Coincidental coincidence

[Antonio_Bay]

Yesterday, me and a client I had done some design work for, were talking about old movies, and the conversation fell onto the movie, Casablanca. Nothing in general about the film, just about the actors and the story, etc. We talked for maybe half an hour on the film.

Later that evening, I got a call from him asking me if I believed in fate, or just lucky coincidences. He then said, later that day he had popped into the local bookies to grab a cup of hot chocolate and gamble his money away on the roulette machines, when on one of the screens a commentator was announcing the horses coming up in the next race. One of the horses was called, of all the names, Casablanca. He placed a bet. With a few hurdles left the horse was close to last so he threw his betting slip on the table and went to buy his chocolate. Somehow, the horse went on to win. This guy found his crumpled slip and ended up winning £70. Curious, he then looked up the horse in greater detail, and discovered the owners surname was the same as his own.

He told me over the phone, although it wasn’t a big win, he was very grateful that I had started talking about Casablanca, because he would have ignored the horse otherwise and not won anything (I replied if that was the case, then I should at least have a 50% share of the win. He politely declined. :p )


My question is, when stuff like this happens, is it fate, luck or simply an uncanny coincidence?

[freetoaster]

Not to detract from the story, but that sounds like the typical sort of thing a gambler looks for. It is exactly what keeps them going back. Have you ever seen Let It Ride with Richard Dreyfus?
http://www.gamblersbook.com/pictures/894505.jpg

[Antonio_Bay]

Never seen it, but I'll keep an eye (or two) open for it.


sounds like the typical sort of thing a gambler looks for

Your probably right. Whenever I need to see this guy, he's never in his shop, but his 'office' nxt door, which customers are told to hide the fact his office is actually the betting shop.

He's always at one of those touch screen roulette machines, waiting for 'his numbers to come up'. He never seems to have the will to walk away when he's in profit, and eventually loses it all.

[looking4answers]

...My question is, when stuff like this happens, is it fate, luck or simply an uncanny coincidence?
Uncanny coincidence. I suppose it boils down to your views of the universe and your religious/spiritual beliefs.
This topic could lead in all types of directions.