Is Gambling a Sin According to the Bible?

Morals and sin are something that has been discussed for millennia, and many have wondered whether the act of gambling constitutes a sin. Why the debate? Is gambling bad? 

Well, gambling proposes a conundrum because while it is likely to be a waste of money, it isn’t exactly an evil act and, when occasionally done and in moderation, causes no physical or emotional harm to anyone. For some people, playing the lottery or enjoying a game of poker is an enjoyable experience and no more expensive than, say, a trip to watch a movie or a meal in a restaurant. So, why, then, is it such a contentious issue? Is it wrong?

This article will examine all of the arguments as to whether gambling is a sin in Christianity. We’ll look at what is written in scripture as well as take a look at other religions and their views on gamblers and the act of gambling. 

What is gambling?

Before we go on to discuss what the Bible says about gambling, it’s important that we all understand what does gambling mean. Essentially, gambling is when you risk money on a game or activity in order to win something (usually more money). Though many people believe wagering is fun and rewarding, a lot of people end up finding it addictive. When betting turns into an addiction, it is financially ruinous and can also have a great impact on people’s mental well-being, work, and relationships. In most countries online gambling became an essential part of the culture, so many gambling regulations and laws appeared. Gamblers can find so many options like Canada's minimum 1$ deposit casino sites that allow them to play on a low budget without risks.  

But let’s see what the Bible says about gambling.

What Christians Say About Gambling

So, what does the Bible say about gambling? Let’s find out.

There is no specific mention of gambling in the Bible. However, events of “chance” and “luck” are mentioned. Christian scripture is quite clear about what constitutes a sin, but gambling is not mentioned. This might be down to the fact that when the Bible was written, gambling wasn’t very popular. Even so, biblical interpretation can be used to form biblical arguments against gambling. There are a few mentions of things that could be linked to gambling, such as having a love of money and avarice.

For example, Ecclesiastes 5:10 states:

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. Those who love money will never have enough. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

This could be linked to gambling quite easily, though it is not explicit.

Other examples are Proverbs 13:11 and 23:5, which state:

Dishonest money dwindles away,
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)

And:

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,

    for they will surely sprout wings

    and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:5).

The act of “casting lots” is also mentioned in Joshua 18:10:

And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions. (Joshua 18:10).

This was a procedure that God apparently instructed, which is interesting in itself.

Furthermore, there are passages in the Bible that discourage people from profiting from another person’s loss – which is essentially what gambling is.

So, what does all this tell us in reality? Is the Bible against gambling? It’s down to personal interpretation, but it seems like while the act of gambling itself isn’t a sin, having a love for money and wealth is. 

What do Christians say?

While we’ve explored what’s written in the Bible itself, it’s a good idea to look at what Christian leaders interpret from this scripture. Some leaders will say that gambling is sinful because, as per the 10th commandment, thou shalt not covet. Gambling could be covetous behavior.

Different denominations of Christianity might also interpret scripture differently. Methodists, for example, have a long-established view of gambling, in particular when people are gaining money at another person’s expense.

The Methodism founder, John Wesley, described the act of gambling as a means of gain that was inconsistent with Mark 12:31 and Matthew 22:39 – “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

In fact, during the 1800s, gambling was believed to be as equal a threat to the spiritual, financial, and moral well-being of the poor as alcohol.

Evangelical Christianity has also been heavily opposed to the act of gambling for some time. 

What about Catholics?

Catholics are known to be some of the more strictly religious Christians. The Catholic Church, however, has not made a statement either publicly or privately about condemning gambling. If a member of the Catholic Church were to develop a communal or social problem because of gambling, then the church would work with them. Ultimately, the Catholic Church mostly works as a guide to gambling in moderation rather than prohibiting gambling outright.

Besides the seven cardinal sins, the Catholic Church hasn’t tried to pile too much onto its followers. But let’s be clear if gambling leads to sins like envy, wrath, and greed, then despite not being a sin, it is certainly a gateway to one.

