Gambling some material or physical good with the hope or the intent of gaining more at some future time is not directly contrary to divine law and it is often allowed by civil law .But this does not mean that it is a good thing. For gambling may become a sin, even a serious sin, when it goes to excess that would destroy personal honesty or cause a person to risk or lose too much as to jeopardize his family, his or her dependents and society. And always it is a sin when cheating is involved.

Our society is a gambling society. Whether it is investments, the stock market, lotteries, horse racing, dog racing, jai alai, casinos , march madness, on to sports betting of all kinds etc., we are a society that gambles. And there are excesses and abuses taking place. There is cheating going on. The gambling in our society is frequently accompanied by all kinds of evils.

Gambling is morally unacceptable when it deprives someone of what is necessary to provide for his or her needs or those of one’s family. It is morally unacceptable when there is cheating taking place. And because of excesses, abuses, and deceit that is often involved, in many ways acts of gambling are taking many down a road which leads to a fiery end.

Let it be clear, those who take part in cheating commit serious sin. In a harness race, for example, the jockey sins who breaks the horse on purpose or gets in caught inside on purpose or in any other way makes that horse finish less than where it should have. And so does a trainer who manipulates a horse or dog in some way to finish good or bad in a race. And if a jockey or a trainer knows of cheating that is taking place and does not want to take part in it but does nothing about it, as they look the other way they are guilty of sin.

Sad to say, there is a lot of sinning going on where gambling is concerned. Those sinning as such may call themselves saved by the Blood of Jesus, but they are not in a state of sanctifying grace, they are not saved in Christ, not as long as they are attached to the sin. It is not enough for you to feel bad about what you do in regards to cheating. You must repent and make restitution. Do not go along with cheating.

Betting is always wrong when one of the parties has a certainty of the outcome. So, the stockbroker who knows when to sell or buy with inside trading information, the boxers who takes a dive and the ones betting on them, the jockey who takes a dive with his or her horse and all those in on it, they sell their souls for money.

There is so much cheating in our day being done in every kind of gamble, yes in real estate and stocks and bonds and so on where manipulation is common place. One can speak along time on it all.

The point is: Many people have warped consciences often where gambling is concerned. And often these people doing the cheating or those looking the other way as people around them are cheating, are often times thinking themselves right with God when in fact they are in league with the devil. This is another effect of the false gospel of eternal security so preached and loved by so many who are Christians.

It is fun to gamble. Some people like to gamble, others like to play golf ( even here gambling often takes place-skins is a prime example), some like to bowl, and others like to fish and hunt and so on. All see what they are doing as a fulfillment of their pursuit of happiness.

Again, when there is no real harm to oneself or family and there is no cheating being done then gambling is not contrary to justice. It is not a sin. Sometimes we need recreation, but prudence should be employed.

However, the passion of gambling or of anything else, such as golf can become an enslavement and a waste of one’s life. Yes, even the golf addict can waste his life away.

Heed this: I like gambling. I was at the track. My thoughts were only on the race about to take place. When a man standing in front of me dropped over. Several people rushed to him to give aid. I would have as well. It was my first thought. But I was stopped in my tracks by a heavenly voice I recognized, having heard it before. Gods voice was strong and loud, as He said to me, ” Eddie, are you going to waste your life here like that man?” It turns out that the man was dead. I would never speak to myself something like that. So you can imagine how heavy this weighed on my heart. It was to say the least, a real eye opener.

All of us need to check ourselves to see where our minds and hearts are when we do the things we do. Like the pleasures of sex, smoking, drinking , drugs, or eating; gambling can be addicting and become a grave sin just like the sin of gluttony.

The truth be told, a gambling environment is often a breading ground for many evils. Whether it is enslavement to the passion of it, or cheating, on to prostitution and other abominations, often associated with it, it is not to be encouraged.

I cannot say I never went to Vegas( sin city). And did I have fun there? You bet I did. But I could see the occasions of sin all around me. And it did weigh on my heart.

One more thing: There are there are those Christians who believe gambling to be like any other recreation and not sinful but who tempt other Christians who believe all gambling to be a sin to believe the same as them and to gamble. This is to commit a sin. For tempting them to what is contrary to their right consciences which is not harmful to others might cause them to violate those consciences and gamble which for them would be sinful.

Those Christians who believe all gambling to be a sin and who do it are in fact committing sin. At the same time I caution them not to judge others who gamble as sinners. Those who believe that in and of itself gambling is not a sin and who do so it a manner not harmful to anyone do not sin.

It is little complicated but not really.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has been very patient with me concerning gambling. I did and could make a living at it. It is not what He wants me to do. Pray for me. Pray for all gamblers that they put God first in their lives.

God be with you, Eddie