GAMBLING A Dangerous Pendulum

It Is Wrong Economically… 1.Does NOT bring in revenue

Wisconsin Study of 17 casinos $655m gross, $326m netted… Shrinks down … To $166m with lowest estimated cost of compulsive gambling factored in To breaking even with mid-range costs To negative impact with higher costs

It Is Wrong Economically… 1.Does NOT bring in revenue 2.Does NOT help local businesses

Revenue from lotteries, race horse gambling and riverboat casinos brings Illinois government approximately $820 million a year… When they spend on gambling, that is money that otherwise go to clothing stores, groceries, and other businesses…. Also not calculated in the $820 million state revenue is the loss caused by the increased problem of gambling addiction. -Senator Paul Simon THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF GAMBLING IN THE U.S.- The Congressional Record

It Is Wrong Economically… 1.Does NOT bring in revenue 2.Does NOT help local businesses 3.Does NOT increase wealth

40 % of lottery winners end up in financial distress. 33 % of lottery winners end up filing for bankruptcy

It Is Wrong Socially… 1.It will cost the community

For every dollar the gambling revenue brings into the state, it will cost $3 to $7 in hidden costs. - Professor John Kindt Business Department, University of Illinois

It Is Wrong Socially… 1.It will cost the community 2.It will cost people jobs

For every job created, the surrounding community will lose 1 to 2 jobs. - Professor John Kindt Business Department, University of Illinois

It Is Wrong Socially… 1.It will cost the community 2.It will cost people jobs 3.It is directly linked to societal ills

15.4 million adults and teens meet the criteria for pathological gambling This is directly linked to… 1999 Summary Statement by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission Divorce Child abuse Spouse abuse Domestic violence Bankruptcy Crime and suicide

It Is Wrong Morally… 1.A devastating influence on youth

1.3 million teens in the U.S. were “problem” gamblers 30,000 underage gamblers were turned away per month in Atlantic City 90% of teens in Massachusetts have purchased lottery tickets figures

It Is Wrong Morally… 1.A devastating influence on youth 2.A devastating influence on homes

20% attempt suicide 60% seriously plan their suicide 70% wish they were dead 99% commit crimes 100% become physically abusive When it comes to problem gamblers…. These compiled statistics are higher than the same statistics for alcoholics or drug users.

It Is Wrong Morally… 1.A devastating influence on youth 2.A devastating influence on homes 3.A devastating attack on the poor

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting!

Ephesians 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Colossians 3:5 Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command.

Matthew 22:37-39 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command. 3.It encourages a love of money

1 Timothy 6:9-10 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 a pang.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command. 3.It encourages a love of money 4.It is sowing to the flesh

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command. 3.It encourages a love of money 4.It is sowing to the flesh 5.It bears evil fruit

Matthew 7:17, 20 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command. 3.It encourages a love of money 4.It is sowing to the flesh 5.It bears evil fruit 6.It is sinfully addictive

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

It Is Wrong Spiritually… 1.Gambling is coveting! 2.It breaks Jesus’ 2 nd command. 3.It encourages a love of money 4.It is sowing to the flesh 5.It bears evil fruit 6.It is sinfully addictive 7.It is worldliness

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Tertullian “If you say that you are a Christian when you are a dice player, you say what you are not, because you are a partner with the world.”

The Pendulum is Swinging…. And gambling in any form is dangerous… Economically Socially Morally And spiritually