Gambling

Introduction

Well it finally happened. After years of trying, our legislature found enough votes to pass a referendum to amend the state’s constitution in regards to a statewide lottery. In November 2002, the voters in our state will be able to decide if we want the politicians to run a state lottery. The focus is on education. Already support is accelerating because the funds raised will be earmarked for college education. Scholarships will be given to students who remain in the state. If Tennessee proceeds down this path, then we will join 16 other states who earmark their funds for education.

Just how profitable is the lottery in these states. In 1996, then president Clinton signed into existence the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. This group met over a three year period studying the effects of gambling in our society as well as making recommendations to Congress for passage of laws. In their final report to Congress, here is what was said about earmarking funds in state lotteries. “While earmarking might be an excellent device for engendering political support for a lottery, there is reason to doubt if earmarked lottery revenues in fact have the effect of increasing funds available for the specified purpose.” The commission went on to say that it is common for governments to reapportion funds once education funds begin to increase leaving a negative balance for the intended purpose. On average 2.2% of lottery funds go for earmarked purposes. This is the political side of this issue. For every $1 taken in by gambling, it takes $3 to cover the cost of increased criminal justice, social welfare and other expenses.

When we add to this data that most likely scenario for a gambler is a male (white or black) who makes less than $25,000 and little education, we begin to see that the real problem arises that those who can least afford to gamble are the ones who participate. As Christians such statistics should bother us at least to the point of acknowledging that there is something politically and socioeconomically wrong with gambling. But Christians are not immune to thinking that gambling is just another way to have fun. Christians too often look at gambling as just another form of entertainment. So today we are going to define gambling and then take a look at some reasons Christians give for participating in gambling. We will see if those reasons align with God.

Definition

Let’s begin with a basic definition of gambling. Gambling by definition is an appeal to chance with two ends in mind. The first end is to enjoy a game. There has to be a game in order for it to be gambling. The second end is the determination of ownership of wealth. Gambling is a chance decision about who will own wealth given by others. Gambling, then, is a game of chance in which wealth will be lost and won.

There is some confusion about gambling’s definition. Sometimes we will say things like “well, life is a gamble.” Certainly no one will disagree that there is a certain amount of risk involved in living. You took a risk coming to services today and you will take another when you leave. You take a risk every time you step into a shower or bath that you might slip and fall. Such risks we recognize are a natural part of life. And that is the difference with gambling. Life is filled with natural risks; gambling is making artificial risks and agreeing with others to determine winner and losers. Gambling is an appeal to chance. Gambling forces the elements of risk to increase. And then once risk is magnified, wagering wealth that you can beat the risk. While life is filled with risks, we do all we can to diminish risk. For instance, before stepping into a tub we do not take a bar of soap and wipe it across the bottom of the tub and then step in to see if we can beat the risk. Quite the contrary, we look into the tub to make sure nothing will cause us to slip. Or we might even place sticky flowers in the bottom of the tub to further reduce the risk.

Saying life is a gamble is a loose use of the term of gambling. The obvious difference is that in life we try to reduce the risk while in gambling we increase the risk or are willing for the risk to be increased. Let’s turn our attention then to the idea of a game. There is nothing inherently wrong with a game. In fact, we enjoy games. But it is the wagering of wealth on the game that makes it gambling. Some will say that the game loses it fun without the wagering of wealth. Again we are looking at an artificial stimulation in order to play the game. If someone says that they enjoy playing the game of poker, then ask them to remove the stakes. As some have said it is the wealth in the middle that makes the game playable.

So hopefully we have a clearer understanding of gambling. Inherent within gambling is the appeal to increasing risk in the form of a game in which all participants agree to the transference of wealth. Some would say that since the Bible does not prohibit gambling and since all participants are in agreement, then gambling for the Christian should be allowed. Majority agreement does not make something right or wrong. For instance, even though both participants agree to fight a duel to the death, still means murder is going to take place. Or as my mother used to say “if everyone was going to jump off a bridge, would you join them?” Let’s not make the mistake of granting gambling credence just because everyone agrees to jump off the bridge.

Biblical Principles

Let’s turn our attention to some biblical principles which impact on this subject. As has already been pointed out, the Bible is silent regarding specific commands against gambling, but that does not mean the Bible is silent in regards to principles of mercy and justice. What are some reasons Christians give for participating in gambling. First, gambling is just like the stock market. If a Christian can buy stocks then a Christian can gamble. This returns to the idea that all of life is a gamble, but makes a more legitimate argument by bringing in business.

Gambling and stocks are not the same thing by definition. Gambling is an appeal to chance; stocks try to remove as much chance as possible. Gambling is a game; stock is business. Gambling is about the transference of wealth; stock is about the sharing of wealth. The purpose of stocks is to raise money in order to build plants, buy and install machinery, to buy raw materials, and hire workers, all in an effort to produce goods.

