make an effort to try new things and explore new places – even if it’s just doing the weekly shop in a different supermarket. Accept the next unexpected offer, or even invite neighbours you’ve never got to know properly in for a new year’s drink. You never know what’s around that next corner!

Lesley Hall, online PR manager at galabingo.com, said: “Working with Felix and developing the ultimate winning formula has been fascinating. We hope 2010 will be a winning year for all of our players!”