Gambling and Bible

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

December 8, 2006

What is gambling?

Gambling is also known as betting and it is any behavior involving risking money or valuables making a wager or placing a stake on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity depends partially or totally upon chance or upon one's ability to do something.

The Romans were great gamblers and placed bets on a chariot race or a cock-fight or on the throw of a dice and it became such a problem that games of chance were officially banned except during the winter festival of Saturnalia, when most rules were relaxed.

What does bible say about gambling and is it a sin?

Gambling can also be defined as “risking money in an attempt to multiply the money on something that is against the odds”, hence it is easy way of earning money. The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery but yes the Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5) and the scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to "get rich quick" (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Hence gambling is mostly focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.

How gambling is dangerous?

In the bible, Jesus commanded, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31) and gambling, meanwhile, is predicated on the losses, pain, and suffering of others. Here for one to win at gambling, others must lose and for many, the ramifications attributable to their gambling losses are profound and it may be dangerous. Families touched by a gambling addiction are at greatly increased risk for such negative outcomes as divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and it can reach upto suicide also. More than 15 million Americans already struggle with a gambling problem, and the number continues to grow as gambling expands so it’s better to stay far away from it.

Why does gambling does not please God?

In gambling, casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible and they often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. After casino, lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education or social programs but however, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The dream of "getting rich quick" is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate and the chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined making it worst. 

Many people claim to be playing the lottery so that they can give the money to the church, or to some other good cause but this may be a good motive; however in reality very few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Latest studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before and very few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Remember, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world and in the bible proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means as honesty is the best policy. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money, or money stolen in a back robbery and for this neither does God need or want money that was "stolen" from the poor by the temptation for riches.

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