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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2008 |

Gambling Opponents Say Moral Argument No Longer a Trump

As casinos and lotteries spread, two-thirds of Americans join in.

Greg Trotter, Religion News Service | posted 3/18/2008 09:49AM

The moral opposition to gambling might be gasping its last breaths.

As more and more states turn to casinos and gambling to fill shrinking budget coffers, the voices of the religious opposition are struggling ...

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cmr	Posted: March 19, 2008 3:13 AM

Some think that the only reason to object to gambling is because some people do it to excess and it damages them - and argue that the occasional punt is OK But I suggest that we look at it another way - To win any money as a gambler, other people have to lose money - and the money they have lost is money they have spent on hope - the hope of winning - hope which turns out to have been a false hope. To buy a lotto ticket once a year may be a small outlay for the person who buys it - but if they win millions that is only because millions of others have lost. Some say it is just entertainment- but buying a theatre ticket everyone has the same opportunity to get the value of what they bought - the enjoyed show - but in gambling people buy in for the hope of winning - a hope that is never going to come true for most - now - you may say - in sport someone wins at the cost of others losing - but sport is a contest of skill - gambling is odds - mostly stacked against you -

kaisen

Posted: March 19, 2008 1:20 AM

This debate displays how silly some would argue the neutrality of social behavior. How odd the nery same week of Purim and Good Friday the neutrality of gambling should be justified as not a sin. Purim, the 'casting of lots' (gambling) for what day the Jews should all be executed. Good Friday, the Roman executioners 'cast lots' for the garments of our Lord. This same week my aunt is beyond bankruptcy from playing video poker and we need to seek power of attorney to manage her addiction. The gaming industry is a value minus business. It produces nothing of value, it only consumes. My aunt is not the only personal encounter, I know several others. The symptoms are all the same; denial of losing (sometimes even past the most obvious conditions), justification (why it's the same as taking any other kind of risk), anger at the economic difficulties of life (if others weren't spending their money on ..... they could help me more). Finally they will deny God.

Jim D.

Posted: March 18, 2008 8:50 PM

Being a native Las Vegan, my views may differ from most. I believe gambling in controlled moderation is not a big deal, but when deciding to bring gambling to your home town, you really have to count the cost's. Problem gambling is no small deal. I don't have the statistics, but I would dispute Mr. Farenkopft's 1 %. Just from living in Las Vegas I would have to say it's closer to 5%, maybe a little higher. Never the less gaming provides a lot of good paying jobs and provides us with a strong and stable economy. I also would add that most places that add gaming are not going to reap the benifits of Nevada and Atlantic City.

Thomas Gray

Posted: March 18, 2008 7:27 PM

I believe that gambling is not specifically named as a sin in the Bible because the sinful version cannot be specifically defined in "cut and dried" terms. All take risks, for example, when starting a new business, and that could be included in the definition of gambling. Gambling becomes a sin when it violates other basic principles of God's word: earn your living by working (II Thess 3:10), seek others' good (Matt 7:12), etc. I do not buy a lottery ticket for the simple reason that I do not want to win, taking money that I did not earn from losers. Notice that this could apply to other things, like living off of investments. But, gasp, those are acceptable in "any church". Hmmm. But if we already cross the line of seeking easy money without working nor giving a equitable trade, then, of course, gambling between willing adults seems quite all right. But if we seek the good and perfect will of God in our lives, then "social gaming" will disappear along with other more acceptable sins.

Wes H

Posted: March 18, 2008 7:00 PM

When I was growing up, gambling, dancing, going to movies, playing pool, wearing lipstick, open toed womans shoes, drinking, etc. were all considered to be a sin. My wife and I used to show up in Vagas once a year for HS basketball bames. We'd put $20 into the local economy via the casino's for a nights entertainment. Sin? I'm not so sure. It certainly is cheaper that what my kids go through in an arcade in much less than an hour. I called it entertainment, and had NO expectation of winning. The problem with anything, it that it [gambling, alcohol, drugs, money, sex, FOOD, etc] can become more important that serving God. Criminalizing acts doesn't seem to change behavior, at least historically. Didn't a Jewish carpenter summerize his teaching by saying something about loving God and somebody? Probably to simple for real Christians.

Sam	Posted: March 18, 2008 6:38 PM


Why is gambling a sin?

Jacqui

Posted: March 18, 2008 6:28 PM

Coming from a country (Australia) that has a proud history of 'having a punt', the issue of gambling being a sin has long been buried here. While the occasional bet is virtually de rigeur, our nation now has to address the real disease of problem gambling emerging from the 'pokies'. Poker machines are just about in every pub and club in the country and the devastion it wreaks is now becoming public. To his credit, actor Russell Crowe, as part owner of a Sydney football club, is the first major player to turn off the machines, but not without some angst from other committee members who fear the revenue turndown. Long story short: the real sin of gambling is in way it consumes time and money to the detriment of family life, mental and physical health and work performance.

Moore or Less

Posted: March 18, 2008 4:09 PM

THe arguments against gambling could also work for skiing, sports and whatever else you don't like. Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners and was accused of sitting with the drunks and hookers because He wasn't caught up in these goofy religious debates. You will never cure a sinner by taking away his favorite sin, i.e. prohibition. Drugs weren't outlawed in America until well into the 20th century, that is when the trouble really hit the fan. Legislation sets up a government run monopoly and rife corruption. GET REAL, one of my favprite and most fruitful places to minister is the casino. I am unfettered there, by the religious crowd or their doctrines - Just Like Jesus!

Jeremiah

Posted: March 18, 2008 2:09 PM

Well definitely an interesting article. I feel that the issue with gambling is one that the church will never win, like drinking, or divorce, just by stepping up and saying it's a sin. As the body of the church, we as Christians must do what we can to deter people from realizing the sin they live in and coming to Jesus to be free of it. We must be the example of the holiness. We must reflect Jesus. We must be in this world but not of this world. If you know anything you know that gambling is not a safe or smart bet. It's something people chasing and serving money go after. Gambling is just another reflection of people wanting it all right now. They want the big win without the work. As the article ends, those who break because of it will come to God.

Kaisen

Posted: March 18, 2008 1:46 PM


1TI 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Julie

Posted: March 18, 2008 12:48 PM

Whenever I hear fellow believers say that gambling is a sin, they never seem able to cite any Scripture verses to support their position. I can concede that from the perspective of stewardship, gambling could be a sin depending on the degree to which one engages in the activity. But many Christians who are opposed to gambling see all forms of it as sin. To them, there is no moral difference between the person who buys an occasional lotto ticket (even once a year) and the father who gambles away his entire paycheck every week so his children go hungry and the bills aren't paid. In essence, Christians who seek to make gambling illegal because they consider it sinful are attempting to use the power of the state to force unredeemed people to behave in redeemed ways.

alison

Posted: March 18, 2008 11:29 AM

I need more information. Is it a problem because it could turn into a problem? Is it a moral problem because someone might abuse it and lose all their money and social services have to step in and we end up assisting someone who lost all their money and our taxes go up? It sounds a little too much like my mom who opposes playing pool AT ALL because somehow we might be induced to gamble on a game and become penniless. I'm not sure gambling is any worse than putting your 401-K in mutual funds. In my lifetime, I've probably lost $10 in lottery tickets. In the last quarter, I lost 20% of my 401-K. I'd appreciate a little more chapter and verse on something the writer claims is a moral problem.

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