Gambling *Moved from Singles*

[trentlogain2]

Is it wrong or right? Are you indifferent? If you care to answer the first, please round your responses to the nearest biblical answer. Thanks

 

[Riddik7]

Well i spose it depends. Why are you gambling for one... is your goal to get something someone you know owns by gambling with them? Or are you just at the casino hitting the slot machines a bit? In one situation the ten commandments would say no... the other should be fine though.

It also depends on how you gamble... are you gambling in ways that may hurt someone be it you or someone else? Are you gambling so much that its an addiction? like anything else to much is obviously bad, also if you are doing it in a way that could cause harm or loss to others then you realy shouldn't be gambling.

 

[Luther073082]

I don't think the bible provides a firm answer. So I think this is a matter of personal choice.

As for my personal choice I do not gamble at all.

My feeling is that if everything I "own" really belong's to God then it is a vast mis-use of his resources to gamble it.

 

[Blank123]

there aren't any Biblical passages for gambling that i can thik of. what is God saying to you on the matter? thats whats important

 

[trentlogain2]

I don't think the bible provides a firm answer. So I think this is a matter of personal choice.

As for my personal choice I do not gamble at all.

My feeling is that if everything I "own" really belong's to God then it is a vast mis-use of his resources to gamble it.

Same here.

I have a buddy who told me a funny story of how he went into his glove-box to grab his lottery ticket, and God spoke to him through the means of a radio preacher. It was pretty funny. Especially when he imitated the broadcaster's voice. Anyway, next time I see him I want to ask him what arguements the preacher put forth to go against gambling.

 

[kevlite2020]

You guys are right that the Bible doesn't say anything about gambling, but I will mention that there are ways in which it would recommend you spend your money differently. Instead of gambling, giving to the poor would be the suggestion. And like many other things of this world, gambling is dangerous when it becomes an addiction, but not all so bad in moderation. I gamble typically once a year. I never gamble with money that I have no problem losing, no matter how sure I am that I'll win.

 

[bluelime2]

There isn't anything in the bible on gambling that I'm aware other then the fact that the soilders gambled for Jesus's robes when he was crucified because of the quality of the fabric and weave (apparently it was woven in one piece without a seam which is harder and more expensive.)

However there's also nothing on heroin addiction - however it's pretty obvious that that's a no go as a christian.

You have to use common sense on anything that's not directly mentioned in scripture. Like already said - does it hurt anyone? Does it set a bad example? Is it wise?

The odds are ultimatly on the house in any casino which is why it's kind of a senseless habit over time. No matter how many times you win, you'll ultimately lose in the longterm because you're fighting a mathimatical equation that's stacked against you. It doesn't work.

 

[trentlogain2]

Casting lots for His garments! I didn't think of that. Excellent post.

 

[Blank123]

You guys are right that the Bible doesn't say anything about gambling, but I will mention that there are ways in which it would recommend you spend your money differently. Instead of gambling, giving to the poor would be the suggestion. And like many other things of this world, gambling is dangerous when it becomes an addiction, but not all so bad in moderation. I gamble typically once a year. I never gamble with money that I have no problem losing, no matter how sure I am that I'll win.

yeah, if i'm at the drugstore and have a few extra dollars i might buy a lottery ticket, but i know its a waste of my time an money to spend any real time at a casino so i don't bother. i'd rather spend that money on something that matters - like tuition or books

The odds are ultimatly on the house in any casino which is why it's kind of a senseless habit over time. No matter how many times you win, you'll ultimately lose in the longterm because you're fighting a mathimatical equation that's stacked against you. It doesn't work.

yep, when i worked selling pull tickets it always amazed me that people would actually get angry with me after spending hundreds of dollars on their own free will to buy from me when the odds of winning were printed in plain sight - and they weren't great odds

thats what gambling is - a gamble. you might win, but there's an even better chance that you won't

 

[Riddik7]

i have friends and family who do it just for fun on occassion... it's not something where they are trying to get rich or anything... i personaly don't gamble out of habit, but i see where they come from where it's like paying to play any other game except you might get lucky and win the jackpot, it's not a means to get rich, just to have some fun.

 

[Inkachu]

It's wasteful, and that isn't a godly virtue.

And the fact that state lotteries have 300 million dollars sitting in the lottery fund while the citizens are losing jobs and standing in welfare lines is beyond wasteful.

 

[Im_A]

Is it wrong or right? Are you indifferent? If you care to answer the first, please round your responses to the nearest biblical answer. Thanks

If I had the money, I'd play poker quite a bit. Hoping that PA gets legislation to have card tables at the casino.

 

[Penumbra]

It's wasteful, and that isn't a godly virtue.

And the fact that state lotteries have 300 million dollars sitting in the lottery fund while the citizens are losing jobs and standing in welfare lines is beyond wasteful.

