Session 27: What Does the Bible Teach About Gambling?
Notes
Transcript
Welcome to Apologetics and the Gospel. My name is Pastor Jonathan White, and I am the Lead Pastor at CrossPointe Family Church in Winfield, WV as well as a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician.
Question for Today: What Does the Bible Teach About Gambling?
Question for Today: What Does the Bible Teach About Gambling?
I am sure that we have all seen the billboards out there asking for people to call if they have a problem with gambling. There are treatment programs throughout the US to help those who can’t seem to get a grip on their gambling issue.
Yet, our national and even local governments have continued to loosen restrictions on gambling. Despite many referring to gambling as a public health crisis, the government has decided to allow more of it. It is not within our scope today to consider why we are seeing the government becoming more involved with gambling, although one certainly doesn’t have to think very hard to understand the money to be made when regulating and taxing it. This move by the government to promote such a damaging thing as gambling neglects its God-given Romans 13:1-5 requirements to protect its citizens and promote well-being. Governments drop the ball when they participate in or look the other way when deceptive practices of lotteries, casinos, and other gambling establishments deceive people into thinking that winning is easy and happens often. God hates dishonest scales as seen in the Scriptures many times and gambling establishments are set up to take much more money that they give back.
We know that when the government approves of something, our culture and society usually becomes more entrenched within the issue at hand. When something becomes easier to do and becomes legal, many in society consider it not a problem. The so-called cultural conscience can quickly become seared with a change in laws or a judicial ruling.
Unfortunately, even many within the church can follow suit. So-called cultural Christianity is more and more common today where those within the church find their values from the society around them instead of from the Word of God.
But what should we as believers do regarding gambling? And more important - what does the Bible teach about gambling?
Before hitting the Biblical treatment of this subject, let’s look at a little epidemiology regarding this issue today.
Is Gambling Really an Issue Today?
Is Gambling Really an Issue Today?
2.5 million Americans suffer from a severe gambling problem with another 5-8 million having a moderate gambling problem.
55% of American adults participated in gambling in 2025.
Our young people are being exposed to gambling regularly as well. Studies show that 60-80% of young adults under 21 years of age have at least one experience in gambling despite most states not allowing gambling until 21 years of age.
There is also a significant link to other mental health issues with gambling as 96% of adults with a gambling problem have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder as well.
(https://www.addictions.com/gambling/5-alarming-gambling-addiction-statistics/)
And gambling continues to become more prevalent.
According to an article on TrafficGuard, in 2025 Americans spent an estimated 160-170 billion dollars on legal sports betting alone.
According to an article on TrafficGuard, in 2025 Americans spent an estimated 160-170 billion dollars on legal sports betting alone.
(https://www.trafficguard.ai/blog/the-state-of-us-sports-betting)
More recent data shows that…
According the American Gaming Association’s statistics regarding Super Bowl LX (60), an estimated 1.76 billion dollars was legally wagered on that game alone.
According the American Gaming Association’s statistics regarding Super Bowl LX (60), an estimated 1.76 billion dollars was legally wagered on that game alone.
I don’t think it takes much research to note that gambling is a problem for many. Talk to many people, and you will hear story after story of people ruining their lives and the lives of their families due to gambling problems.
I once heard a great quote from a mentor of my wife’s named Amy Taggert that applies beautifully here…
Why dabble in something that someone else needed delivered from?
Why dabble in something that someone else needed delivered from?
I love the sentiment behind this quote. If something causes someone pain and suffering and bondage - why would we spend time seeing if it is going to the same to us? This wise quote can be applied to many issues. No one can become addicted to drugs if they never take that first hit. No one becomes an alcoholic unless they take that first drink.
I often tell people that we should not be asking what we can get away with - but instead we should be asking how holy can we be.
As we read in 1 Peter 1:16:
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
This should not be done in a legalistic fashion. Instead, it should be a heart of genuine love for the Lord and desire to please and honor Him. It isn’t about us - it is all about Him.
With that said, let’s jump into some relevant Scriptures on this topic.
What does the Bible teach about gambling?
What does the Bible teach about gambling?
Although the Scriptures do not explicitly forbid gambling, there are many Scriptures that teach principally against it.
