Gambling is a sin?

[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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.