Does God Bless Gambling?

There is no evidence to suggest that God blesses gambling. However, it was, apparently, his instruction when Joshua cast lots. Despite there being no blessing of betting by God, there is no condemnation of it either. It’s worth remembering that religion is an interpretation of scripture, and it wouldn’t be wise to assume what God’s thoughts and feelings were on the activity outside what is written in the Bible. 

When we consider scripture further, we need to remember that it was written by more than 40 different people over many centuries. Essentially, we’re reading their interpretations of events. What’s more, the original scriptures were not written in English (given that they didn’t exist back then – the first records of written English date to around 600 AD). 

The Old Testament was mainly written in Classical Hebrew with some Aramaic (Daniel and Ezra). The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, though there were a few Aramaic phrases dotted throughout, for example, “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?” (My Gog, my God, why have you forsaken me?). Koine Greek simply means ‘common Greek,’ and it was the language of the common people at the time the New Testament was written. 

But what does all this mean about betting being a sin? What we’re getting at is that despite what scripture says, we must remember this is a translation from another language into English, and it is also the author’s interpretation of things too.

For instance, the above Bible quote: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” appears differently in different versions of the Bible:

• Have love for your neighbor as for yourself. 
• You will love your neighbor as yourself. 
• Love your neighbor as yourself. 
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
• Love your neighbor as you love yourself. 
• Love others as well as you love yourself.
• Love your neighbor as yourself. 
• Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thou lovest thyself.

As such, we can certainly see how different interpretations are possible. In essence, God has given us mere indications as to what he means or doesn’t mean, and it is up to us to interpret these indications.

To summarize this point, it’s worth remembering that God has given us free will – and we have a right to exercise this free will. 

What exactly is gambling?

We’ve touched briefly upon what we mean by gambling but let’s look at things in more detail, including its history. There are three elements to gambling. Firstly, it involves some game of chance. Secondly, there is a sum of money wagered on the outcome. Thirdly, there is a prize if you win. 

Some people often refer to gambling games as ‘gaming’ or, when it’s online, iGaming. In this regard, it is usually a game of skill rather than chance, although there are often elements of both. 

There have been many different types of gambling throughout history. Right from ancient dice games and bets on animal fights all the way to state lotteries, and roulette wheels in Las Vegas, up to smartphone betting and online casino apps.

There are many reasons people engage in gambling. Most people do it recreationally for a little bit of fun. Some people actually make a career out of it and become professional gamblers. There are, of course, lines that can be crossed, which poses a problem. 

Problem gambling means that a person is engaging in gambling activities and their consequences are negative – this might or might not constitute an addiction. Gambling addiction has now been recognized as a disorder as per the DSM-V (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Version 5).

Is gambling in the Bible?

We’ve briefly answered the question ‘what does the Bible say about gambling?’ when we were talking about Christians, but there are lots of mentions of actual acts that could be interpreted as gambling.

We’ve previously discussed Joshua casting lots. (Joshua 18:10) and this act of casting lots features prominently throughout scripture. Here are the examples:

• Numbers 26:54: “Divide the land by drawing lots, and give a large share to a large tribe and a small one to a small tribe.”
• 1 Chronicles 24:5: “Since there were Temple officials and spiritual leaders among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar, assignments were made by drawing lots.”
• Acts 1:26: “Then they drew lots to choose between the two men, and the one chosen was Matthias, who was added to the group of eleven apostles.”
• Jonah 1:7: “The sailors said to each other, “Let’s draw lots and find out who is to blame for getting us into this danger.” They did so, and Jonah’s name was drawn.
• Matthew 27:35: “They crucified him and then divided his clothes among them by throwing dice.”

Of all of these examples, it is the last one – where lots are cast for clothing belonging to Jesus – that is the closest example of wagering in the Bible. This is because it involved a dice game rather than using lots to help make decisions.

