Don’t Bet on It
Last week, I listened to an eye-opening episode of The Briefing by Al Mohler on The Crisis of Sports Gambling. The Briefing is a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian perspective. Each episode is between 22–25 minutes and worth listening to. I highly recommend you give this episode a listen and be aware of this growing and perilous crisis, especially among our teenage boys and young men.
Beyond what Al Mohler shares, here are some additional facts about the gambling crisis:
Super Bowl betting this year: It was estimated by the American Gaming Association (AGA) that Americans legally wagered around $1.39 billion on the Super Bowl (including things like the coin toss result, color of the Gatorade dump, length of national anthem, how many times a name is mentioned by broadcasters, first & last songs of halftime show, wardrobe choices, etc.)
Gambling Participation and Growth:
57% of American adults participated in some form of gambling in the past year, with about 30% visiting a physical casino and 21% placing a sports bet.
Sports wagering nationally has exploded since legalization in many states, with hundreds of billions wagered and billions in industry revenue.
Prevalence of Problem Gambling:
About 2.5 million U.S. adults meet criteria for severe gambling problems, and another 5–8 million have mild-to-moderate gambling issues, according to national addiction organizations.
Some research estimates that up to 1.2–6.2% of Americans (possibly ~20 million individuals) struggle with gambling problems or risk behaviors.
Problem gambling is linked to financial debt, lower savings and credit scores, and increased mental health strain in U.S. studies.
Negative Consequences Often Associated with Gambling:
Financial hardship and indebtedness, including reliance on others or accruing large debts.
Family and relationship strain, often as gambling shifts resources away from household needs and toward stakes.
Mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and increased risk of suicide among those with addiction patterns.
Behavioral escalation, including lying, hiding money, and chasing losses.
Critics also point to industry practices (like “VIP” loyalty programs) that may exacerbate compulsive betting and financial losses.
Biblical Wisdom and Warnings that Relate to Gambling and the Misuse of Money:
The love of Money and Greed: “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9–10). God warns that “those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” and “some by longing for it wandered away from the faith.” Jesus warns, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” which can apply to gambling’s focus on gain (Luke 12:15).
Unwise stewardship of resources: Scripture emphasizes wise management of what God entrusts to us (Proverbs 13:11: “wealth obtained by fraud dwindles”; Proverbs 28:20b: “he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished”). Gambling, especially excessive gambling, can violate that stewardship by risking or wasting resources that could be used for family care, charity, and other responsible purposes (Luke 16:10–11; Proverbs 27:23-24).
Work Ethic and Honest Gain are undermined: The Bible affirms the value of honest labor and reward, not “get-rich-quick” schemes (such as gambling), which can promote sloth or reliance on chance instead of work. God tells us “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23; see also Proverbs 10:4-5; Ephesians 4:28; Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 5:18-20).
Contentment and Trust in God is Ignored: Believers are called to contentment with what God provides (Hebrews 13:5: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have”). Trust in God rather than luck, chance, or wealth is woven throughout biblical teaching. God tells us, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10; see also Colossians 3:5; Exodus 20:17).
Potential Spiritual Harm: Gambling can fuel covetousness, greed, and an unhealthy desire for material gain, which Scripture warns leads to sorrow, financial sorrow, and spiritual decline. The Lord tells us to “not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
I like what Pastor H.B. Charles Jr said: “gambling is a biblically indefensible activity.” If you struggle with gambling or know someone who does, perhaps reading the book Al Mohler referenced could be helpful (Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling by Danny Funt – 320 pages).
Pastor Jeff
Foundation Faith Statement 21. Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and to bring us back to God. By His substitutionary atoning death, He alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life (Colossians 1:21–22).