Gambling is a sin?

[Esaias]

I can't seem to find the prohibition against gambling in the Bible. By gambling I mean 'wagering or making a bet, dependent on some outcome' whether it be a sports event/contest or a game of cards or dice or slots. (In regard to cards, dice, slots, lotteries, etc I believe those would be prohibited by the third commandment, as those things involve the use of lots for a profane purpose, but I am not talking about that aspect. I am talking about the GAMBLING ie betting or wagering aspect.)

So, is it a sin? and if so, please provide the scripture(s) that identify it as sin.

[Jermyn Davidson]

If you play Spades or Poker, are you sinning? If so, will you explain why? I had an Apostolic Pastor who said from the pulpit that if any of his saints won the lottery, he would expect them to tithe on the winnings.

[KeptByTheWord]

I can think of no specific scripture that says wagering or betting is a sin. But then... there are many "sins" which are not specifically mentioned.

So then, the heart intent must be studied to see what is the intent and purpose of the wager/bet. If your wager/bet will harm someone, or break the commandment - do unto others as you would have them do unto you, then it would be sin. The intent and purpose of the wager is where the issue must be studied.

[mfblume]

Thou shalt not covet is the closest to get to what would be any sin.

[Evang.Benincasa]

I can't seem to find the prohibition against gambling in the Bible. By gambling I mean 'wagering or making a bet, dependent on some outcome' whether it be a sports event/contest or a game of cards or dice or slots. (In regard to cards, dice, slots, lotteries, etc I believe those would be prohibited by the third commandment, as those things involve the use of lots for a profane purpose, but I am not talking about that aspect. I am talking about the GAMBLING ie betting or wagering aspect.)

So, is it a sin? and if so, please provide the scripture(s) that identify it as sin.

Proverbs 16:33 God controls the turn out with the roll of the bones.

Leviticus 16:8–10 Aaron was instructed to cast lots for the two goats who would be used in the scapegoat offering. In this way it would all be left up to God's choice.

Numbers 26:55-56, Joshua 14:2, the allotment of land was divided unto the children of Israel by casting of lots. Again, making the decision totally up to God. Judges 1:3 the word "allotment" actually means to divide by lots, hence the word "allot."

Judges 20:9 to go into battle lots would be cast, again leaving the decision entirely left up to the Lord.

Anyway, I have had a long day, I would post more examples but I'm tired. Just a lot of work in the big city of Fort Lauderdale. No prohibition against gambling (all though I personally don't believe in doing it) so if anyone has a good Bible study on it I'm game to look at it. :)

[Sean]

If you play Spades or Poker, are you sinning? If so, will you explain why? I had an Apostolic Pastor who said from the pulpit that if any of his saints won the lottery, he would expect them to tithe on the winnings.


Now that, for sure is a sin...LOL:highfive

[Esaias]

If you play Spades or Poker, are you sinning? If so, will you explain why? I had an Apostolic Pastor who said from the pulpit that if any of his saints won the lottery, he would expect them to tithe on the winnings.

I am addressing the issue you asked about, regarding playing a game of cards. The lottery winnings issue I am leaving for others on the thread, since THAT was what I initially asked about (the gambling, wagering, betting, etc).

The third commandment says 'Thou shalt not take the name of YHVH thy God in vain.' What does this cover? It surely covers more than merely using the Lord's name as a curse word or expletive, or using euphemisms for his name as expletives. It actually covers quite a lot of ground, including things like making oaths or vows without intending to fulfill them, or reneging on oaths or vows made before the Lord. It also covers things like praying without faith, without sincerity, etc, for in prayer we call upon the name of the Lord. But if our intention is insincere, faithless, etc we take his name 'in vain', that is, profanely, without that holy reverence that is due to him, pointlessly, etc.

Now, according to the Bible, a lot is cast by a person but the outcome is determined by the Lord.=, as brother Benincasa pointed out. What exactly is a 'lot'? A lot is any method or mechanism for deciding something, that is outside human control. Drawing straws, rolling dice, shuffling and then drawing cards, using a spinner, flipping a coin, etc are all forms of lots. To the atheist, they are a means of generating a 'random' result, which is then used to determine an outcome or course of action. The atheist believes in 'chance', ie genuine randomness. To the believer, however, there can be no such thing as 'chance' in the sense of a truly random event. All events have a cause, and God is in control of things. Providence requires that God himself directs the so called 'random' events of the universe, one way or another.

Now, the Bible declares that God himself decides the outcome of a lot. The lot according to scripture is a method of appeal to God. Men would cast lots, knowing it was God who determined the result. They would take that result as the revealed will of God for that situation. Casting a lot was of course accompanied by prayer, asking God to determine the outcome of the lot in reference to the request. 'Lord, show by the determination of the lot what your answer to our dilemma is.' Devout men would take the result as if God himself had spoken - for indeed he had. There was no 'two out of three' if you didn't like the result. God had determined the outcome, so that was that. It was an end to all controversy.

