SOME Australians may say they’re not superstitious, but when it comes to buying lottery tickets, many admit they won’t do it without their lucky charm close at hand.

For some, it’s a jade Buddha slipped into a pocket. For others, it’s a lucky pen that “doesn’t feel right” if left behind.

One player carries a shell from the beach where they grew up, another keeps a cat’s lost whisker, while one happily credits their partner of 17 years as the luckiest charm of all.

With St Patrick’s Day celebrations well underway today, research reveals that while many Australians may roll their eyes at the idea of superstitions and lucky charms, for some, quirky rituals and treasured objects still play a starring role when playing lotteries.

Research found only about one-in-10 Australians consider themselves extremely or very superstitious, yet almost a quarter admit to having a special routine when purchasing their lottery ticket.

Those routines range from purchasing their ticket on a particular day to travelling outside their local area to buy a ticket.

The data also found 15 per cent of players keep a lucky or protective charm, and among those charm-holders, 71 per cent carry or wear it all the time.

Some of these personal charms include “a pair of earrings my late mum gave me for my 18th birthday” and a “photo of my goddaughter”.

Another said their dog is their lucky charm: “I tell her everything, even wanting to win the lottery.”

One lady carries a crystal in her coin purse, which was suggested by a tarot card reading, and another cherishes an Irish Claddagh – a symbol with two hands holding a heart.

Rosary beads, a US one-dollar bill, Buddha statues and star sign insignias and pendants are also listed as lucky charms.

But lucky charms, rituals and superstitions aside, The Lott spokesperson Khat McIntyre says the one constant every winner has in common was having a valid ticket in their hands before draws close.

“St Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating a little luck, and our research shows that for many Aussie lottery players, that sense of luck lives in the small rituals and personal charms they bring with them when they buy a lottery ticket,” Khat said.

“And for a select group of players, this has led them to a life-changing prize.

“One memorable story was a Newtown player who bought a Weekday Windfall ticket after experiencing an itchy palm and went on to win $1 million.

“She told us she was cleaning her house when she had ‘the itchiest palm’. She told her mum about it and her mum said, ‘That means money. You should put a lottery ticket on’.”

In 2025, more than 121.6 million winners took home more than $3.93 billion in prize money from their favourite games, including Saturday Lotto, Weekday Windfall, Powerball, Oz Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, Keno, Super 66, Lotto Strike and Instant Scratch-Its.

Last financial year, Australia’s official lotteries contributed more than $1.66 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education.

As part of its commitment to supporting the community, The Lott proudly supports Play For Purpose, the not-for-profit charity raffle that gives Australians the chance to win while helping more than 500 causes across the country.