1. A simple definition of gambling is: "To play at any game of chance for stakes…to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance…bet; wager…any matter or things involving risk or hazardous uncertainty" (Random House College Dictionary, pg. 542).

2. The Bible and Gambling Much of America is currently obsessed with gambling. Statistics (several years old) inform us that some 50,000,000 Americans gamble. Fifty billion is spent annually on gambling. Statistics from the mid sixties reveal more is spent on gambling than on education, religion, or medical care (Mr. Money, Mania and Morals, by Starkey, 1964).

3. The Bible and Gambling One book dedicated to the facts of gambling informs us that the total taken away from the public by gambling in America is greater than the combined profits of the United States steel, General Motors, General Electric - in fact, more than the combined profits from all the one hundred largest U.S. companies (Gambling in America). (Again, old statistics.)

4. The Bible and Gambling A large number of States and municipalities have now turned to gambling (lotteries, etc.) to generate revenue. Many Americans never think about gambling from the standpoint of right or wrong. Calling gambling gaming has cleverly removed much of the societal stigma which once rightly plagued gambling.

5. The Bible and Gambling Bingo is a big money generator in a number of religions. Church raffles where money is staked in order to win money is common and seldom questioned by many religionists today. "So what if it is gambling," some argue, "the money is for a good cause!" Some of my brethren gamble by staking money (paying an entrance fee) upon entering a golf or fishing tournament in order to win a prize or purse.

6. The Bible and Gambling “I affirm that to engage in gaming is not sinful, as long as one does not neglect one’s family or other responsibilities!” (A well known preacher affirmed in a debate that I had.)

7. The Bible and Gambling Gambling violates God's legitimate laws of obtaining money.  There is the law of labor (Gen. 3: 19, Eph. 4: 28).  The law of exchange (Matt. 25: 9).  The law of love (gift, Eph. 4: 28, John. 3: 16).

8. The Bible and Gambling Gambling involves tragic waste. Material things are to be used for the glory of God, not squandered away in gambling (Lk. 16: 9, Eph. 4: 28). A sign once close to my house read: "Win 25 percent of the time." Of course, that means you lose 75 percent of the time!

9. The Bible and Gambling Gambling involves covetousness. Epithumeo, one verb translated covetousness in the New Testament, is a compound word consisting of epi, upon and thumos, passion. Hence, to fix passion upon. Epithumeo vividly describes much of the mind-set which often surrounds the gambling climate. (Rom. 13: 9). Greed and avarice characterize gambling from the tossing of dice for gain in a dark alley to the multi-million dollar well lighted gambling palace.

10. The Bible and Gambling Gambling is wrong because of its fruit. Jesus said, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7: 20). J. Edgar Hoover said, "Gambling is a vicious evil, it corrupts our youth and blights the lives of adults. It becomes the spring-board for other crimes - embezzlement, robbery, even murder."