Gambling?

[JillLars]

Do any of you gamble? Do you think that gambling is morally acceptable? I gamble occasionally (but not very often because I don't have a lot of money and I live quite a ways from the casino). I enjoy playing blackjack, but I don't spend more money than I can afford. I would usually spend like 20 dollars which is about the equivilant of a night on the town (dinner and a movie). I don't have a problem with gambling as long as people aren't spending more money than they can afford to lose. I don't usually buy lottery tickets, but that's cause I never have cash on me and you have to use cash for lottery tickets. I was just wondering if any of you gamble, and what you think about it?

 

[jenptcfan]

I know that there are those that will disagree, but I don't find anything wrong with it as long as there's no addiction to it or spending outrageous amounts of money on it. I rarely ever gamble, but when I'm home I might pick up a lottery ticket or two just for fun...never really expecting to win anything. I'm too cheap to spend much money! If I can look at going to the horse races (or whatever) as a day of entertainment and spend less than I would spend seeing a movie and having a nice dinner, then I don't really think anything of it.

Just my opinion.

 

[Living4Him03]

I am still not sure how I feel about gambling...I know it's probably not a good habit and the bible does say "Do not be mislead: Bad company corrupts good character" 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV). I know that when I have been to Las Vegas or other places with casinos, I am not around the best influences. There's smoking and drinking and it's just really depressing and sad. In Las Vegas they pass out porno mags and adds as you walk from casino to casino...they even try to give them to the ladies! sheesh! I don't think casinos are the best environment and gambling your money is not exactly a financially wise thing to do...but then again any investing you do is sort of gambling too. I think it's not a sin if you are wise about it and are not getting into debt or being irresponsible with your finances by gambling. My parents gamble a little, but they never spend more on gambling then they know they should spend. I buy lotto tickets sometimes and I don't see a problem with it.

 

[msjones21]

I know that if I ever went to Vegas, I would get into so much trouble. I can't really afford to gamble, although I do sometimes play the lotto Big Game when it gets over $100 million.

I see how gambling affects some people. There's a local convenient store that has those video poker machines inside it. I saw one lady sit there with her daughter playing on the floor next to her. People wait in line to play. It's so sad.

 

[Breetai]

I go to the casinos here sometimes. I usually put $10 or $20 in a slot machine and let 'er rip. I won over $400 once doing this!

A agree with everyone here, that it's OK as long as you are careful. A method I use is that I might have one $20 bill for gambling with. If I lose it, then I am done.

I see people putting $100 after $100 dollar bills into the machines and lose thousands in one night. It makes me want to throw up. Many of these people probably have kids in University that need the money a lot more then a casino does. I won't even start on charity.

 

[JillLars]

I usually just bring in a 20 and leave all my other credit/debit cards at home so I am not tempted to go take more out of the atm. It is sad to see people gamble away their social security checks, my dad saw someone die at a casino once, he said the guy probably lost his life savings, and just dropped dead in the lobby as my dad was walking in.

 

[Krystina661]

I don't see anything wrong with gambling if you know how to set your limits. I'm a sucker for Texas Hold'em.. can't get enough of it. If I could I'd take up playing poker professionally.

 

[Living4Him03]

*waves at Breetai

 

[The Whammy]

I have no problems with gambling as entertainment. If I go to the casino with the motive of making money, I don't go because that's when I cross the line into sin.

 

[superdave]

I know my family has a wicked history of Gambling- I know that there are generational sins that can be sent down. So- I have stayed clear of Gambling. But- I do admit- I go into convience stores sometimes and buy $1 scratch-off tickets. Just for fun.

 

[LN]

Jill - I think bringing $20 and leaving everything else behind is smart. I don't think there is anything wrong with it unless it gets out of hand.

I think if we followed 1 Corinthians 15:33 to mean literally staying away from all that is secular, we wouldn't see secular movies or listen to secular music. I know some Christians don't, but I personally do.

