Statistics

43% of the people who call the hot line of the Council on Compulsive
Gambling say they’re addicted to lotteries. That compares with only
11% a decade ago. And the number seems destined to rise as states offer
more fast-action games similar to New York’s Quick Draw, a game so
addictive that players call it Lotto Crack.

— Readers Digest, 1996

Reasons Not To

People fond of gambling like to point out that no verse in the Bible specifically condemns such activity.

Well the truth of the matter is that gambling does violate a number of Scriptural precepts.

° Gambling encourages greediness which IS condemned. —
1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:10

° Gambling encourages materialism which IS condemned — Luke 12:15

° Gambling discourages honest labor — 1 Timothy 6:6-9

° Gambling encourages a “get rich quick” attitude — Proverbs 28:20

So, then, can we in all honesty say that gambling is not condemned by Scripture. No we can’t.