In less than 48 hours, it’s Friday the 13th, two months after September and we will have to wait until June in 2025 to find the next occurrence. For some, this day is synonymous with happy coincidence, or on the contrary with bad luck, this tradition dating back according to some to… Greek Calends. Others claim its existence from Nordic myths, or according to Christian belief, during the Last Supper, on a Friday, of the 13 people seated, the thirteenth guest was Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. In short, whatever the case, you may or may not be paraskevidekatriaphobic, a rather unpronounceable name that characterizes the fear of Friday the 13th. And in the world of the game, needless to say, it’s a day really like no other.
A record winnings of more than 2.5 million euros at PMU
At La Française des Jeux, the desire to ride the wave is very real and there is no shortage of operations to try to interest the game and attract the attention of casual players. This Friday will be no exception to the rule with a prize pool of nearly 13 million euros and 50 codes with €20,000 drawn at random. “The Super Loto on Friday the 13th has become an unmissable event for the French, who have been mobilizing for these events for many years and some of whom only play for these draws. reported the FDJ in September as part of an article published in Le Figaro. We also learn that on that day, three times as many players buy a scratch ticket. But what about the PMU side? While it must be said that in recent years, the operator has somewhat shunned this special day, just as it did with sports betting and poker, but it is gradually reviewing its copy: operations flourish again. “The PMU wants to offer new products to its customers, which is why the PMU is offering a piggy bank of one million euros to be shared among the winners in the order of Quinté+ on the occasion of this Friday the 13th, day referring to luck”, the operator confirmed to us. But what does Friday the 13th mean to them? Most of the point of sale managers contacted do not notice a particular crowd for Friday the 13th, but “the impact of this day on horse racing issues in France is +700K€ or +3%continues the PMU. The record for winnings made by a bettor on a Friday the 13th dates back to November 2015: €2,501,715 won in Gif-sur-Yvette (Essonne). “As for the impact on the creation of PMU.fr accounts during Fridays the 13th,”it is lightthey explain. Going back to 2022, comparing them to other Fridays positioned at the same time in the month, there is an increment of 180 counts. The average recruitment on a typical Friday is 600 new PMU.fr accounts.”.
These figures show the strong attachment of the French to these days in relation to luck and/or superstition (a third of French people say they are superstitious – Ifop 2022 study). But let’s remember that in horse racing, chance and luck are not everything; in particular with all the technical parameters which must be taken into account during a horse racing bet.
(By Sylvain Copier and Lara Bouve)
Also read:
Games: November PMU operations at points of sale
Four millionaires in 2024
Since January 1, four punters have pocketed more than a million euros at Quinté+. The 2024 record is currently held by a player who validated a €2 SPOT formula for a gain of €2.6 million. This big winner who wished to remain anonymous validated his game during the Grand Handicap de Deauville on August 4 in Marignane in the “Le Sagittaire” establishment. On July 14, it was a regular from the North who won €1.4 million by also betting on a €2 coin. The America Races Q1 and Q2, aka Prix de Bretagne et du Bourbonnais, for which the PMU offered a piggy bank of one million euros allowed a punter from the Rhône to receive €1.1 million and last Sunday to a racer from the Plessis-Brion (Oise) to win €1.05 million after a Mixed spot worth €21.
On the menu at PMU
The PMU will give away a one million euro piggy bank at Quinté+ in its physical network. It will be automatically shared between all the racers who manage to get their hands on the first five in the Prix de Tourcoing contested on Friday evening in Vincennes. The basic stake at Quinté+ is €2 in a single formula, unless you wish to add the Max option (a lucky number from 1 to 30 drawn at random allowing you to multiply your winnings by 2, or even by 10) to 1 euro more. On pmu.fr, all e-turfists who find an e-Simple and an e-Trio during the meeting will receive a €13 bonus. An e-Piggy bank of €131,313 will be up for grabs on pmu.fr.
Sidewalk Microphone: Are you going to play more this Friday the 13th?
Warranty26 years old, marketing and digital manager: “I became an occasional player after discovering the world of racing at the Jeuxdi de Longchamp. Although I’m not superstitious, I admit that betting on Friday the 13th amuses me, especially since it comes this year just before the holiday season. With my friends, we will undoubtedly make a little jackpot in the hope of winning the Quinté+ piggy bank.”
Jerome37 years old, caregiver: “I am absolutely not a superstitious person, so this Friday the 13th will be a day like any other for me. This is absolutely not going to change the way I play. (Editor’s note: he mainly focuses on trotting races)perhaps I will bet a little more if the PMU puts attractive prize pools on certain bets except on Quinté+. No, I will not take advantage of this day to play a Super Loto.”
Jerome50 years old, export/sales manager: “Whether it’s Friday the 13th or not, it makes absolutely no difference. The important thing is the races that I have identified to make my bets, most of the time in Vincennes. I find that at trot the relationships are better than at gallop. On the other hand, it’s true that for a Friday the 13th, I sometimes get a EuroMillions ticket but as far as horses are concerned, I play my usual games.”
Beatrice64 years old, retired: “I am an occasional gambler. We are in Paris for a few days and we are coming to Vincennes (Editor’s note, Wednesday December 11) to play and watch the races live. I would tend to play more easily on a Friday the 13th. We feel that there is a craze for betting on that day. We all have this superstition a little. Let’s try our luck! As I don’t bet often, I would necessarily play a higher amount.”
Comments collected by Sylvain Copier, Arsène Abitbol and Constance Georgé
