Why Gambling is Always Wrong

Gambling is always wrong and is always a footman to deal with. Before somebody can launch the argument saying, "Well you can't show me one verse in the Bible that says gambling is wrong." it's time to really show the effects of gambling and what the Bible really has to say.

The first instance of gambling in the Bible was with the Roman soldiers in Matthew 27:25, Mark 15:23-25, Luke23:24 and John 19:24. They were betting over Jesus' clothes by the foot of the cross. Then again, somebody can raise the objection that it's guilt by association. Now aside from just that, the effects of gambling should be looked at and to show why it's always bad.

So why is gambling wrong? Here are a few reasons why:

I. It's all about a "get rich quick" scheme

Proverbs 13:11 warns about money that's easy come, easy go. Many people are just too lazy to work their way up, instead they want money fast. That's how sinister gambling really is. It's a get rich quick scheme but it also can get a person poor faster than a blink of an eye. People usually bet by huge millions in gambling. As said, one can always hope to win but most of the time, people lose in gambling.

Lotteries and other "based on luck" gambling methods are always another scam that cause people to become lazy and for its game masters to get richer. It has also caused many people to bet huge amounts of money they are not sure if they will ever win it. Even if one wins the game, however laziness will just get that money to go away quickly.

II. It brings fellowship among the workers of darkness

Gambling consents to evil like it or not. Evil is evil even when it's being consented. A parent/authority may consent the child/subject in doing evil but that does not make the evil right. In the casino, it's laced around by liquor, cigarettes, narcotics, sexually oriented music and not to mention scantily dressed women flaunting around the male customers in the casino who trigger their fleshly lusts.

In the casino, it's filled with several hoodlums especially druglords and gang leaders (many of them are very religious). Think that's okay? Not at all. As said, these people are triggered by their pride to go together. Plus, here's what's interesting- like disco, it's always in the NIGHT and the places are hardly lit. Jesus wasn't joking a bit when He mentioned in John 3:20 saying that people love darkness because in the light, the evil deeds of one are exposed. This makes it a fact that for a Christian to even enter into a casino would be comparable to Jehoshaphat having fellowship with Ahab or Solomon's wrong alliances with pagan empires.

The same applies for online gambling and TV gambling- it still brings the workers of darkness together. For example, a cautious social networking owner is ever careful not to add anybody he has known to be a worker of darkness into his list of friends. After all, isn't a social networking site meant to keep in touch with people? That's just exactly it why online gambling is still as wrong as ever. Also, TV gambling has become another way for the workers of darkness to gather in somebody's home.

III. It's a major source of heartbreaks

As said in point number one, it's easy come and easy go and it becomes a major source of heartaches. Here's a reality- one in five persons who have gambling losses are most likely to commit suicide. One out of ten of the spouses are most likely to commit suicide. In gambling, the losses are much bigger than the typical business losses. A good businessman may suffer losses but he doesn't lose as much as gamblers do most of the time. Gamblers lose what they bet and most of them are reckless in betting. They bet by the millions. A person gets what he bets for if he wins and loses it if he loses. Talk about being too risky!

And an interesting fact about suicide is that it's mostly prevalent among the unsaved than the saved. Judas Iscariot was a perfect picture of an unsaved man who committed suicide out of being unsaved. In a sense, he gambled away the Lord Jesus Christ for a mere thirty pieces of silver. It's most likely he had a bet with the Pharisees to pay him if he could lead them to Jesus for them to arrest. However Judas Iscariot ended up hanging himself after he realized the gossip of his betrayal was already widespread.

IV. It's not redeeming the time at all

Ephesians 5:16 is clear about redeeming the time. Gambling does not redeem the time. There are other ways to have recreation. Since it happens in the night most of the time and people go home so late after gambling, they have wasted good energy they could have used for tomorrow. Evenings are better spent in fellowship, Bible reading, cooking the meals and whatever productive activities have to be done. Many people are unable to submit during deadlines because of gambling.

V. It's all about the love for money

1 Timothy 6:10 warns that the love for money is the root of all evil. Money is important however it is a poor master while it is a good servant. When people are controlled by their money, that's when trouble comes as people should be the ones in control of their money. Casinos are run based on the premise of its owners as well as to for them to get rich quick. It really fuels the greed of people creating an addiction that does everything listed above... all rooted from the love of money. Clearly the Bible wasn't joking.

Here's are some interesting facts from Pastor Mike Stahl's blog:
  • Harrah’s (now Caesars Entertainment, Inc.) is the single largest casino operator in the world, with casinos in seven countries on five different continents. In 2010, they reported revenues of $8.8 billion, $6.9 billion of which was derived from gamblers losing to the House (casino).
  • The Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida bought the entire international and U.S. Hard Rock CafĂ© hotel and casino franchise in 2006 for $965 million using revenues from their U.S.-based tribal casinos.
  • Annual costs to society, per person, with problem and/or pathological addictions to gambling are $2,945 per problem gambler and $10,330 per pathological gambler every year.

Think that's a good figure? Just wait until one reads what Pastor John MacArthur has prepared for a LONG series of lessons against gambling in his website, well this entry kind of just a decoration of his rather deep study against the vice. In fact, here's a LOT and we mean a LOT of meaty content against gambling, diligently prepared in a rather thorough manner:


There is hope for any unsaved gamblers. The answer is in Jesus Christ! Since many of them are most likely unsaved, it would be best for them to click on the salvation page right now and see how they as wretched sinners as they are can get saved from their sins and get eternal life. Sadly many people love gambling so much they refuse to get saved.