So then casting a lot is essentially an appeal to God. It thus qualifies as prayer, as calling upon God to make a determination. Now, to use a lot for mere sport, entertainment, etc would amount to praying for mere sport, for entertainment, and not solemnly, in the fear of God. It would amount to a profanation of the name of the Lord. It would be like pretending to pray, in order to make a joke or for simple entertainment. And thus would be a violation of the third commandment.

Now, random number generators used by PCs and laptops would not count, because they are not truly random. They use an algorithm to generate their results. It's complicated, but not genuinely random. (This is why you should never use your computers RNG - random number generator - to develop any keys for personal crypto. Since it is developed by an algorithm, it can be hacked and cracked.) So the RNG function on a computer (including the one used by card game simulators) are not truly random. A TRUE random number generator does not use an algorithm to generate the numbers, it uses truly (!) random events (like internal PC noises, which in themselves may or may not be truly random...).

So in conclusion, it would seem to me that shuffling cards, and then drawing them, being a form of casting lots (for determining who is to win the hand), is a profanation of the name of the Lord. The vast majority of people, of course, do not think in such terms. But then again, the vast majority of people do not examine what they do in life, nor do they understand the significance of what they do in life, nor do they seek to 'bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ', nor do they care.

[votivesoul]

One should look at the stewardship of their finances and what God expects from that, as the first place to find out if gambling is a sin. Some amount of up-front money is required, with a certain amount of risk in losing it, for no reward, if lost.

Is that the kind of stewardship God wants from His people?

Additionally, to make a wager requires an oath, or a promise of a return if the wager is lost. This speaks to covenants and etc. That's another direction to look.

Also, the appearance of evil covers a whole lot that isn't otherwise named. Evil communication corrupts good manners. So, consider the associations with gambling. Stumblingblocks are created this way.

Finally, take a look at the fruit. If something has the potential to bring one under bondage, like gambling does, can it be of God? It may be (or appear to be) lawful, i.e. harmless, but is it expedient?

Therefore, a principled case against gambling can be made. It is a mismanagement of God-given finances and resources, requires (potentially unethical) oaths, associates us with the appearance of evil, may cause a brother or sister to stumble, and bears no godly fruit upon the life of a believer.

[Esaias]

What about a friendly bet between two friends concerning some outcome, like 'Hey, I'll bet you ten dollars I can eat this double cheeseburger in two bites!'

OR, retreating from the facetiousness of that example (ahem), what about for example placing a bet between two friends on the outcome of some event, like whether or not a proposition will be voted up or down, or whether or not a company's CEO will make a certain decision, or whether or not a certain person will be promoted to a certain position, etc?

[KeptByTheWord]

What about a friendly bet between two friends concerning some outcome, like 'Hey, I'll bet you ten dollars I can eat this double cheeseburger in two bites!'

OR, retreating from the facetiousness of that example (ahem), what about for example placing a bet between two friends on the outcome of some event, like whether or not a proposition will be voted up or down, or whether or not a company's CEO will make a certain decision, or whether or not a certain person will be promoted to a certain position, etc?

lol... are you wanting to get in on a certain steak dinner... ;)

[good samaritan]

The Holy Ghost will lead people in the right path. I don't have the money to spare to give to a lottery system who is making money off people trying to get easy gains. In the end it is the people who lose. I can't give scripture, but I have seen experience. I know people who have hit the lottery for like 30,000+ and they are all now divorced and there finances are not any better for it.

Winning the lottery, at casinos, etc. causes people to want to continue to play the odds. In the end it seems to have an addictive influence that is deep rooted. Although gambling isn't specifically mentioned to my knowledge in scripture to forbid it, people will be better to make the choice to abstain.

[shazeep]

funny that it isn't presented as a sin, but it is presented as evidence of a person's dissipation.

[votivesoul]

The devil gambled, once.

[votivesoul]

What about a friendly bet between two friends concerning some outcome, like 'Hey, I'll bet you ten dollars I can eat this double cheeseburger in two bites!'

OR, retreating from the facetiousness of that example (ahem), what about for example placing a bet between two friends on the outcome of some event, like whether or not a proposition will be voted up or down, or whether or not a company's CEO will make a certain decision, or whether or not a certain person will be promoted to a certain position, etc?

I personally wouldn't go for such a thing, but I also won't judge another man's servant if they did the above. I would recommend against it, though, since I see no Godly point in even a so-called harmless wager.

[shazeep]

hmm, seems like seeing no Godly point would be a good reason to abstain, lol...gambling sets up a winner, and a loser. Someone must lose, in order for someone to win.