What is gambling?  Gambling is exchanging money for the chance of winning a larger amount of money.  Many people believe that gambling is a quick way to make money. But in most gambling games, the chance of winning is very small, and most gamblers end up losing most if not all of their money. It often centers on the dreams of sudden good fortune.

Is all gambling done in casinos?  No.  There are other forms of gambling.  These can include state lotteries, and even some churches offer gambling through bingo and raffles.  Other means of gambling include horse track gambling, dog race gambling, card game gambling, sports betting, video poker, slot machines, scratchers, and even stock market gambling.

So why is gambling wrong?  We can find part of the answer in Matthew 6:21,  "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."   We will worship that which we desire the most.  If it is money, then gambling, which offers us the hope of easy money, will be the god we worship.  The 10th commandment found in Ex. 20:17 talks about coveting. What is one of the reasons that people gamble and play the lottery? They covet money, quick and easy. 1 Tim. 6:10 declares that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Coveting has to do with wanting something that isn't ours to the point that we will do anything to get it.  Gambling usually takes money from families in the hopes of getting rich quickly.  

So would it be wrong if a church raised money through bingo or lotteries? Yes, some churches use bingo and lotteries as a means of raising money for charitable purposes. Yet, most Christians won’t participate in gambling of any oh yekind, whether it be lotteries, slot machines, horse or dog racing, the Irish sweepstakes, roulette wheels, poker, bridge, or flipping a coin to make a decision. Why? Matt. 7:16 says, "by their fruits you shall know them."

Can't I do what I want with my money?  The Bible tells us in Haggai 2:8, “’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. "  NIV.  We are only caretakers of the money God has allowed us to have or earn.  God calls us to be good stewards of the gifts He has given us.  There is probably no difference as to how you blow your money even if it's Disneyland or a casino. However, there is a heavenly recording angel assigned to every person who keeps record of our stewardship, and this includes time, money, health, etc. There is also a day of judgment when God opens the record books to see how we have lived and used the gifts he has loaned us to use for His purposes. 

Can someone be addicted to gambling? A gambler can become just as addicted to his bewitching pastime as the alcoholic does to his liquor or the drug addict to drugs.  We can be addicted to video games!  And why is this wrong?  Since God has given you your time and money, you cannot say, "gamble all you please, it's your own business." No, gambling with money God gave you the ability to earn, or wasting time God has given you, makes you nothing less than a thief in God's sight. Notice what the Bible says about thieves in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,  "Don't you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals, will have no share in his Kingdom. Neither will thieves or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers." TLB

What if I really think I can make money by betting if I use the money for God's work?  Here's a suggestion that will probably help you in your decision 
regarding this topic: What would Jesus do about this matter? Could you take
Him with you to these places? What about your influence? If others should see
or learn of your gambling, what impact would your example have on their
life? Remember, the Bible also talks about avoiding the appearance of evil

(1 Thessalonians 5:22).  God can help you make this decision.  Isaiah 30:21 tells us, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." NKJV. 

So how can I get money the right way?  Deuteronomy. 8:18 tells us that God grants to each the ability to get wealth.  Then, Matthew 6:33 advises us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  NKJV.  Also, in Proverbs 3:9-10, "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." NIV.  Matthew 6:24 warns us, "You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around."