Definition: The irrational, almost religious conviction that after a brutal losing streak, the universe owes you a win. It’s the belief that probability keeps a ledger and will “balance out” during your session, ignoring the cold reality that each spin, hand, or roll is statistically independent. This delusion turns roulette wheels into moral arbiters and slot machines into karmic vending machines. Sufferers often double down with desperate bets, mistaking cosmic wishful thinking for strategy.
Example: After losing 15 straight blackjack hands, Derek slammed his fist and yelled, “Deal me in! I’m DUE!” He then bet his car keys on the next hand, convinced fate couldn’t possibly let him lose again. Spoiler: it did.