Australians spend and lose more money on gambling than any other country. That’s $25 billion of bets every year.
The 2022 federal parliament inquiry into online gambling found that four out of five gamblers were at risk of harm. There were stories of deep suffering including financial ruin, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, and mental illness.
Gambling is a major public health issue, but is it a spiritual issue? What does God have to say about gambling?
Let’s start by answering:
“What is gambling?”
Gambling is a game of chance with the aim of making money. The money won comes through the loss of others.
Sandy Grant of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney (previously St Michael’s Cathedral, Wollongong) has contributed to many of the elements of this letter. He defines gambling as:
To gamble is to wager on a contest or to play at a game of chance for stakes. A stake is a prize one person stands to gain through the loss of others.
Is gambling a sin?
So, is it sinful to bet on sports, have a go on the pokies, or buy tickets for the school raffle? Here are a few biblical reasons to see gambling as a sin.
- Gambling fails to love our neighbour. Jesus calls us to love God and our neighbour (Matt 22:37-39). Gambling is attempting to win the money of others. We may try to argue that we’re trying to win the money of the betting company or casino, but their money always comes through the losses of others. Most gambling is designed to be addictive and hurts people and those close to them. Gambling is fundamentally unloving.
- Gambling is driven by covetousness. This is wanting what belongs to others, which is forbidden by the 10th Commandment (Exod 20:17; Col 3:5). The gambling industry is built on sinful desires of materialism and greed.
- Gambling opposes a biblical work ethic. We’re to work honestly for our wages and shouldn’t expect to get wealth without working for it, and certainly not through the loss of others. (Eph 4:28; 2 Thess 3:7-10).
- Gambling isn’t faithful stewardship. All we have is a gift from God that God has given us to manage wisely (Matt 25:14-30; Prov 22:16). The odds are always stacked against the regular punter and in favour of the operators. Gamblers always lose in the long run and in the short term too.
Last week was GambleAware Week in NSW. The big goal of this campaign is to “increase awareness of the risks of gambling and gambling harm.” The words risks and harm stand out.
Devastatingly, gambling often harms those who can least afford it.
So what can we do about it?
We can love our neighbour by doing what we can to reduce the risks and harm of gambling to people in our families, churches and society.
We can start by refusing to participate in gambling.
We can point each other to Jesus, our Good Shepherd who rescues us from sin. He has come so that we may have true life, and have it to the full.
And we can take action now by writing to our federal MPs calling on them to do what’s needed including a complete ban of advertising for online gambling.
Use this helpful resource from Wesley Mission to contact your federal MP.
Let’s love our neighbours together by taking action to reduce gambling harm.
Read more:
- A conversation between Tony Payne and Phillip Jensen about Christians should respond to gambling
- Ban Sports Bet Ads ASAP: Media release from Sandy Grant
- Professor of Public Health, Samantha Thomas on why the evidence is against a partial ban on gambling advertising
For free, confidential advice and support, call GambleAware on 1800 858 858 and arrange to talk to a counsellor near you.
In Him,
Hosea Luy
Assistant Minister | 9.45am & 11:30am Easy English Congregation
