On the epidemic of online gambling and sports betting

Armed with the knowledge “the house always wins” (which the author here cites), I’ve teased friends who are going to Vegas that if they want to lose money, they can just write me a check, and I’ll even send a thank you note. One response was telling; “yes, but you don’t give me that huge shot of adrenaline when those dice are rolling or that card is being flipped.”

So when we’re talking about the habitual/pathological gambler, what we’re talking about is a person who is, at least a good portion of the time, something of an adrenaline junkie. Worth noting as well is that the person I’m remembering was a “high functioning alcoholic” who also liked strip clubs—something that I’ve also noticed in casinos. So the whole environment is designed to generate quite a bit of compulsive behavior, I dare say.

[Bert Perry]

…So the whole environment is designed to generate quite a bit of compulsive behavior, I dare say.

And is, therefore, contra-indicative of the fruit of the Spirit (particularly temperance). Does that mean we can actually preach/teach against it without having to endure “legalism” taunts from our fellow brothers?

Well, as someone who understands that few if any people actually admit they’re trusting in dead works, I’ve held back from accusing people of outright “legalism” on any issue for a while.

But that noted, I think it’s fair to note what’s going on in any number of areas. For gambling, yes, the goal at most casinos is to turn off your brain and turn on your hormones. For issues closer to home for most of us, the goal at most fast food joints is to turn off your brain and turn on your hunger. We might say the same about action movies—turn off your brain and escape.

The question, really, is then do we try to proscribe all these things, or do we simply note what’s really going on and let people make their own decisions?

[Bert Perry]

The question, really, is then do we try to proscribe all these things, or do we simply note what’s really going on and let people make their own decisions?

It’s not a completely easy question, but I think it’s still unwise in the best of circumstances.

At one of my previous companies, we hired a guy (not a Christian) who had already made his internet millions. 4 times a year, he took a vacation to Vegas. His philosophy (at least stated) was, don’t gamble more than you could afford to lose. I couldn’t verify it, but he claimed his vacation limit was a $10,000 loss, and he claimed to stick to it. Out of the years he was at our company, I think he came back a winner only about twice. I asked him why he bothered since he mostly lost, and he said it was worth the enjoyment to him. I thought it was risky to even be doing what he was doing, but he claimed he could stick to it.

As I said, I couldn’t verify that he did what he said, but given his wealth, his lifestyle wasn’t out of line in most areas. He drove a Boxster, which is a nice car, but hardly what he could have afforded. He also had a very nice house, but again, for his wealth, it was much more modest than what he could have afforded. He only worked at our company because he enjoyed it, was good at it, and it gave him something to do. I still think, however, that he was playing with fire. He didn’t tell me to mind my own business, but I could tell that’s what he was likely thinking.

I had no evidence that gambling was ruining his life, like it would for some, it’s been years since I’ve seen him since we both moved on from that company, and we were only co-workers, not friends. I don’t know if his behavior has caught up with him or not, but without evidence, and given the years I knew him, I can’t say that it must have. But even if it did not, that’s not what I have heard from anyone else I have known who gambles regularly. Just on my anecdotal evidence alone (which isn’t conclusive, but works for me), I would say that to think you are in the category of not letting it get away from you, would be taking a big risk, and that it’s better to stay away. Plus, although my co-worker’s money was not mine, I always wonder what better things that money could have been used for rather than helping make casino owners rich.

I certainly can’t declare regular gambling a sin on its face if the person can afford it, but I see it as poor stewardship, and it’s definitely something I’d stay away from as unwise. If that makes me a legalist on the topic, I can live with that.

To my friends who insist that their trips to Vegas (or their buying a lottery ticket) is synonymous with other entertainment expenditures - paying Disney’s every growing ticket prices, going to an NBA game, beach vacation, etc. - and that they’re not spending more than they can afford on something they enjoy, I ask them this:

How do justify participating in a system, thereby helping prop it up, that preys on the vulnerable and exploits/oppresses image bearers?

With the realization that the term “social justice” may by frowned upon by some SI readers, gambling (whether in a casino or buying lotto tickets) is a social justice issue. Kingdom ethics do not allow followers of King Jesus to participate in a system that is predicated on the exploitation and oppression of the hurting and/or downtrodden and/or spiritually struggling and/or mentally/psychologically struggling image bearers.

If some want to label me a legalist for my stance, I don’t care. And I don’t care because they obviously don’t know how to correctly define legalism.