Editor’s Note: This is one article in a special section on the role of money in a Christian’s life. Other articles in the series: "Biblical Principles for Financial Security" and "Eating Well on a Budget."

Gambling

by Bert Williams

 Jesse’s addiction began with a sports betting pool. A friend invited him to join, and over two weeks of the football season he won $300. He had some bills to pay, and the money helped.

 After those first two weeks, he didn’t do as well, but the itch to win grew. He didn’t realize it at the time, but it was the first step toward a gambling addiction.

Jesse bought tickets for the state lottery at a convenience store near his home, and again had some modest winnings. Then, while he was traveling on personal business, Jesse stopped in at a casino. His wife had stayed home with the kids, and he had some time to kill before meeting his last appointment. He won more than a thousand dollars in an hour—then lost all of it. After a couple more hours he left the casino with a new $300 charge on his credit card—and nothing in his pocket.

Jesse should have learned from that experience, but addictive behavior is not rational. He had the strong impression that if he went back, his luck would change and he would be back to winning.

The next month, when Jesse’s wife, Carole, was balancing their checkbook, she asked him about the cash advance on the Visa card. For the first time in their eight-year marriage, Jesse lied to Carole. He had forgotten to tell her about the transmission repair, he said.

Jesse found reasons to go back to the town with the casino. His luck turned positive just often enough to feed his addiction, but before long he was thousands of dollars in the hole, and the bills were piling up at home. Carole knew something more was wrong than the mounting, unexplained debts. However, whenever she tried to talk to Jesse, he just grew angry and made excuses.

Though Carole had always trusted Jesse, she finally faced the reality that he was lying, and that he was in some kind of serious trouble. Carole sensed that, whatever trouble Jesse was in, it was jeopardizing the entire family.

It is a tale repeated all too frequently. Some high stakes gamblers—former NBA star Michael Jordan comes to mind—are millionaires with money to burn if they choose, but most gamblers are working people who become obsessed with the thought that they can solve their financial problems with a quick win. It is a ruinous idea.
 
According to research reported by Clear Lead, Inc., about 2.5 million adults in America are pathological gamblers. Another three million are problem gamblers. 15 million adults are at risk for becoming problem gamblers.

According to the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, a survey of adolescents found that more than 80 percent of those between 12 and 17 say they have gambled in the last 12 months. More than 35 percent say they gamble at least once a week. Gambling addiction is not just an adult problem, and it is an epidemic that is sweeping North America.

What should a Christian think about gambling? The quoting of a few Bible texts will not cure a gambling addiction, but for Christians who wonder whether gambling is a legitimate form of entertainment, Scripture can be eye opening. Though the Bible does not directly address the subject of gambling, a number of Biblical principles apply. Consider the following: 

Be content with what you have (Philippians 4:12-13). Contentment in life has little to do with material possessions. You can find both happy and unhappy people among both the rich and the poor. Contentment is based on cheerful, open-hearted trust in God’s loving care. By contrast, gambling seeks contentment through getting more money.

Don’t be greedy (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Money in itself is not bad, but greed is destructive, and can lead to spiritual ruin.

Provide for your needs by honest work (Proverbs 12:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). The work ethic is a basic teaching of scripture and a basic philosophy of successful people. The only dependable way to provide for honest needs is honest work.

Trust in God to supply your needs (Matthew 6:25-33; Philippians 4:19). Trying to gain wealth without effort is evidence of lack of trust in God’s care.

Love your neighbor (Mark 12:31). In the unlikely event that you win at gambling, your winnings always—without exception—come from the losses of others. If one person wins $300,000 in a state lottery, tens of thousands of people had to buy tickets to provide for that one winner’s haul. One person has won. How many have lost?

Be kind to the needy (Proverbs 14:21). Many studies demonstrate that gambling preys upon the poor. Those with less education and lower income do the most gambling. Everyone who gambles, regardless of personal financial circumstances, is supporting an industry that exploits the poor.

Set a good example (1 Timothy 4:12). Any gambling, even the occasional buying of a lottery ticket, can encourage others to gamble. A person who gambles only occasionally—and whose risk of addiction may be low—may nevertheless set an example for someone else who eventually becomes a gambling addict.

Be a good manager of the resources God has given you (Matthew 25:14-30). With His parable of the talents, Jesus made it clear that Christians are responsible for investing their resources wisely. By no stretch of the imagination can any form of gambling be considered wise investing.

The sad story of Jesse and Carole is not real—at least in one sense. The story is a composite, drawn from the real experiences of several real people whose lives were thrown into chaos by compulsive gambling. Similar stories involving real people are repeated every day.

Such a story can have a happy ending if Jesse, with Carole’s loving support, faces reality and gets help. Too often, though, the story ends tragically in broken marriages, wounded children, and ruined lives.

There is a reason that big winners in lotteries make the news: they are exceedingly rare. The odds against winning are astronomical. But the sad stories don’t end with the losers. Many stories about “winners” indicate that even those who win the money do not win in their quest for happiness.

The message is clear: If you don’t gamble, don’t start. If you do gamble, stop. If you can’t stop, get help now. Here are websites for three organizations that can help:
www.gamblersanonymous.com
www.istoppedgambling.com
www.addictionrecov.org

(Originally published in the January/February 2008 issue of Lifeglow, the large-print magazine of Christian Record Services for the Blind)