The biblical case against gambling

The only direct reference to gambling activity in the Bible occurs in the Gospel accounts of the Roman soldiers casting lots for possession of the garments of Jesus (Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24). Although the Bible lacks a direct commandment against gambling, Scripture does express a negative view of activities associated with gambling. Moral and ethical principles derived from the biblical text reveal that gambling contradicts God’s standards.

Some proponents of gambling wrongly argue that the practice of “casting lots” is a form of gambling (Num. 26:52-56; 1 Sam. 14:41-42; Acts 1:26). “Casting lots” discerned the will of God. The practice, therefore, does not partake of the nature of gambling. A “win-lose” relationship characterizes gambling—someone wins and someone loses. Gambling transfers something of value from one person to another based on an agreement prior to the outcome of an uncertain future event. “Casting lots” neither transferred value nor exhibited a “win-lose” scenario. Furthermore, the Bible never mentioned the practice of casting lots after the pouring out of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

A few isolated passages refer indirectly to gambling activities. Both Isaiah and Paul connected the focus on good luck or gambling with false religions.

Isaiah 65:11-12 pronounced a woe upon idolatrous Hebrews who rejected worship of the true God for the worship of pagan deities named “Fortune” and “Destiny.” “Fortune” translates the Hebrew term “gad,” a name for an astral god of luck. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament completed before the birth of Christ, translated “Fortune” as “demon.” “Destiny” translates the Hebrew term “meni,” a name for an astral god meaning, “apportioned.” The New King James captures the significance of Isaiah 65:11: “But you are those who forsake the Lord, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Gad, and who furnish a drink offering for Meni.” Isaiah described a practice of propitiating the gods “Fortune” and “Destiny” by offerings of food and drink for gaining good luck. The unfaithful substituted the gods of fortune and destiny for the providence of a faithful God. In the Bible, Canaanite place names maintained this connection between fortune, good luck, and religion, such as, Baal-gad (Josh. 11:17).

Paul highlighted the deceptiveness of gambling. He compared the methods of false teachers to the methods of gamblers by the use of the Greek “kubeia,” a term meaning “dice-playing” (Eph. 4:14). Our English word “cube” or “dice” derives from this Greek word. The NKJV and the NASB translate the Greek term as “trickery.” The term conveys the imagery of the deceptiveness of loaded dice. Like gamblers, the false teachers operated by the means of the die or trickery. The die, or trickery, fails to deceive a mature Christian grounded in true doctrine. Rather than practicing deceit, like a gambler, a Christian should tell the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Further, gambling directly violates ethical principles of the Bible, demonstrating the social evil of gambling.

The command against covetousness directly applies to the practice of gambling (Ex. 20:17). The gambling industry and the state at times, promote covetousness. The desire to possess what others have and to possess it immediately functions as one of the key motivators in all gambling activity.

God loves the poor; gambling victimizes the poor. The poor spend a higher percentage of their personal, disposable income on gambling activities with the dream of escaping poverty. Instead of protecting citizens, through some forms of gambling the state exploits its own citizens with games of chance the individual citizen has little hope of winning. The state, created by God as an instrument of good (Rom. 13:4), ignores truthful disclosure and consumer protection it demands in economic transactions.

Gambling violates the biblical standard of stewardship. God owns everything; He entrusts us with resources to glorify Him and to meet human need. To throwaway the resources of God in a game of chance disregards His authority and sovereignty. Proverbs contains a warning about the dangers of financial schemes for quick wealth (Prov. 28:20).

Gambling ignores the biblical teaching regarding work (Gen. 2:15; 3:17-19; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:10). Work is not a part of the curse of sin; God purposed for humans to work in the Garden of Eden before the fall into sin. The concept of a work ethic is a shrinking virtue in American society today. The illusion of immediate riches promoted by gambling partially explains this decline of a biblical attitude towards work.

Finally, gambling destroys Christian influence. Paul asked a series of questions as a guide in questionable matters (1 Cor. 10:23-33). Does it edify? Does it benefit my neighbor? Would my actions cause scandal to an unbeliever? Would my actions cause scandal to the church? An area of Christian influence about which parents should be concerned is their influence on teenagers, the fastest growing segment of the gambling population.

Any disciple of Christ desiring to live according to biblical ethical principles should not participate in gambling because of the association of gambling with idolatry, the deceptiveness commonly associated with the practice, the violation of biblical stewardship, and the loss of Christian influence.

Mark Rathel is associate professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.