Here are some other instances where we could infer gambling:

• Proverbs 15:27: “the greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
• 1 Timothy 6:9: “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.”
• 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
• - Galatians 5:26: “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Gambling will lead to further sin

Many people who’ve asked is gambling a sin in the Bible and have come to the conclusion that no, it is not have also come to another revelation. Even those who believe gambling in itself is not a sin can appreciate how the act of gambling can lead to sin.

Technically, gambling leads to covetousness – you want to win, and you’re likely jealous of someone who does play and wins. Yet, there are other sins that can come off the back of gambling, particularly if it is an addiction. 

When you go to a brick-and-mortar casino, they will be promoting alcohol. Drinking alcohol isn’t a sin. In fact, the Bible describes wine being a gift from God “that makes man’s heart rejoice” (Psalm 104:15) and a substance with medicinal value (1 Timothy 5:23). Let’s not forget how Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-10). 

However, drunkenness and overdrinking are condemned in the Bible. One of the reasons for this is that it impairs your judgment and thinking ability. Proverbs 23:29-35, it describes what happens when you overdrink. For example, “for in the end it bites like a serpent, And it secretes poison like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will speak perverse things.” (Proverbs 23:32-33).

Ultimately, mixing alcohol and gambling is a surefire way to lose money and develop an addiction to one or both. 

Furthermore, have you ever noticed how sex workers often stand around near casinos? This is because they know that people who go there have money to spare (and might have had a drink too). They also know that some men might be enticed by them if they’ve lost money.

In What Religion Is Gambling a Sin?

So far, we’ve seen that betting isn’t a sin per se in the Bible and in Christianity. In which religions, then, is it a sin?

Islam

According to the Quran, in Islam, gambling is prohibited. This came about because the Arabs had developed a habit of gambling (the same goes with alcohol), and so Allah brought about commandments. You can find a reference to this in the chapter Al-Baqarah (The Cow):

“They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs].” Thus, Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.” (Quran 2:219).

In another verse (Quran 5:90-91), the Islamic position on gambling and alcohol are made even clearer with them being referred to as “an abomination of Satan’s work”.

Judaism

Like Islam, wagering is labelled as a sin in Judaism, yet there are two reasons why. Many Rabbis believe that the act of gambling means theft. The person who has a loss really counts on winning. This means they unwillingly hand over their money. The institution or other gambler who takes this money is, therefore, said to be stealing it. 

Like the Bible, the Torah has no specific passages relating to gambling, but some Rabbis interpret that Moses directed Jews not to let gambling corrupt them. 

Hinduism

Unlike most established religions, Hinduism doesn’t have a single text or credited founder. That said, there are manuscripts that are referenced to find answers from authority. One such manuscript is the Mahabharata. 

In this text, there is a passage that describes an incident with betting. The incident goes like this: King Yudhisthira is playing dice when someone tricks him into wagering the whole kingdom, and he loses. For Hindus, this is a clear lesson that deters them from gambling and being taken advantage of. 

Another ancient text called the Manusmriti describes the act of gambling as a sin. The text says: “drinking, gambling, women (not lawfully wedded wives), and hunting, in that order, he should know to be the very worst four in the group of (vices) born of desire.”

Why is gambling categorized as a sin?

One reason why gambling has been categorized as a sin is because of its links with other sins and vices. For example, Las Vegas started to become known as “Sin City” back in the early 20th century in Block 16 of downtown Las Vegas. This area (found on First Street in between Steward Avenue and Ogden Avenue) was home to lots of vices: whiskey drinking, prostitutes, and gambling. 

At this time, there were only two blocks in the city where alcohol could be served without any restrictions: Block 16 and Block 17. Block 17, however, didn’t have ‘bordellos’ – brothels that existed between 1906 and the second world war. 

With liquor, sex work, and gambling linked, it’s clear why gambling has been categorized as a sin as a result. 

Whatever your personal beliefs on whether or not gambling is a sin, no one can deny how this hobby is often associated with vices – and addictive ones at that. Even if you don’t believe gambling to be a sin, it’s clear that there is nothing inherently honourable about it, either. 