I'm going to Vegas on business in Feb. and I personally have no interest in gambling. Now keeping me out of the Coach store... that is another story....

 

[michael112174]

am going thru this right now....i dont gamble.....i had a problem before i was saved and i quit.......started playing no limit hold em about 2 months ago......and im really good.......took 2nd place in a free tourney of 5400 people the other day. i know if i played for money, i would be in the plus side......but i also know it could lead me away from the Lord. so i have held off.

 

[Arikereba]

I don't gamble because I don't like the things the gambling industry does; because I think that a lot of people ARE gambling money they can't afford to lose, and because gambling is called a "tax on stupidity" for good reason (NO game will, on average, give you more money than you put into it), I don't want my extra money to help casinos stay in business. But that's a personal decision, not something I would insist that anyone else agree with.

 

[Mistyfogg]

My dad works in the casino industry, he is a casino manager at a very large and well known casino/hotel that I will not mention. My parents met while working at a casino (my mom was a blackjack dealer, my dad a poker dealer). I have grown up around gambling my entire life. I see no big deal with it and have only gambled at a casino once. I even grew up with a poker machine in the game room of my house and I barely played it. On our vacations to San Diego or Saratoga, NY, we would always go to the horse racing track. I just always thought that it was fun to look at the beautiful horses. Now I live in San Diego and I have been to the races once. I don't see the big deal in gambling and it is sad that some people just gamble all of their money away and there is no way to stop them. There is an issue of FREE WILL. The casinos DO NOT MAKE these people gamble their money away. It is just like our culture to blame the casinos for people's gambling problems. 99% of the people who go to the casinos are there for the occasional fun. Just like you cannot blame bars for people becoming alcoholics. I am not saying that casinos are wonderful, happy places but I just have a little more experience on the topic. To me, Indian Casinos are the real evil thing. They have money laundering going on, drug trafficking, and they do not have to report how much they make to the government because they are on tribal grounds.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I think it is okay, as long as you do it for fun. I play poker (.25cent bets) every other week, and I go to the casino with friends every now and then. No harm no foul.

I think. however if you are going to the casino alone ... it's is a pretty bad idea.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I never saw a point to it. I can buy a book or music for 20-30 bucks and have it to enjoy for years to come.
Even a nice dinner, I at least get to enjoy the food.
Gambling is an institution with one goal in mind: to take your money. It has no desire to pay you anything.

But I have to say that it is obligatory pay an offering to the slot machines whenever you go to Vegas.

 

[urbanfaerie]

my g-ma..she's so cute. she loves to gamble. (most old ppl do, lol) but when she gets home, the lady reaks like smoke. its icky. thats why i don't gamble.. if it smelled like roses, i might bring a few bucks, just to kill time. i don't see the harm in it unless it becomes an addiction, and ppl start morgaging off their house, just to gamble.

 

[Doctor PHMG]

I think it is okay, as long as you do it for fun. I play poker (.25cent bets) every other week, and I go to the casino with friends every now and then. No harm no foul.

I think. however if you are going to the casino alone ... it's is a pretty bad idea.

I do know the Quoran forbidds it saying it is a game of the devil.

Is gambling evil? what I do know is that it has the power to take you over. We all know of the gambling addicts. Just like beer or any other thing it should be used with moderation.

I don't know if becoming addicted to it is a sign of demonic possession probably is since you are nolonger in control of yourself.

 

[JillLars]

I think it has to do with addictive personalities, they run in my family, and although I only gamble twice a year, I know that if I were to go more often I'd be in a whole lot of trouble. Its hard to explain, but the desire, and the excitement are so much that I know I have to limit myself to two times a year.

 

[michael112174]

i have been battling this for weeks now....i am good at poker, and thought about playing for $20-$40 ...but then if i win I would be convicted and it was evident after sunday....our pastor came out and had a deck of cards! and talked about the hand that the Devil is playing! WOW! after that i dont think id ever play cards for money.