Whether you are gambling online, playing a game of slots or even betting on the outcome of a football match, there is an element of risk and chance involved. While some people may be able to control their gambling behaviour, others can develop serious problems. These problems can be difficult to overcome, but you can seek support from friends and family, or a gambling helpline such as GamCare.
What does it mean to gamble?
Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event with the intent to win something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. In the broadest sense, this includes any wager on an uncertain outcome, such as the roll of a dice or the spin of a roulette wheel. It can also include betting on future events, such as a football match or the outcome of a horse race.
Problem gambling is a term used to describe a range of behaviors that can range from those that put an individual at risk for more serious gambling problems (subclinical) to those that meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition diagnosable criteria for pathological gambling (PG). The latter is defined as gambling behavior that causes significant distress, impairment, or social, occupational, or financial difficulties.
The mainline Christian belief has always viewed gambling as incompatible with the Bible’s teaching. In addition to the biblical warnings, Tertullian, Hugh Latimer, William Wilberforce, John Wesley, and C H Spurgeon all strongly opposed gambling. It is a form of idolatry, placing personal desires and greed above God’s will. (Collosians 3:15)
It denies the biblical work ethic and rewards honest labour and provides the false hope that it is possible to get something for nothing. It also encourages laziness, which is condemned by Scripture (e.g., 2 Thessalonians 3:10). It can also promote covetousness, which is condemned by the Apostle Paul as idolatry (Colossians 3:5).