Don’t Gamble—Here’s Why(Part 2)
- Noah Olson
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
While the Bible does not explicitly forbid gambling, it does implicitly. Gambling is sinful for the following reasons:
Reason 1: Gambling is founded in covetousness. The driving force, the written thesis, and the main purpose of gambling is for personal monetary gain. No one goes to the Casino, buys lottery tickets, or plays the Mega Millions without an expectation of the possibility of winning. The love of money is often the foundation for this action (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Covetousness is defined as “to have a desire for, long for, to desire.”[1] Gambling is wrong simply because of the attitude manifested by gamblers. Covetousness is expressly condemned from cover to cover in the Bible (Exodus 20:17; Habakkuk 2:9; Luke 12:15). If gamblers are covetous and the covetous are idolatrous, then gamblers are idolatrous (Colossians 3:5)! Instead, contentment should drive our focus (Proverbs 30:8-9; Luke 3:14; 1 Timothy 6:6, 8; Hebrews 13:5). John told the soldiers in his day “be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14), a lesson gamblers ought to have heeded before they put in their coins or scratched off the ticket. First, gambling is wrong because of its covetous disposition.
Reason 2: Gambling impedes work ethic. Gambling’s alluring pull is the quickness of becoming rich. While the chances of winning are little to nothing, the possibility (although slight) of winning it big after one game causes people to play and keep playing. Gambling is a “get rich fast” scheme, which is negatively expressed in Scripture (Proverbs 28:22). It is no surprise that gamblers fail financially (Proverbs 20:4). Solomon wrote: “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 28:20).
Despite the chances of “winning it big,” the odds are not in anyone’s favor. Investopedia observed “For people who are really good at blackjack, the advantage for the casino might be only 0.5%, but certain types of slot machines might have a 35% edge over a player—and other games fall somewhere in between. The slot machine odds are often some of the worst, ranging from a one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play.”[2] Gamble Aware noted the following odds:[3]
Winning 1st Division Lotto: 13,900,000 to 1.
Winning Powerball: 76,767,000 to 1.
Being dealt a royal flush in the first 5 cards of poker: 649,740 to 1.
Dangerously, you are 510 million times more likely to get killed by a vending machine than to win the Enalatto Jackpot.[4] Although some attempt to use gambling to get rich quickly, odds are you actually become poor faster!
Gambling affects work production. Kindbridge noted, “People addicted to gambling are likely to take extended breaks during the working day, or even full days of absence, to focus on their gambling activities.”[5] Businesses and employers are harmed by gambling (covetousness) because it promotes laziness (cf. Luke 12:18-19).
The Bible expresses the importance of working hard. (Genesis 2:15; Proverbs 13:4; 14:23a; Acts 20:35; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). Anything that denies, contradicts, or opposes this principle should be avoided. If people want to be better financially, work harder; do not take others’ money to do it. The principle of work is taken away when people purchase a coin, a ticket, or when they place a bet. Second, gambling is wrong because it impedes work ethic.
Reason 3: Gambling is bad stewardship. A good financial analyst, advisor, or accountant would never agree that gambling is good use of one’s money. In fact, the statistics agree. “1 in 5 American male sports bettors allot 25% of their paycheck to gambling, with an equal proportion being in debt from the activity. Further, the average problem gambler debt load (American men) is between $55,000 and $90,000.”[7] One study listed some gamblers who limited spending on essential areas because of their gambling, like “petrol, healthcare costs, social events, and house maintenance.”[8] If an action prohibits you from providing for necessities and family—how can it not be sinful?
The Bible is not quiet about good stewardship practices. Chuck Northrop wrote, “First, gambling violates the basic laws of good stewardship. There are three legitimate laws of economy. The law of labor in which labor is rewarded (1 Timothy 5:18; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Also, there is the law of exchange in which a product is exchanged with something of equal value (Galatians 6:7-8; James 4:13-15). Finally, there is the law of love in which benevolence is shown to those in need (1Corinthians 16:2-3; Matthew 7:12; 22:39).”[9] Christians are stewards; they must be faithful with what they have (1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 3:23-25; 1 Peter 4:10). Gambling prohibits one from truthfully telling God “I have done my best with what you have given me.” Since everything we have is God’s (it is the “lord’s money” [Matthew 25:18]), we must not use it for wasteful purposes. Ultimately, we will be held accountable for how we spend our money—specifically if we gambled. Cody Westbrook wrote, “stewardship involves accountability. Ultimately, every steward will account to the Master for how he has managed the Master’s goods. The stewardship parables clearly emphasize this point as do a number of other passages throughout God’s Word. The Hebrews writer said, And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:13). The word “account” has to do with providing an explanation, a reckoning, or giving a record of assets and liabilities…Everyone will stand before the judgment seat and answer for how he discharged his duties as a steward. We are accountable to the Master for how we use His goods.”[10] Just like the master wanted to find his servant prepared at his arrival (Luke 12:42-48), so should we be found faithful and prepared with our finances when the Lord comes. Imagine being at a Casino when the Lord comes back and telling Jesus that you spent His money there! Third, gambling is wrong because it creates slothful servants.
[1]Thayer.
[6]Michael Hodgin, 1001 Humorous Illustrations For Public Speaking, Zondervan, 1994, p. 373.
[8]Sarah Marko, Samantha L Thomas, Hannah Pitt, Mike Daube, The lived experience of financial harm from gambling in Australia, Health Promotion International, Volume 38, Issue 3, June 2023, daad062, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad062
[9]Chuck Northrop.
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