They use that money to earn far more money for those people, so it's the exact opposite of wasteful.

Here's the Pennsylvania Lottery Benefits Page:
Pennsylvania Lottery - Benefits Older Pennsylvanians. Every Day.
They've given hundreds of millions of dollars to older citizens.

Here's the New York Lottery Benefits Page:
New York Lottery
Last year they gave 2.54 billion dollars to their school system and scholarships from the lottery.

A lottery is great because it's basically volunteer taxes.

-Lyn

 

[Im_A]

They use that money to earn far more money for those people, so it's the exact opposite of wasteful.

Here's the Pennsylvania Lottery Benefits Page:
Pennsylvania Lottery - Benefits Older Pennsylvanians. Every Day.
They've given hundreds of millions of dollars to older citizens.

Here's the New York Lottery Benefits Page:
New York Lottery
Last year they gave 2.54 billion dollars to their school system from the lottery.

-Lyn

I just heard that today from a guy that I met at the pub today that is going to let me know when him and his friends are having a poker game in my area.

I also found out about how the state controls how you win at the casino which is frustrating but with the casino, you know exactly where it is going that you spend and don't win and it is going to good causes.

 

[IDDQD]

I'm indifferent about it. While I like to play casino games (poker FTW), I don't gamble with real money. I use things like cookies, Starburst pieces, coupons, etc. Like with many things in life, it's all about moderation, responsibility, and self-accountability for one's actions. If gambling starts to interfere with one's life via addiction, obsession, compulsion, etc., then they need to seek help.

 

[Trashionista]

Providing it doesn't become an addiction, it's fine.

I rarely gamble. I'll put $20 into a slot machine once a year, but I don't really get any high off of it or anything.

 

[CoachR64]

<staff edit>

I have no problem with it when it is used for entertainment and done ina responsible manner. Same as alcohol. For some, it may be perfectly and for others it may be a horrible vise that needs to be avoided.

So for me, if it is "disposable income," then I have no issue with people playing some games. I like to play from time to time, and I only take the amount of money I am comfortable losing and leave the ATM card at home.

Coach

 

[Trashionista]

It's wasteful, and that isn't a godly virtue.

So is having pate once in a while over canned tuna, or designer shoes over Payless.

Everything's wasteful in some capacity. You're paying $20 to the House for some enjoyment during a Poker game. I don't see how that's all that different than spending $20 on two movie tickets to see Paris Hilton 'act.' It's mindless entertainment, that's all.

 

[Stravinsk]

There are not too many things in life that are not a gamble.

Risking the fruit of your labour at the Casino is no less gambling than:

-Buying a stock you think will rise in price
-Buying land you think will appreciate in price
-Buying or entering a business/partnership that you think will make a profit
-Devoting time to a skill that you think will be marketable
-Giving your $$ to a preacher or a church with the primary motive of reaping a greater financial reward

Put simply, "gambling" is any endevour where one will risk their time/work(which is represented by $$) in the hope of reaping something greater from it in the same form (other's time/work, represented by $$)

Doing this at the Casino is generally foolhardy - since all the odds on every game (except poker, where you are simply paying to use the venue) are against you.

Morally, I do not see the problem with it, unless:

You gamble money you cannot afford to lose
Your gambling hurts someone else
Gambling causes you to covet someone else's things - for instance, I will not play poker with friends for anything but pocket change.
It consumes your life and affects charity

I personally have won quite a few thousand dollars(after losses) over the course of the last year playing a specific bet at the Casino which I know has the smallest odds against me (in other words, the Casino has a very very small advantage). I have to recognise that it is still foolhardy though. Winning can be a trap.

 

[Im_A]

There are not too many things in life that are not a gamble.

Risking the fruit of your labour at the Casino is no less gambling than:

-Buying a stock you think will rise in price
-Buying land you think will appreciate in price
-Buying or entering a business/partnership that you think will make a profit
-Devoting time to a skill that you think will be marketable
-Giving your $$ to a preacher or a church with the primary motive of reaping a greater financial reward

Put simply, "gambling" is any endevour where one will risk their time/work(which is represented by $$) in the hope of reaping something greater from it in the same form (other's time/work, represented by $$)

Doing this at the Casino is generally foolhardy - since all the odds on every game (except poker, where you are simply paying to use the venue) are against you.

Morally, I do not see the problem with it, unless:

You gamble money you cannot afford to lose
Your gambling hurts someone else
Gambling causes you to covet someone else's things - for instance, I will not play poker with friends for anything but pocket change.
It consumes your life and affects charity

I personally have won quite a few thousand dollars(after losses) over the course of the last year playing a specific bet at the Casino which I know has the smallest odds against me (in other words, the Casino has a very very small advantage). I have to recognise that it is still foolhardy though. Winning can be a trap.

Couldn't agree with you more even though I don't consider it foolhardy, but a sport