What Does the Bible Say About Online Gambling? The Answer May Surprise You!

Recent events around the world have created quite a stir within the Christian community. Such things as a global pandemic, record-shattering heat, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, famine, and many other disasters have many believers wondering whether or not this is a prelude to the end times. It could be; however, throughout history, mankind has asked the very same question and particularly noteworthy were the Black Plague and the Spanish Flu pandemic in the early 20^th century.

If you are wondering exactly what this has to do with what the Bible says about online gambling, there are actually quite a few similarities you may want to ponder. Let’s begin by looking at what the Bible does say about gambling, and online casinos in particular.

A Deep-Rooted Belief System in Christianity

Here is where there is so much divisiveness between other religions and even within Christianity itself. The operative term is “belief system” and that is central to our faith. We believe that Jesus the Christ is the only-born son of God the Father and that He died for our sins, and rose again on the third day so that we might have life eternal. That is our belief, no matter what denomination we happen to have been baptised into. Yes, this is central to our faith, but even here, there is much room for interpretation! Some Bible scholars dispute Sunday as being the day on which the Lord arose from the dead based on an underlying dispute that Jesus did not die on a Friday, but rather a Thursday.

This would mean that the Lord’s Day, Sunday, is really the Lord’s Day, Saturday. Or, was it changed by the Roman Emperor Constantine? It also corresponds to the Jewish sabbath which is referenced time and again in multiple Bible passages as being relevant to the death and resurrection of Christ. If there is this much divisiveness in something so central to the faith we all share, no wonder there will be controversy over whether or not gambling is to be considered a sin and therefore taboo.

Biblical Interpretation at the Heart of the Matter

While there have been a few mentions of wagering and gambling in both the Old and New Testaments, there were obviously no online casinos or no online slots games. In fact, electricity hadn’t been ‘invented’ yet and of course there was no internet either. So, it stands to reason that anyone seeking to understand if making a wager at an online casino is sinful, the only way to ascertain what you believe is through the interpretation of biblical passages that talk about the sin of coveting. There is a school of thought that believes being obsessed with winning the ‘Big One’ is nothing more than coveting money, and this is why gambling can be considered sinful. However, that’s all open to interpretation simply because then gambling didn’t exist as we know it today. On the other hand, there are biblical passages that reference the casting of lots to make important decisions. So, is gambling sinful or not?

Take a Clue from Online Casinos

There appears to be a similar understanding of what it means to covet money (winning) to the exclusion of all else in a person’s life. If you check out several casinos offering online slots games on the Online Casino Review site, you will see that they, too, warn against the dangers of becoming addicted. In addition, they don’t stop there; they also offer tips on seeking help if gambling has taken over a person’s life. Gambling in moderation is acceptable and even though a casino is in business to make money, they also respect a player's right to live a life free of the encumbrances of addiction.

Taking this thought process one step further, the concept of ‘all things in moderation’ has been mentioned in several places throughout the Bible in passages such as:

• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 E

• 1 Corinthians 6:12

• Ephesians 5:18 

• 1 Timothy 4:2-5

And these are just a few of the passages that warn against excess. Here it becomes a danger if something takes over a person’s life to the exclusion of all else. That is the sin; not the act of casting lots, but the way in which it can lead to addiction and being covetous. 

Beware of False Interpretations

One of the most important pieces of advice you can be given in terms of biblical interpretations is that they are just that, interpretations. There are things that can be taken quite literally because they are spelled out in black and white and remain the same throughout all generations. For example, there is very little that can be interpreted any other way in the 10 Commandments because they are direct and to the point. There may be minor nuances such as “Remember to keep holy the sabbath day,” which can depend on what day your faith believes is the sabbath, but keeping it holy is rather self-explanatory, and this is why so many faith-filled people believe that commerce should stop on the Lord’s Day; instead, it should be a day to spend in prayer and with those you love.

Once again, it is important to note that there was no such thing as an online casino 8000, 4000, or even 2000 years ago. There wasn't even the internet prior to the latter part of the last century. Therefore, the only way to determine whether or not gambling is a sin for you, personally, is to interpret the scriptures carefully in prayer. Self-examination is crucial because you need to assess whether or not you are obsessed, or addicted. If you covet that Big Win above all else, it’s apparent there is a problem you should address. In the end, it isn’t so much gambling that is a problem because they even cast lots in biblical days. Rather, it’s all about the hold gambling and online casinos have over you. When even the online casinos advise you to pay careful attention to “all things in moderation,” you know that is sage advice.