Is Gambling Wrong?

The short answer: The Bible never mentions gambling directly, so Christians differ on small, occasional stakes like a raffle. But Scripture speaks clearly about greed, the love of money and exploiting the poor, and modern gambling is built on all three. For teenagers it’s also illegal in most places, and betting apps and loot boxes are designed to hook you.

If you’ve watched sport recently, you’ve probably seen more adverts for betting than for almost anything else. Maybe friends at school put money on matches, or spend real cash on loot boxes and card packs in games, hoping for a rare item. Is any of that a problem?

This is a question where Christians don’t all agree on every detail, so let’s start with what the Bible says clearly.

What Scripture makes clear

Greed is serious. Jesus said, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Gambling usually runs on the hope of getting something for nothing, of getting rich without work.

Wanting to be rich is a trap. Paul writes, “Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9–10). Proverbs warns, “one eager to be rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20), and contrasts quick money with steady work: “what is earned through hard work will be multiplied” (Proverbs 13:11).

Money is a trust. Everything you have is God’s, lent to you to use well, for your needs, for others and for His kingdom. Losing it on purpose for a thrill is hard to square with that.

The poor are exploited. Gambling companies make their profits from people who lose, and those who lose most are often those who can least afford it. The Bible warns against “Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself” (Proverbs 22:16). Even a “harmless” bet supports a system that ruins many families.

Nothing should master you. Paul said, “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Gambling can become an addiction as powerful as drugs. People lie, steal and lose everything to chase the next win.

Designed to hook you

Many gambling-style products are aimed straight at people your age. Loot boxes, spin-the-wheel rewards and card packs use the same tricks as slot machines: flashing lights, near-misses, random prizes, and the feeling that the next one could be the big one. Some sites let players bet game skins or items that can be turned into cash. Betting apps make it easy to place bets in seconds, and send offers designed to keep you playing.

In most countries, gambling for money under 18 is illegal. That alone settles it for now, because the Bible tells us to respect the laws of those in authority (Romans 13:1).

Where Christians differ

Some Christians believe all gambling is wrong, even small stakes, because it feeds greed, wastes what God has entrusted, and props up an industry that harms the poor. Many churches have held this view for generations.

Other Christians believe that a small, occasional stake, like a raffle ticket for a charity or a friendly bet of a few coins, treated as entertainment money you’d happily spend on a film, isn’t sinful in itself, though they still urge great caution. They note that the Bible uses lots to make decisions, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33), though casting lots was about seeking God’s will, not about winning money.

Both sides agree that greed, addiction and exploiting others are wrong, and that a Christian should never gamble with money they need, hope to get rich from it, or let it take hold of them.

What to do

If you’ve been spending money on loot boxes or betting and find it hard to stop, you’re not alone, and it’s not too late. Tell a parent or trusted adult. Delete the apps, turn on spending limits, and ask someone to help you stay accountable. Gambling problems are real and treatable, and there is no shame in asking for help.

And remember where real security comes from. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5), because the God who has promised never to leave you is worth more than any jackpot.

Think about it: Are there games or apps you use that work like gambling? How much have they cost you, in money and in time?

Go deeper: Sermons on Several Occasions by John Wesley — in “The Danger of Riches”, Wesley preaches on 1 Timothy 6:9 and insists that the warning is not only about getting rich dishonestly but about the very desire to be rich, which he calls a snare even when the means are innocent. Start with chapter 88, “The Danger of Riches”.