The Southern Baptist Convention, in an official statement entitled, On the Sin of Gambling [click to open], declared:
The Southern Baptist Convention has a long history of opposing gambling in its various forms, such as casinos, lotteries, racing, and other gambling schemes; and WHEREAS, Gambling violates the principle of neighbor-love, necessitating the financial loss and harm of many for the gain of a few, enjoying entertainment at the expense of others (Exodus 20:17; 22:21; Leviticus 25:17; Deuteronomy 22:1–4; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). The SBC made nine declarations against the sin of gambling.
In these two posts, I am addressing arguments for and against gambling.
Arguments for Gambling
In addition to the argument that gambling is just entertainment, others defend gambling by arguing that it is just another form of investing.
1. Gambling is entertainment (See Is Gambling Sin? Part One)
2. Gambling is no different from investing in the stock market
Albert Mohler referred to an article in The Economist which stated that when it comes to cryptocurrency, and “short-dated options,” [high risk investments] “You know, that actually is probably a form of gambling.” The Economist puts it simply in one sentence, “These derivatives work a bit like lottery tickets.” Investing in traditional stock market, it’s not gambling... $50 a week into the DOW is safer than $50 in a slot machine or online betting. The house wins and so do online betting industries.[1]
Josh Hollinger noted: When you invest in a financial asset, such as stock in a company, something is being produced for financial gain, which is the principle our economy rests on. There is an underlying return or profit being generated that can be shared among investors. Sports betting, on the other hand, is a zero-sum game: One person’s gain is someone else’s loss.[2]
The SBC statement [click to open] against gambling also declared: Gambling violates the principle of work, looking to gain something for nothing, hoping for easy money rather than pursuing responsible industry, investment, and labor (Genesis 1:28; Exodus 20:9; Psalm 104:23; 128:2; Ecclesiastes 2:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–12).
Arguments Against Gambling
Here are two arguments against gambling: Gambling takes advantage of the poor and gambling is poor stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us.
1. Gambling takes advantage of the poor
John Piper provides the following information: People who make less than $10,000 a year spend on average 6% of their income ($597). Odds of winning the Powerball lottery are less than being struck by lightning (1-in-2,300,000). Odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 292,200.000.
The poorest one-third of American households purchase one-half of the lottery tickets. One study showed that the introduction of scratch-offs grew three times faster in poor areas than in others.
Studies have shown that players lose on average 47 cents for every dollar. Millions of those people got exactly nothing. To bring the average up to getting back 53 cents on your dollar, you have to reckon that some people have won a million dollars — a very, few people.
The book of Proverbs repeatedly addresses the issue of taking advantage of the poor:
“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished” (Prov 17:5).
“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him” (Prov 14:31).
“Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Prov 31:9).[3]
Not only can gambling take advantage of the poor, but gambling is a poor use of what God has loaned to us to use for His glory.
2. Gambling is poor stewardship
There is one kind of investing that is guaranteed; the dividends are 100% certain with the best high yields (Mt 6:19-21; 24). Jesus made a very revealing declaration in Matthew 6:21: “For where your money is there will your heart be also.” Wow! Some people complain, “My heart is just not in church.” Start putting your money in God’s work and your heart will follow the money. You want to know where your heart is? Look at your checking account for the past month and take note of where you spent your discretionary money. That is where your love is!
Again, John Piper, in response to the young man’s question about gambling $50 a week on sports betting, observed: Since our friend seems to have so much discretionary money .... Creatively seek out how to use all that money in an excellent way. Imagine investing $50 a week, $200 a month, in the causes of justice and gospel spreading and the relief of the suffering.
Oh my, how much fun that would be. Believe me, friend, it is more blessed to give than to receive, or to risk. It is more blessed to invest creatively in the eternal joys of other people than to play with God’s money in the dream world of fantasy football.[4]
Randy Alcorn advised: “You cannot take it [money] with you, but you can send it [money] on ahead.”[5] You can send your money on ahead by investing, as Piper advised, in the Lord’s work.
Final Advice
I close with advice from Josh Hollinger: For anyone in debt or struggling to break free [from gambling], I encourage you to reach out to a pastor or counselor for help. There’s always a path from where you are to where God wants you to be. For young men who aren’t yet facing major financial troubles, it may be a blessing to lose some bets and learn the lesson before the stakes are higher.
There are better alternatives to high-frequency sports betting on an app, even if healthier ways of enjoying sports don’t offer the same high. But part of making wise choices is not always pursuing the thing that pulls you the hardest or gives you the strongest, most immediate thrill. Instead, pursue Christ and his kingdom. There is nothing else that better deserves your time, attention, and resources—and nothing else that will satisfy so well.[6]
[1] Albert Mohler, The Briefing, Thursday, December 12, 2024.
[2] Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Josh Hollinger, Young men, Sports Betting, and a Better Way, October 31, 2025.
[3] John Piper, How Gambling Preys on the Poor.
[4] John Piper, Is it Sinful to Gamble on Fantasy Sports?
[5] Randy Alcorn, You cannot take it with you, but you can send it on head, in a lecture at Veritas Evangelical Seminary.
[6] Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Josh Hollinger, Young men, Sports Betting, and a Better Way, October 31, 2025.
[1] Albert Mohler, The Briefing, Thursday, December 12, 2024.
[2] Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Josh Hollinger, Young men, Sports Betting, and a Better Way, October 31, 2025.
[3] John Piper, How the Lottery Preys on the Poor.
[4] John Piper, Is it Sinful to Gamble on Fantasy Sports?
[5] Randy Acorn, You cannot take it with you, but you can send it on head, in a lecture at Veritas Evangelical Seminary.
[6] Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Josh Hollinger, Young men, Sports Betting, and a Better Way, October 31, 2025.