Yes, there are risks involved, but companies try to reduce risk instead of increasing it. Some then will argue that there are some who will buy stocks hoping to make a financial windfall at the expense of other people. That is true, but such abuse does not change the basic definition of stocks nor of gambling. Such actions on the part of an individual reveal greed and covetousness. Both of which are clearly condemned in scripture. Gambling increase risk and at the same time gambling produces no goods for the benefit of society. By definition then gambling and stocks are not the same thing.

Second, some will argue that they can participate in gambling because they have disposable income. In other words, they can be social gamblers. Wagering only what they can afford to lose; therefore, hurting no one and not causing hardship on their family. First, this argument means then that gambling is wrong if it causes hardship on the family. This means that gambling is okay for the wealthy and not the poor. In other words, the validity of gambling is found in the ability of one to pay. And as we have seen the vast majority of gamblers are those who can least afford it. Such an argument falls in on itself. But let’s take this argument a bit further.

Let’s suppose a person goes to Tunica with a $50 limit. The person’s argument is that this is disposable income it doesn’t matter to me if I win or lose. In reality, they are saying it doesn’t matter if they lose. But they would like to win. You see the money does matter. Could the game be played at home without the wagering of money. Absolutely. Then why go to Tunica? Because the money makes the game interesting.

Thus, the money does matter. If you will not play the game without the stakes, then you have decided that you want another person’s wealth. Such a decision enters into the realm of greed and covetousness both of which are expressly condemned in scripture. By definition, gambling is the appeal to chance in a game so that property can be transferred. If it doesn’t matter to you if you win or lose then just send a check to Tunica and don’t go. The truth is that it matters because money is at stake and you would rather win than lose. Such a decision then means that you are taking another person’s property. By their agreement, yes. But as we have already seen such agreements do not make it right.

Gambling appeals to the idea of getting more without working for it. It is covetousness of another person’s property and wealth. It appeals to greed. Such is condemned in scripture.

The third argument used by Christians to participate in gambling is the argument that gambling is just a form of entertainment. Some like going to movies, I like going to Tunica. First of all gambling and movies are different by definition. So let’s not compare apples and oranges. However, let’s deal with the entertainment issue. Some will argue that this is a legitimate form of entertainment. That everyone deserves recreation and this is the form that has been chosen. This argument is correct in that recreation is a necessary part of life. All types of recreation are available to us; some like physical forms of recreation; others more passive. But recreation is available to all. But the basis for the Christian must be to ask what is the nature of the recreation.

What makes gambling entertaining? Surely it is wagering. The entertainment part doesn’t come from the game, but the stakes wagered on the games. And as we have already seen, once the stakes are added then it becomes important to win not to lose. And winning means you take another person’s property without paying for it. Consider this: would you go to Tunica if you knew that the slot machines would not give you any money at all? Would you go play any of the other games of chance, if you knew that there was no promise or hope of ever receiving a reward? No. Tunica thrives because people believe they can win. Thus, gambling doesn’t fit the nature of entertainment, but we have returned to winning at the expense of another person.

Let me summarize with three points which I hope will clear things up.

First, as Christians we are to promote harmony, compassion, and kindness. We are to be agents of healing. Gambling does not promote any of those things. When someone loses at the game, then disharmony arises. A rift is in the inner man comes. The person may be smiling on the outside but inside no matter how minor there is a feeling of remorse, regret, and a desire to win it back. Even those who limit their play will think in terms of next time.

Second, gambling appeals to the natural man in terms of greed and covetousness. In order for one person to win, others have to lose. In gambling we take from another person without having paid for that property. In gambling we have a desire to win more than what we walked in with. It does matter to us if we win or lose; otherwise, there would be no reason to go at all. We want to win and we would like to win big. Bill Hybels calls that the monster of More. He writes: “Part of what motivates a gambler is the hope for a windfall without having to submit to the discipline and rigors of working and budgeting and saving…At the root of wanting a windfall is a deep, gnawing dissatisfaction with your current level of provision that God has made for you.”

Third, gambling appeals to chance. Our God is a God of order not disorder. We want order in our world. Most everything about us cries out for the elimination of risk. To use the words of the gambling world “we want a sure thing.” But gambling goes completely counter to that way of thinking. The excitement and adrenaline rush which come with gambling does not make it right. Throughout scripture, God has tried to reassure us about our relationship with Him. Why? So that we would in our confidence live for him and honor him. He is not a God who delights in chances, but in confidence and assurance. Gambling goes against God’s very nature. How then can Christians participate in something which is against the nature of God?

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