Is Gambling a Sin?

The morality of gambling has been put to a test throughout the millennia and since the dawn of human history. Mankind has often wondered if gambling is an actual sin. Today we take a closer look at this philosophical conundrum and discuss the possibility of gambling being an actual sin. We will examine gambling as both a sin and a vice and take a look at what religion has to say about gambling – from the Quran to the Bible. So, is gambling a sin after all?

Is Gambling a Sin According to the Bible?

No. The Bible makes no mention of gambling being an actual sin. The Holy Scripture generally has provided details explanations of sin and what qualifies as such, but games of chance have been left out of the equation entirely. This could be because gambling as such wasn’t too popular at the time.

Then again, Scripture does mention a few things that can be interpreted as gambling being a sin. Those mostly have to do with avarice, that is the love of money. After all, Proverbs 13:11, 23:5, Ecclesiastes 5:10 advises against seeking ways to get “rich quick.” The love of money is also frowned upon.

“Casting lots” is another activity that is mentioned in the Bible and it has to do with the division of the land under Joshua. It’s a procedure that was reportedly instructed onto the Israeli by God himself, making for an interesting philosophical debate.

But when we draw the line, all we can say about gambling being a sin based on the Holy Book’s interpretation is that the activity itself is not but developing a love for money is. It’s a fine balance, but one that it’s important to distinguish between.

Maybe Gambling Is Not a Serious Sin After All

Many people hope that just because gambling could be a sin, it’s at least not a serious sin. We believe this is the wrong way to look at this case. In fact, we would argue that gambling never was a sin to begin with. Yes, it can lead to temptation and lead to problem gambling – but even this is not a sin. Rather, it’s a mental health condition that we, as a society, have grown aware of and are able to address.

The spiritual and religious interpretation of gambling as a sin is not one that necessarily comes from an understanding of addictive behavior for example. But even taking this aside, the evidence to support the claim that gambling is a sin is sparse at the very least.

So, instead of acquiescing to committing “moderate sins,” we need to tell ourselves that gambling is not a sin at all and be on the lookout for the more serious consequences that unchecked gambling could have on us.

In What Religion Is Gambling a Sin?

Islam. According to the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslim people, anyone who lives in this religion is forbidden from gambling. It’s cited as a societal ill. The explanation is actually very well-formulated and while you may be tempted to accuse the Quran of religious bias, the actual text is very well-formulated and presents a strong argument against gambling:

Agreement between participants is based on immoral inducement provided by entirely wishful hopes in the participants’ minds that they will gain by mere chance, with no consideration for the possibility of loss.

But even then, we need to understand that sinfulness is partially subjective. We may feel bad or sinful for participating in games of chances innocently, i.e. betting small amounts while others may not feel the same moral remorse even if they were to spend a small fortune on gambling.

Just because a religion states that gambling is a sin, it doesn’t mean it necessarily is. Assuming that men could know the will of God is also presumptuous and not entirely accurate. Piousness should not be equated to a single hobby, and it is usually a more complex read of a person’s desires and how they act them out. With this being said, Islam still pictures gambling as a sinful activity.

What Does the Catholic Church Think of Gambling as a Sin?

The Catholic Church has not explicitly condemned gambling and has taken a rather “high road” approach and while Christianity may be split between Protestantism, Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Catholic Church dioceses, the consensus is that gambling isn’t inherently a sin.

The Catholic Church for example has made no statement, in public or private, whether it condemns gambling, although if done in excess to the point where it becomes a social or communal problem, the Church would be one to step in and advise moderation. In a way, the Church has mostly been a source of guidance but not outright prohibition.

Apart from the seven deadly sins, there isn’t much that the church has tried to pile on believers, and gambling certainly isn’t one of them. But, to be perfectly clear, gambling can become sinful when it leads to agreed-upon sins such as greed, and even envy and wrath. It’s true that while gambling is clearly not a sin, it can easily become a gateway to it.

Does God Bless Gambling?

No evidence supports this claim. This doesn’t mean that God condemns gambling either. Remember, religion is mostly interpreted by man, and it would be arrogant to assume that anyone understands the Divine predisposition towards any activity that is outside of the Bible or the Quran.

It is possible, though, that both texts have been influenced by mankind and our own understanding of what one thing meant. In this sense, God may have only given us signs as to what he means – or doesn’t mean – but it’s ultimately our own interpretation that has lived on.

To circle back to the original question, it would be surprising if God opposed gambling as such – it just seems too every day. And besides, God is all about giving man free will and the right to exercise that free will.

O Tempora, O Mores: Or How Our Perception of Gambling Changes

Going from our past paragraph, the interpretation of gambling is somewhat subjective to mankind. This being said, we cannot help but recall the popular Latin saying “O Tempora, O Mores” which essentially means that things change.

For example, it would have been impossible to have lotteries in the Arabic world until a few centuries ago, but lotteries are actually taking place in many countries where Islam is the main religion. So, with this in mind, we can brand something as sinful today, just like drinking and smoking cigarettes were “sins.” While these habits can be harmful and there is growing evidence to suggest that even moderate intake is harmful, they are perfectly normal and not necessarily considered a “sin.”

To wrap up, we do not think that gambling is a sin nor that you should worry about it being one. If you think that your anxiety about gambling may be rooted in a deeper reason and your excessive participation in this activity, we strongly recommend seeking help from a trusted local service provider. Reaching out about your gambling problem is definitely something you should do – but do not mistake it for sin.

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