Which countries see gambling as a sin?

It’s worth saying that if a country bans wagering, then it obviously associates this with some form of sin that is punishable by law. Let’s look at which countries currently ban gambling or some types of gambling. 

Singapore

Singapore has a partial ban on wagers. Private lotteries and national lotteries are allowed in certain cases. All sports betting in land-based establishments is banned, but you can go to a land-based casino perfectly legally. So, though you can’t bet on the outcome of a football match, you can take a punt on a roulette wheel.

United Arab Emirates

With the UAE being an Islamic nation, it should come as no surprise that the country prohibits gambling. There are no land-based casinos here. People in this country still manage to find a way around using online casinos, though, but the practice isn’t commonplace. If people do engage in betting or wagering in any way, they can be imprisoned for as long as two years. 

Cambodia

This country has a long record of problematic gambling. As such, betting is prohibited in all cases apart from state-funded lotteries. Visitors to Cambodia are allowed to gamble, however, and you can even visit a casino – the ban is purely for Cambodian nationals.

Qatar

Qatar is one of the strictest countries when it comes to gambling. It’s safe to say that it’s seen as a sin here. All types of gambling are prohibited with a blanket ban. Of course, wherever bans are in place, you’ll always find illegal underground gambling dens, and many people manage to access offshore online casinos despite the ban. 

Lebanon

Lebanon is another Muslim country that bans gambling, and the government actively blocks online casino sites from people in the country. There are loopholes, though – and these are in the form of casino boats. With Lebanon being a coastal country, boats can transport players into foreign waters to enjoy games legally and outside of their own county’s law.

North Korea

It probably comes as no surprise to find out that North Korea sees wagering as a sin and, therefore, prohibits it. Under Kim Jong Un, anything that is connected to a free market or the idea of one is prohibited. Guests in the country, however, are free from this rule like Cambodia.

How Our Perception of Gambling Changes

Like everything in life, people’s perceptions of things change over time. Can you believe that doctors used to promote smoking? Before the 1950s, there was no evidence of it being harmful. Nowadays, however, almost everyone on the planet acknowledges just how bad tobacco is for our health. We don’t consider smoking to be a sin, rather it’s just a bad habit.

Despite what we’ve said about religions and dominations that prohibit gambling, most are beginning to soften towards it. In the Arab world, where Islam is the main religion, there are now some lotteries taking place. 

And while governments and countries are generally relaxing their laws when it comes to gambling, more and more people realize just how problematic it can be. 

A recent report by one of the biggest licensing bodies in gambling (The UK Gambling Commission) showed that 82% of people believed there to be too many betting opportunities around these days. This has increased by 3% in 12 months. What’s more, 73% of those surveyed said that gambling was dangerous for family life. 

The biggest change was in people who thought gambling should be discouraged (62% - up 4% in 12 months) and people who thought it would be better if gambling was banned completely (29% - up 4% in 12 months). 

Could gambling be seen in the same way as tobacco in one hundred years’ time? Who knows. The more societies there are allowing wagers, the more we will see a change in years to come. 

Conclusion

Can we say with certainty then that gambling is a sin? Not really. Since gambling isn’t one of the seven deadly sins, nor is it spelled out clearly in scripture, we cannot say that it is a sin. It is worth recognizing, though, that with gambling, there is more chance of a person committing other sins. As Hebrews 13:5 states: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

FAQ 

• Is it really a sin to gamble?

No. There are only a few passages in the Bible that touch upon gambling and whether or not it is a sin is dependent on individual interpretation. 

• Which religions see gambling as a sin?

Islam sees gambling as a sin, and it is written in the Quran as such. Judaism and Hinduism also strongly oppose betting. Christianity, on the other hand, isn’t as clear-cut.

• Is the Catholic Church fine with gambling?

Yes. In Catholicism, like the rest of Christianity, the church will offer guidance and support on gambling but will never brand people who enjoy gambling and will never say the act is a sin either.