Consider Proverbs 13:11…
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Here we see that wealth quickly gained is not wealth that will last. We see a principle here of hard work over a period of time in gaining wealth. We are to make wise decisions with our investments and with our labor. Gambling undermines the God-ordained blessing of work. Work existed before the Fall of man. It certainly got harder after the Fall, but work itself is not to be avoided.
Get rich quick schemes are unwise and unbiblical. Which is seen in the next Scripture as well - Hebrews 13:5 states…
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Those who gamble usually have a love of money. They want more and more money. And with this shows the sin of discontentment.
It has been said that debt is mortgaging the future for today. It is using tomorrow’s money for the present. Gambling does this as well. The risks of losing today’s money mortgages one’s future.
There is an aspect of gambling that is telling God that you are not okay with what He has blessed you with today. You should have been given more. And so you are going to go and try to gamble and get more. Philippians 4 reminds us of the importance of contentment.
Discontentment is a sin that can lead us into grave danger. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 continues to remind us of these dangers…
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Those who gamble have a desire to be rich. And so they put everything on the line in order to try to get there more quickly.
This craving for worldly wealth leaves people lost, hurt, and broken. It also leaves their loved ones hurt by their actions as well.
The love of money and following Jesus are diametrically opposed as seen in Matthew 6 where first we see Jesus say in verse 21…
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where is your treasure? Is it in this world? Is it money and possessions? Or is it in Christ. Moving ahead a couple of verses we see…
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
We cannot love both God and money. When we love money, we despise God. We become discontent with His daily provisions for us.
Jesus makes is clear - we are either about His kingdom or our own.
There is another issue with gambling as well.
Financial teacher Dave Ramsey has famously called the lottery: ‘...a tax on people who don’t understand math.’
Financial teacher Dave Ramsey has famously called the lottery: ‘...a tax on people who don’t understand math.’
In essence, he references the disparity of those who are more likely to buy lottery tickets being of lower socioeconomic status.
Although there are people of all socioeconomic statuses that gamble, there are many studies showing a significant disparity in lottery ticket purchases and income.
Those with lower incomes are much more likely to buy lottery tickets. One older but still relevant study from 1999 showed that those who made $10,000 or less per year were the most likely to buy lottery tickets.
Why bring up this fact in a Biblical discussion on gambling?
Because the Scriptures teach that we are not to take advantage of the poor. Proverbs 14:31 tells us…
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
or consider Proverbs 22:16
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Our government should not be supporting things that oppress and take advantage of the poor. Gambling and lottery tickets are certainly doing this in our culture today.
I understand that there are some out there that may say that this topic is a matter of Christian liberty. I understand the sentiment regarding this. I understand that there are no overt prohibitions that directly address gambling in the Scriptures.
However, the overwhelming evidence of Biblical principles throughout the pages of the Scriptures paint a bleak picture for the approval of gambling. One must ignore a vast treasury of Scripture to participate in this enterprise.
Paul says it well in 1 Corinthians 10:23…
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
Even if you find gambling to be lawful - which I find it hard to believe given the vast amount of Scriptures condemning it - it is certainly not helpful and does not build up.
Again, may we not spend time trying to live our lives on the edge - living as worldly as we can be - but instead may we seek to be holy for our God is holy.
Some may feel that this talk was too dogmatic or fundamental. In a world where everything is relative, I understand the struggle to hear a message that is firm like this. I pray that each of you seeks to understand the Word of God without the influence of our sinful postmodern culture. Unfortunately, many pastors and church leaders today seek to avoid difficult issues such as this one. Yet, we need to know the Bible’s teachings on these important cultural hot topics now more than ever.
May each of us stand firm on the Word of God.
(Slide Closing 1)
This presentation has been put together to strengthen the faith of believers and to challenge the unbelief of others. I pray that you have found this presentation helpful.
Also, please note that this 10-15 minute presentation cannot exhaustively address most issues. My prayer is that it stimulates you to personally research further, and I am assured that you will find the Word of God proven time and time again.
(Slide Closing 2 with outro music)
Feel free to email any ideas you would like to see addressed by emailing me at crosspointewv@gmail.com. There are slides prepared for each of these presentations which can be accessed at our church website at crosspointefamily.church and select ATG. God bless and have a blessed week.
