What does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin?

A Biblical Perspective on Gambling

The Bible does not explicitly condemn gambling, betting, or lotteries, but it provides strong principles that guide believers in avoiding these practices. Gambling conflicts with biblical teachings on stewardship, the love of money, covetousness, and ethical behavior. It tempts individuals to pursue wealth through luck or chance rather than through diligent work and reliance on God’s provision.

The Dangers of Gambling in Light of Scripture

1. The Love of Money

   • 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
     Gambling often springs from a love of money—a desire for quick and easy wealth. This greed can lead to many sorrows, as Paul warns, including financial ruin, relational damage, and spiritual drifting.

   • Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
     Contentment in God’s provision is the biblical antidote to covetousness. Gambling directly opposes this principle, as it fuels dissatisfaction with what God has provided and fosters a desire for more.

2. Warnings Against Quick Wealth

   • Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.”
     Gambling, with its allure of instant wealth, bypasses the biblical principle of honest labor. Quick wealth often leads to more problems than blessings.

   • Proverbs 23:5: “Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
     The fleeting nature of wealth gained through gambling is a stark reminder of its instability. Riches earned in this way are here one moment and gone the next.

3. Encouragement to Honest Work

   • 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
     Gambling undermines the value of honest work and promotes a mindset that seeks gain without effort. The Bible consistently emphasizes the dignity and necessity of labor.

   • Proverbs 14:23: “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.”
     Hard work yields profit, while pursuits like gambling often lead to loss and financial instability.

Gambling as Poor Stewardship

The Bible teaches that everything we have is a gift from God and should be managed wisely:

• 1 Corinthians 4:2: “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
  Gambling is inherently wasteful, as it risks God-given resources on fleeting and uncertain outcomes.

• Matthew 25:14–30: The parable of the talents teaches the importance of wisely investing what God entrusts to us. Squandering resources through gambling fails to honor God’s call to stewardship.

Gambling’s Ethical Implications

Gambling not only wastes resources but also relies on the misfortune of others. For one person to win, many must lose. This creates a system that is inherently exploitative.

• Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
  Gambling violates the principle of loving one’s neighbor by profiting from their losses.

Casinos and lotteries exacerbate this problem by preying on vulnerable populations, especially the poor:

• Proverbs 22:22–23: “Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.”
  The lottery, often marketed as a means of funding social programs, disproportionately affects low-income households, taking from those who can least afford to lose.

Biblical Instances of “Chance”

The Bible does reference the casting of lots, but these occurrences were always under God’s sovereign control and never involved gambling for personal gain.

• Leviticus 16:8: “Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.”
  Casting lots was used in sacred practices to determine God’s will, such as in choosing the scapegoat for atonement.

• Joshua 18:10: “Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.”
  Lots were used to divide the Promised Land among the tribes, showing reliance on God’s decision.

• Acts 1:26: “And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
  The apostles cast lots to choose Judas’s replacement, again trusting God’s sovereignty in the outcome.

In contrast, gambling is driven by greed and personal gain, not reliance on God’s will.

Serving God, Not Money

Jesus warns about the dangers of serving money:

• Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
  Gambling often reflects a divided heart, seeking wealth and pleasure rather than the kingdom of God.

A Christian Response to Gambling

1. Avoid Greed and Covetousness

   • Luke 12:15: “And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’”
     Gambling feeds a covetous mindset, focusing on material gain rather than spiritual priorities.

2. Seek Contentment in God

   • 1 Timothy 6:6–8: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
     Trusting in God’s provision frees believers from the lure of gambling.

3. Honor God with Resources

   • 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
     Gambling fails to glorify God as it misuses resources entrusted to us.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly forbid gambling, it provides principles that clearly discourage it. Gambling promotes poor stewardship, fosters greed, exploits the vulnerable, and distracts from reliance on God. Christians are called to live differently, honoring God through wise use of resources, contentment in His provision, and love for others.

Instead of gambling, believers should focus on trusting God, working diligently, and seeking eternal treasures in heaven:

• Matthew 6:19–21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

By applying these biblical truths, Christians can avoid the pitfalls of gambling and live in a way that glorifies God and reflects His kingdom values.