A Biblical Understanding

While the Bible does not speak directly about gambling, there are a number of principles that Christians must take into account when developing a view on the issue. Gambling touches on several key biblical concepts. Among them:
 
• The Sovereignty of God: Many forms of gambling are presumed to be a game of chance or luck. The very concept of luck is unbiblical, as God is in control of all events and situations. The Bible teaches that God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and notions of luck and chance contradict this teaching.

• Greed, Covetousness and Work: Gambling appeals to a “get rich quick” mentality. The lure of quick and easy wealth drives people to regular participation in gambling. The desire to gain wealth and possessions without work is inconsistent with mature Christian character. Proverbs 12:11 encourages people to work the land and not to chase fantasies. Paul speaks of contentment as a good thing in Philippians 4:11-12, and all types of gambling undermine contentment. II Thessalonians 3:6-12 condemns laziness and idleness, which are fed by gambling.

• I Timothy 6:9-10 reads, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” While this passage is not specifically about gambling, it certainly is a clear warning about the mindset that leads people to gamble, and the consequences of gambling addiction.

• Concern for the Poor: Numerous studies have shown that those with lower incomes tend to gamble much more proportionately than those with higher incomes, and few if any people escape poverty through gambling. God’s concern for the poor (Psalm 82:3) requires that Christians oppose institutions that do further damage to the needy in our culture.

• Stewardship: Matthew 25:14-30 describe God’s concern that all people faithfully manage the possessions that they have been given. Gambling clearly is wasteful management of possessions and thus represents poor stewardship.

• Addiction: Gambling has been shown to be an addictive behavior. In I Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “I will not be mastered by anything.” For Christians to participate in an activity that clearly leads many down this path is unwise at best and sinful at worst.

Gambling: A Public Policy Issue

While it can be clearly demonstrated that Christians ought not to participate in gambling, making the case that gambling ought to be illegal is more complex, considering that many in decision making positions do hold a Christian worldview. Among the pro-gambling arguments are the allure of easy tax revenues, the mentality that no one should force their morality on another, and the belief that gambling is just “harmless fun.”
 
However, a clear case can be made that legalized gambling does significant damage to individuals, children, families, societies and economies. It is vital that Christians be able to clearly communicate this danger to others in order to win the public debate over this topic.
 
The following arguments can be effective in demonstrating the dangers of expanded gambling in Nebraska. For details and research explanations, see the links at the end of the article.
 
• Gambling does economic damage. The societal costs in crime, lost worker productivity, bankruptcy, depression and suicide more than offset any modest increases in tax revenues. While projected tax revenues rarely materialize or last, the costs associated with treatment, law enforcement etc. more than offset any revenue increase, resulting in damage to local economies.

• Expanded gambling results in more money being spent in casinos, not just the transfer “home” of money previously spent out of state. This increase in spending has been shown to result in less money spent at other local businesses, actually doing harm to local economies.

• Also, claims of “job creation” are not borne out by any research. States similar to Nebraska with expanded gambling have not seen net increases in jobs with the addition of casinos.

• There is no reason to think that Nebraska would become a gambling “destination”. Nebraska’s casinos would offer little to distinguish themselves from the types of gambling easily available in other states. Most of the money spent in Nebraska casinos would come out of the pockets of Nebraskans, and roughly a third of the revenue created by these casinos, were they to exist, would end up filling Las Vegas pockets (who are also the strongest lobbyers for legalized casino gambling in Nebraska).

• “Letting the people decide” is not good policy-making. Many Senators claim to oppose gambling but still support putting the issue on the ballot, saying that the people need to have a say in the matter. This violates the spirit of a representative form of government, where legislators represent their constituents and are expected to act on the dictates of truly benefiting the state, as well as their conscience. Putting the issue on the ballot would result in a wildly mismatched public relations campaign, pitting the millions that casinos have at their disposal against the very limited resources of economics and other anti-gambling groups. Also, the people still have the option of the initiative process if they choose. However, there has been little grass-roots support for such an initiative in the past.

• Gambling does damage to families and individuals. As noted, expanded gambling brings with it a host of social costs. Bankruptcy, for example, increases significantly when gambling is legalized or expanded. Arguing that “people get what they deserve” doesn’t hold up in this case. Who can argue that the children of a gambling addict deserve the fate that awaits them? Gambling is certainly not a victimless crime. In addition to bankruptcy, other associated problems include depression, suicide, and divorce. There is no reason for our state to embrace an institution that would cause such damage to the poor and the defenseless.