Though the bible never directly mentions gambling or lotteries, it warns against behaviors related to both. It sows financial ruin, breeds addiction and all other sins, and is driven by greed.
Gambling involves staking or betting money or something of value to win money based on luck or chance.
On the other hand, a lottery is a form of gambling involving choosing a random number to win a prize.
Both gambling and lottery are hinged on luck and involve risk.
Engaging in these activities aims to make money, usually more significant than the investment made when betting.
The Bible is silent about whether gambling and lottery are sins. However, Samson posed a riddle, promising to give thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing to anyone who got it correctly (Judges 14:12).
Also, the soldiers who crucified Jesus divided His garments and gambled to determine what each one would take (Mark 15:24).
The Bible mentions casting often, mainly in the Old Testament, an act similar to flipping a coin to make a decision.
Like many other acts, today considered ungodly and unprofitable to Christian living but not reflected in the Bible, gambling, and lottery are not healthy and wise acts that should be mentioned among believers.
What does the Bible say about gambling and lottery?
Based on observation and experience, you will agree that gambling and lottery do more harm and good to people.
They have eaten deep into people’s finances, dashed their hope, broken families, and led to depression and even death. Therefore, believers are not encouraged to gamble.
Gambling and lottery are dangerous because they are addictive.
The devil can use it as a trap to ensnare you and destroy your destiny.
It’s just like hard drugs; it’s best to avoid them than try to overcome them because it will take greater work and sacrifice to break free from their shackles.
And even if you eventually become free, you would have suffered a severe loss at different levels and degrees.
So, gambling and lottery should be blazing red flags to believers. However, if you are not convinced enough, the following biblical reason might convince you that gambling is not a godly habit and God does not want you to tow such a path.
Gambling tempts people to part with their money.
No one gambles for fun. The primary concern is wealth and money acquisition or multiplication without hard work.
Gambling and lottery companies have mastered the art of convincing people to part with their hard-earned money.
Sometimes, they offer welcome bonuses to new and existing clients patronizing them. They play all the tricks in their books to dig a hole in your pocket.
The Bible lets us know that it is the devil that tempts.
According to James 1:13, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
Therefore, the urge to stake your hard-earned money to win a more significant percentage is from the devil to steal your finances.
1 Timothy 6:9 says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
The end result of falling into this temptation is financial ruin. People have gambled with their monthly salary and also staked their cars. They consider it a risk. But in reality, it is only foolishness.
Gambling makes people greedy.
Greed is what fuels gambling habits in people. It makes someone want to use $5 to make $5000 overnight without doing anything meaningful.
Just as every get-rich-quick scheme, gambling, and lottery feed on people’s greed and take the little they have earned without giving anything in return.
Proverbs 28:22 says, “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.” There’s a thin line between ambitious and greedy.
Those who gamble feel they are on the right path to wealth. Little do they know that only wise and profitable investment brings riches. However, gambling only takes from you more than it pays you.
Therefore, do not be like greedy Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s mentee, who chased the forbidden wealth of Namaan but ended up afflicted with leprosy.
Those who chase after free money will surely pay for it with more money, which may run them down financially.
Gambling leads to laziness.
Many have abandoned jobs and businesses to play bets, lottery, pool, etc.
They have made gambling their source of livelihood.
Their lives revolve around it because it has eaten deep into the fabric of their subconsciousness.
Only lazy people who do not see the value in acquiring skills, applying those skills, and making money from them consider gambling a career choice. However, the Bible repeatedly mentions that laziness leads to poverty.
Even in the circular world, you can hardly point to a billionaire who amassed wealth through gambling.
Those who manage to win big almost always end up in poverty because they lack a basic understanding of building and maintaining wealth.
Gamblers are concerned about how to get rich quick.
They see gambling as a shortcut to success. But Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
Which road are you willing to follow to wealth?
The short routes or the longer ones? The choice is yours to make
Gambling leads to other sins.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Those desperate to make money can go the extra mile to acquire it.
A gambling addict will move mountains to get money to play games and bet.
They can even steal money to satisfy themselves. Leviticus 19:11 says, “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”
Gambling leads to the sin of covetousness.
Gamblers have a strong desire for things that belong to people.
They want to own the fastest cars, buy the biggest house, etc., just like the hardworking fellow down the street. However, they do not have what it takes to achieve these goals legally, so they resort to gambling.
Covetousness is a sin; the Bible warns us against it (Exodus 20:17; Ephesians 5:3).
It is pretty shocking the number of people that have committed suicide because of losing a huge amount and sometimes their life savings to gambling. Others take loans from people and gamble with them.
Before you know it, hopelessness and depression set in. And within a short period, they end it all. Exodus 20:13 commands, “Thou shalt not kill.”
Whether you kill yourself for losing money to gambling or you kill someone else for the same reason, you have sinned against God.
It is better to face shame and disgrace on earth than to face God’s judgment throne unprepared and unready.
Gambling involves taking advantage of people.
A person who owns a gambling company or platform takes money from his account or from investors, builds a gambling company, uses people’s money to pay back, and generates an unbelievable amount of cash.
The easiest targets of gambling sites are poor people.
These people easily fall for tricks to make plenty of money overnight.
They are fed with false hope until they part ways with the little money they use to survive. In the end, their hearts are broken into pieces.
Manipulating the poor and making them gamble is a sin.
God loves the poor and the needy and would do everything to fight for them. Proverbs 14:31 says, “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Another set of people gambling takes advantage of are those desperate for money because of a pressing need or emergency.
Those in financial crises can do anything to make money or increase the little they have overnight.
God is not pleased with that. The best we can do for them is encouragement and financial support based on our capacity.
These are better and honorable alternatives to gambling and standing the chance of losing the little such a person has.
Gambling and addiction
Addiction is a demonic hold on a person’s life. It can lead to many other challenges.
Gambling is highly addictive.
It wastes time, resources, and life.
The Apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
Anything you cannot do without has become your god.
What you call a master is crucial because your master has power and influence over your life.
Gambling suppresses and oppresses. It can bring man to submission but unto God but man and his wicked investment.
Addiction forces you to do anything to satisfy your cravings, including stealing, breaking savings, borrowing, etc.
Jesus does not oppress.
Instead, He delivers and saves. He lifts heavy off people’s shoulders and gives them peace.
If you want healing and deliverance from gambling addiction, call on God. He will hear you and deliver you from your destruction.
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David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.