The Church's role in countering the expansion of gambling has been likened to David fighting Goliath. The overwhelming influence of gambling monies allows this industry access to all levels of government and extends even to elected public officials who benefit from contributions to their campaigns.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
1 Timothy 6, NRSV
The church is often left a "voice crying in the wilderness" as states, counties, and cities look to gambling revenue as an answer to filling budget gaps. U.S. society does not want to pay for the services we expect from government, raising taxes is anathema while balancing state and local budgets through gambling is embraced.
Gambling is a terrible example of stewardship of the resources God gives us; it creates social costs that are hidden and often do not become apparent until long after lotteries, casinos, betting parlors and game rooms have become entrenched in communities.
The National Research Council found that "many families of pathological gamblers suffer from a variety of financial hardships" and "children of compulsive gamblers are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs" as well as an increased risk of becoming pathological gamblers. The report estimates the cost of job loss, unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, poor physical and mental health, and treatment for pathological gamblers comes to $1,200 per year and $715 per year for problem gamblers.
Biblical and Theological Context
"Gambling, as a means of acquiring material gain by chance and at the neighbor's expense, is a menace to personal character and social morality. Gambling fosters greed and stimulates the fatalistic faith in chance. Organized and commerical gambling is a threat to business, breeds crime and poverty, and is destructive to the interests of good government. It encourages the belief that work is unimportant, that money can solve all our problems, and that greed is the norm for achievement. It serves as a 'regressive tax' on those with lower income. In summary, gambling is bad economics; gambling is bad public policy; and gambling does not improve the quality of life." (2004 Book of Resolutions, "Gambling," ¶203)
"It is expected that United Methodist churches abstain from the use of raffles, lotteries, bingo, door prizes, other drawing schemes, and games of chance for the purpose of gambling or fundraising. United Methodists should refrain from all forms of gambling practices carried on in our communities and should work to influence community organizations to develop forms of funding that do not depend upon gambling." (2004 Book of Resolutions, "Gambling," ¶203)
Scripture reference: 1 Timothy 6:10
What GBCS is Doing
Supporting strict regulation of gambling and enforcement of the Internet gambling ban.
Opposing expansion of gambling.
Interpreting statements of the Church on American Indian sovereignty as it relates to Indian casinos.
Resourcing annual conferences and local churches on gambling.
Under Clarence True Wilson the Methodist Board of Temperance, Prohibition, and Public Morals became one of the most potent forces for moral progress, social reform and better government.
Downloadable Resources
There are currently no downloadable resources available for this issue area.
Links
National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion
NCAGE seeks to influence national legislation relevant to stopping the expansion of gambling and assists grassroots organizations in defeating all attempts to expand organized gambling throughout the United States, and assists those organizations in rolling back organized gambling wherever possible.
National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling
NCALG compiles information on the adverse personal, social, economic and public health impacts of gambling and disseminates it to citizens and policy-makers at the local, state and national levels.
We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We believe private and public economic enterprises are responsible for the social costs of doing business, such as employment and environmental pollution, and that they should be held accountable for these costs. We support measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. We further support efforts to revise tax structures and to eliminate governmental support programs that now benefit the wealthy at the expense of other persons.
Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship. As an act of faith and concern, Christians should abstain from gambling and should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice. Where gambling has become addictive, the Church will encourage such individuals to receive therapeutic assistance so that the individual’s energies may be redirected into positive and constructive ends. The Church acknowledges the dichotomy that can occur when opposing gambling while supporting American Indian tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Therefore, the Church’s role is to create sacred space to allow for dialogue and education that will promote a holistic understanding of the American Indians’ historic quest for survival. The Church’s prophetic call is to promote standards of justice and advocacy that would make it unnecessary and undesirable to resort to commercial gambling— including public lotteries, casinos, raffles, Internet gambling, gambling with an emerging wireless technology and other games of chance—as a recreation, as an escape, or as a means of producing public revenue or funds for support of charities or government.
