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Lds Position On Gambling

Do you think that there are forms of gambling that are okay? What do you think is the Church's position on gambling?

I do know a true story of a Branch President that won the lottery - I think he got over one million dollars, he was released, he then broke the law of chastity, he was then excommunicated and stayed away from Church for a long while. Last I heard he comes now and again, but his life has changed a lot since that one lottery ticket he bought.

What are your thoughts?

Gambling Position Lds

I personally don't believe that gambling is a good thing at all. I don't think I;d gamble at a casino. I might buy a gambling ticket when I'm old enough, but otherwise I think gambling generally leads to a lot of bad habits and addictions.

Lds Position On Gambling Studies Doctrine Mormon

I've never quite understood why the church oposes gambling. I do realize many people have been ruined financially from gambling by not knowing when to quit and that it is contrary to the principle of work that we believe in. There is no such thing as a free lunch and the big lure of gambling is the something for nothing promise.

But isn't everything we do in life a gamble? Anybody who ever went into business for himself is taking a big gamble. We are taught to plan for the future by investing and saving. Most of us do this by contributing to IRA's and 401K's etc. This money is invested in the stock market which if we are lucky will grow nicely but with bad luck we might lose it all. Sounds like a casino to me.

I know there are a lot of church members who live in Las Vegas. Gambling is the biggest industry in town. Many members make their living as employees of the casinos. From what I understand, the church used to have a policy that any member who worked in the gambling area of the casino could not get a temple recomend. This would be blackjack dealers, pit bosses etc. But, if you worked behind the scenes, say as a supervisor or manager then it was ok. Well, this was not a fair policy and was later changed. Now any casino employee, as long as he can pass the temple worthiness interview can get a recomend. This was explained to me by a friend who lived in Vegas.

I've always wondered what a Bishop or Stake President would say to a member who makes his living as a gambler. The game of blackjack can be beaten by skilled card counters and there are some people who make a good living at it. Would a professional gambler be able to get a temple recomend?

Gambling Position Lds

Yes, everything is a gamble, in one way or another. However, the act of "gambling" consists of playing a game or making a wager with the express purpose of "beating the odds" to win a large amount of money. It is, for the most part, an attempt to defraud others, getting money from them with no value returned.

Speculation in the stock market is very similar. Investment is not.

The most I have ever gambled was 75 cents, dropping 3 quarters into a slot machine in the Las Vegas airport while waiting for a flight. However, my dad is an addict.

I agree completely with the church's stance against gambling. For example, I consider the lottery as a "tax on the stupid". Many people will buy a lottery ticket rather than bread, especially if they are poor, in the false hope that they can change their circumstances through this external act, rather than put forth the effort to change themselves and get out of the circumstances.

Gambling Position Lds

I am not really a risk taker by nature. That will surprise some of you because of my motorcycle, but in general I don't take risks. At least not financial. I have never understood the thrill of gambling. Perhaps because I have never done it and won. It is probably like a good golf game, once you have one you are hooked.

I do, however, occasionally buy a lottery ticket. I do this when the jackpot is extremely high and I buy just one. I am not a regular player. As Nighthawk has expressed, the lottery is another form of taxation. I call it a tax of the poor, not necessarily the stupid. Statistically, it is the poorest people who play regularly. They are the ones who can least afford it, but it is also probably the only hope they see to getting more than they have.

Anyway, how about this? I enter the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes regularly. It costs me nothing. Not even the cost of a stamp because I do it on-line. Is this gambling? I could win money, but I have given up no money to do so. So, I haven't gambled anything have I?

Incidently, all the studies I have read suggest that one of the worst things that can happen to a person is they win the lottery. It generally leads to heartache not happiness.

Edited: tenaheff on 29th Apr, 2004 - 2:35pm

Lds Position On Gambling

The Church's position is thus...

"The Church opposes gambling in any form, including government -sponsored lotteries." (CHI)

From the paragraph I quote it even urges members to join with others in fighting against the legalization of any form of gambling.

Lds Position Gambling

It sounds like a casino to me too but it is quiet different to a slot machine in Las Vegas.

I don't think a sweepstake is gambling, I may be wrong but because you are not spending any money in order to get more money, I may think it is not. I participated several times on sweepstakes and I never saw it as a form of gambling.

Lds Position Gambling Mormon Doctrine Studies

I never thought of sweepstakes as a form of gambling either, but read the following quote from the March 1986 Ensign.


In the process, the gambler's view of reality-of the relationship between work and chance-can become distorted. Those who work for an honest living-and yet who gamble for that elusive stroke of luck-can misguide themselves into thinking that chance is the governing force in life. President Stephen L Richards said, "So obsessed do some people become with it that they cannot contemplate or think of any other way in which to increase their means and their income except by taking the chance that gambling affords." (Where Is Wisdom? Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1955, p. 55.)

To some extent, this mistaken view of life is also encouraged by sweepstakes and giveaways promoted by some advertisers. Even though the consumer may not have to pay to enter the competition, he is enticed into playing a game of chance-and into believing that life and prosperity are determined by happenstance.