From "Gambling: What's the Big Deal?" (Heavenward Bound, October 2026)
In this issue of HB we consider a simple question:
Is gambling, in any form, something Christians should do?
The legal definition of gambling is helpful in identifying the activity in question.
Legally speaking, gambling is defined by three core elements:
Consideration: Something of value risked (wagered)
Chance: Outcome determined predominantly by luck or random events, not skill.
Prize: Something won based on a chance-based outcome.
We can see all three of these aspects present when the Roman soldiers gambled for Jesus’ tunic at the foot of His cross. (John 19.23-24) Each soldier wagered his right to a portion of Jesus’ tunic, which had real value. Each soldier took on the risk of losing the casting of the lot (a chance roll of the dice). There was a prize based on the winner of the random-chance dice roll: Jesus’ untorn tunic.
Today gambling occurs in almost too many ways to count, ranging from the traditional casino games (blackjack, roulette, slot machines, etc.) to sports betting, lottery tickets, raffles, bingo nights, etc. This also includes the countless individual wagers we make over all things great and small.
Common Objections
“Isn’t investing a gamble? Buying/selling stocks?, retirement accounts, etc.?
Trading on the stock market is not gambling. When one buys stock they are investing in a business on some level. It is their hope that the business will make money and either pay dividends on the investment or the stock will appreciate, resulting in a profit when sold. In a free enterprise system, there is always the "chance" of a business loss, but it is not a contrived risk and any profit is based upon an exchange of goods or services, not the loss of others. Investing may be done wisely/unwisely or motivated by covetousness/envy, but the Bible permits it as an acceptable endeavor. (cf. Matt. 25.14-23)
“Isn’t farming a gamble? After all, it’s just about where the luck regarding the weather/ chemicals/ equipment/ farmer all happen to fall, right?”
Farmers face many “risks” in their efforts to produce their crops and animals, but these are all calculated "risks" that the farmer understands when he goes into business. These risks are not uncertain, nor are they "created" in some game. (After all, few accuse salesmen of gambling, although they “risk” not finding anyone to purchase their goods!) Farmers engage in productive labor to earn their living and, unlike gambling, a farmer’s profit does not come at the expense of others.
“Isn’t buying insurance a gamble? After all, you are “wagering” real money against something that might or might not happen, right?”
Purchasing insurance is not gambling. Once again, the risks involved are not created, they are universal. The significant financial losses associated with dying, bodily injury, damage to one’s home or vehicle, etc. are present whether one buys insurance or not. Insurance is an approach to lessening and insulating oneself against these potential losses. In exchange for monies, the insurance company provides a service (protection from major financial loss). Neither the insurer nor the insured expects something for nothing, since a service is being bought.
What If I’m Not Sure if It’s Gambling or Not??
Simple: Don’t participate! As those who seek to please God first and foremost, any activity in which His approval of our participation is in doubt must be avoided until we can make a more-informed decision. “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14.23b)
Kyle Sanders
Kyle has been preaching since 2016 in Chiefland, Florida and Clinton, Mississippi before coming to work with the Jamestown church of Christ in 2021. Before preaching, he spent several years as a high school mathematics teacher in Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida. Kyle is a teacher at heart and brings his love of studying and interacting with students into his preaching and teaching efforts. He and his wife, a native Hoosier, have been blessed with five children, two dogs, a full house and zero leftovers.