What the Bible Says About Gambling and the Lottery

October 10, 2026

Lottery tickets at the gas station. Sports betting apps. Casino trips. Office pools. Gambling is everywhere, and growing quickly. The Bible never mentions lottery tickets or betting apps directly, so is gambling a sin? Here are the biblical principles that help answer the question.

What Scripture says about getting rich quick

Proverbs 13:11: "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."

Proverbs 28:20: "…he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."

Scripture consistently values steady, honest work over shortcuts to wealth.

The danger of loving money

1 Timothy 6:9–10: "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil."

Gambling often feeds the desire to get rich, and that desire can become a trap.

Stewardship

Everything we have belongs to God. Gambling, by design, means most people lose money over time. Is that wise stewardship of what God has entrusted to us?

Contentment

Hebrews 13:5: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have."

The appeal of gambling often comes from discontentment: wishing for a different life, more money, or a quick escape.

Who it hurts

Lotteries and gambling often draw the most money from people who can least afford it. Many believers also consider the harm gambling causes families through addiction, debt, and broken relationships.

Where Christians differ

Some believers avoid all gambling. Others see an occasional small bet or raffle ticket for a charity as harmless entertainment. Even so, these principles apply: Is it wise stewardship? Is it feeding discontentment? Could it become a snare for you or someone watching you?

If gambling has become a problem

Warning signs include chasing losses, hiding gambling, borrowing to gamble, or feeling unable to stop. If that's you or someone you love, please reach out. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-522-4700 (call or text). Recovery groups and counselors can help, and God's grace is bigger than any addiction.

A better way

Instead of chasing quick money, build steady habits: budgeting, saving, giving, and contentment. Write your goals in a journal, and let a Christian wallet remind you to pause before spending.