Articles
Don't Bet on It
* * * * * * * * * * *
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Eph. 4:28)
* * * * * * * * * * *
Over the past several decades, our nation has gone all-in on legalized gambling. State-sponsored lotteries, tribal casinos, and now online betting are raking in billions every year. This new industry is justified as a windfall for governments trying to pay their bills, but there are some downsides that prospective players should consider before they place their bets.
First, gambling has an especially destructive impact in the lives of the poor. Upper-class and middle-class bettors typically view their gambling as nothing more than a form of recreation. Win or lose, it's just an entertainment expense, like going to Disney World. But the poor play for a different reason--they hope to strike it rich and escape their poverty. Statistically, of course, they have almost no chance of ever doing so. All they will have for their lottery tickets and casino visits is a thinner wallet from which to pay their rent and buy groceries. That's why state-sanctioned gambling has been called a tax on suckers--it involves the government in a racket that scams its poorest citizens of money they can ill afford to lose. All the hype about gambling revenue funding education and veterans programs is no consolation to the young mother who can't buy shoes for her kids because her husband dropped his last paycheck on the slots.
Which points to a bigger problem: gambling can easily turn into an addiction. Gambling interests know perfectly well the risk that accompanies their product. That's why every advertisement promoting a gaming operation includes an 800 number for problem gamblers. Like any other addiction, gambling is linked to a plethora of social ills: broken marriages, bankruptcies, loss of employment, mental health issues, and crime. Do I really want to be involved in something with that track record?
The gospel advocates a more disciplined approach to money: earn it, or accept it as a freewill gift. Seeking purposely to get rich off the misfortunes of thousands of other greedy suckers is hardly a God-glorifying activity. God's people should stay away from it.
--David
