I.        “I’LL BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW…”

A.      Whereas gambling was once an underground vice conducted in secret places under the cover of darkness, it is now a socially acceptable pastime.

                                                             1.      Consider these quotes from a report entitled “Place Your Bets” from the publication American Demographics in September 2002.

a.       “According to a study by Harrah’s Entertainment, 53.2 million Americans - 27 percent of the U.S. population over age 21 - visited a casino last year (2001), averaging a trip about once every two months or 5.7 times a year.”

b.       “The National Opinion Research Center [NORC], at the University of Chicago, reports that the percentage of American men who have ever gambled rose to 88 percent in 1998, up from 75 percent in 1975. The share of women who have gambled at least once in their lifetime increased to 83 percent, up from 61 percent.”

c.        “The NORC estimates there are 5.5 million ‘pathological’ and ‘problem’ gamblers in this country today and an additional 15 million who are considered to be at risk.”

                                                             2.      Also, the Barna Research Group found in a 2003 survey that among the adult population, 17 percent had bought a lottery ticket in a typical week (37 million people). Twelve percent said they had placed a bet or gambled on something besides a lottery during a typical week (26 million people).

B.      Gambling is also a major industry in the United States.  Consider the following facts about gambling and the gambling industry according to the American Gaming Association:

                                                             1.      In 2004, the legalized gambling industry profited $78.6 billion in the U.S., which is more that the gross state product of seventeen states for that same year.

                                                             2.      The local, state, and federal governments also profit tremendously.

a.       Eleven states have commercial casinos operating, and those state and local governments received $4.93 billion in tax revenues from those casinos in 2005.

b.       The gambling industry is also a major employer of Americans, creating over one million jobs, which of course generates more revenues for government.  Casino employees earned more than $12.6 billion in wages, tips, and benefits in 2005.

c.        All but eight states now have state or interstate lotteries.  In 2004, these lotteries brought in $21.4 billion dollars in revenue.

                                                             3.      Even many churches and charities participate in gambling via raffles, bingo, and other games to raise money.  In 2004, such games brought in revenues of $1.9 billion.

C.      Gambling is also the source of many problems in the United States.

                                                             1.      In the first ten years after casinos opened in Atlantic City, the city's crime rate tripled. (States, Cities Ignore Odds, Place New Bets On Gambling,” USA Today, June 16, 2003)

                                                             2.      “Gambling is an addictive behavior, make no mistake about it . . .  Gambling has all the properties of a psychoactive substance, and again, the reason is that it changes the neurochemistry of the brain.” (Howard Shaffer, Managerial and Decision Economics)

                                                             3.      The National Gambling Impact Commission found that at least 1.2% of the U.S. population were lifetime compulsive gamblers in 2000, an increase of 50% over the previous decade.

                                                             4.      According to the Government Accounting Office, 53.5% of pathological gamblers reported having been divorced, while only 18.2% of non-gamblers were divorced.

                                                             5.      “About 18% of problem gamblers reported that they had contemplated suicide in the year prior to the survey, six times the proportion (3%) of non-problem gamblers.” (R. Keith Schwer; William N. Thompson; Daryl Nakamuro; “Beyond the Limits of Recreation: Social Costs of Gambling in Southern Nevada.” p. 4)

D.      These facts are sufficient to demonstrate the massive influence of gambling in our nation.

                                                             1.      Because of the money involved and the popularity of gambling, it is not an issue that will go away or get better anytime soon.

                                                             2.      Therefore, God’s people in this nation need to be aware and understanding about the truth regarding gambling.

II.      WHAT IS WRONG WITH GAMBLING?

A.      There is no explicit command in the Bible stating, “Thou shalt not gamble.”  However, this does not mean that the subject is not addressed.

                                                             1.      It would impossible for the Bible to explicitly address every conceivable situation that man may encounter.  Even if it did, it would then be impossible for us to read and understand it all.

                                                             2.      Gambling is addressed in the Scriptures in the same way as many other activities are addressed, which is through principles and guidelines that must be wisely applied to everyday life.

B.      Let us consider some of the biblical principles and guidelines that apply to the subject of gambling.

                                                             1.      The Bible warns against the trap of greed.

a.       The driving force of gambling is greed.  The gambler is not satisfied with what he has, but rather he is consumed with acquiring more.

b.       Consider the following Scriptures and how their truth is displayed in the statistics regarding gambling cited above.

i.         “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1Tim. 6:9-10)

ii.        “He who profits illicitly troubles his own house.” (Prov. 15:27a)

iii.      “A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.” (Prov. 28:20)

iv.      “Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.’” (Luke 12:15)

c.        Gambling is a greedy trap that seduces a person with promises of wealth and success, but in the end it punishes him with loss and corruption.

d.       The Bible also prohibits greed (or covetousness) as being equal to idolatry (Col. 3:5).  A person who is consumed with greed makes his own appetite into his god, thus forsaking the worship of the Lord.

                                                             2.      The Bible sets forth the godly means of acquiring gain.

a.       The Bible allows for several ways that an individual may profit.

i.         God has ordained for man to work in order to profit and get sustenance (Gen. 2:15; 3:19; Eph. 4:28; 2Thess. 3:10-12).

ii.        The Bible also endorses the practice of exchanging goods and services for profit (Matt. 25:27; Prov. 31:23-24).

iii.      God also allows for gifts to be given without expectations of payment or return (Luke 6:34-35; Acts 2:45).

b.       However, the gambler hopes to acquire something for nothing without working or paying for it.  He is lazy and profits only by chance rather than by honest industry.

                                                             3.      The Bible instructs us to avoid “bad company” (1Cor. 15:33).

a.       Few activities are accompanied by so many other evil deeds as gambling.  Everything from alcohol to drugs to crime to prostitution is associated with gambling.  No one can involve himself in such things without being corrupted.

b.       God has instructed us not to participate in such things nor be associated with them in any way (Eph. 5:11; 1Thess. 5:22).

                                                             4.      The Bible instructs us not to be enslaved to anything or anyone except for Christ.

a.       Paul wrote, “I will not be mastered by anything” (1Cor. 6:12).  We also should determine never to come under the control of anything of this world.

b.       However, gambling has a tendency to enslave.  As cited in the facts above, compulsive gambling affects a significant portion of the U.S. population.  Gambling can be as addictive as alcohol or drugs.

                                                             5.      Above all, the Bible commends love.

a.       The apostle Paul wrote, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

b.       However, the gambler hopes to benefit at the expense of another person.  His business is to steal from his neighbor with the neighbor’s permission.

c.        Likewise, the gambling industry, state governments, and even churches who involve themselves in gambling seek to benefit by the misfortune of others.  In every way, this is a violation of God’s law of love.