Superstitions manifest for an individual based on his beliefs on them happening. Just as it's famously said in one of the holy books "that as a man thinketh in his heart so he is", and that's exactly how superstition works.
Superstition can't work for you when you don't believe in them but they're real and it works for some people. There are some people that believe in certain things and when they do it, it gives them victory. I have personal beliefs myself that I practiced and when I fail to do them, I might end up losing. Hence I have to practice them ahead of most of my bets to be on the safer side so I don't have to lose, out of me not doing my usual rituals but for some that are so not believable, I don't do them. There are times I don't have to do any rituals and I win while there are times that for me to win I have to practice some of the superstition that I have. I don't give out money with my left hand because it means bad luck for the whole day hence I don't do that during the day or I'll be inviting bad luck to myself. I have intentionally done this before I gambled and the outcome was as I suspected as I lost the bet.