THE TRUTH ABOUT GAMBLING

Gambling • To risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize• To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest. • To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit

According to Gamblers Anonymous

• 12 million compulsive gamblers in the USA

According the Dallas Morning News• The average compulsive gambler has debts exceeding $80,000.

Thomas Jefferson “Gaming corrupts our dispositions, and teaches us a hostility again all mankind”

Mark Twain“ The best throw at dice is to throw them away”

According to the department of Justice

• Legalized gambling increases illegal gambling by 300%.

52 Cents

30 Cents

12 Cents

6 Cents

One New York lottery agent "Seventy percent of those who buy my tickets are poor, black, or Hispanic."

The National Bureau of Economic Research "shows that the poor bet a much larger share of their income.”

A few results from Gambling

• Suicides increase

• Divorce rate increases

• Children are neglected

• Crime rate increases

The Las Vegas Sun“Crimes rates for countries with casinos are 8 % higher than the crime rates of countries without casinos.”

The FBI Uniform Crime Report Statistic“Nevada raked first in crime rates among the 50 states in 1995 and 1996.

The U.S. News & World Report“Crime rates in casino communities are 84% higher than the national average.

North Star Public School in Idaho turns down 10,000 dollars of support from the lottery.

Why?

“taking gambling money would conflict with the school’s mission of developing virtuous citizens.”

“A person is seven times more likely to be killed by lightning than he is to win a million dollars in a state lottery.”

The odds of winning the grand prize of the power ball lottery is 1 in 146,107,962.

Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice in 1985 and 1986 with a sum 5.4 million dollars. Today all her money is gone and she lives in a trailer.

William Post won 16. 2 million dollars in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988. Within one year he was a million dollar in debt.

Willie Hurt won 3.1 millions dollars and within 2 years lost it all because of drugs was broke and on trial for murder.

A southeastern family won 4.2 million in the early 90s and 11 years later nearly all the money was gone. Then the husband and wife got divorced.

Matthew 19:19 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Matthew 7:12"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Romans 12:9 … Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

3 questions every Christian should ask themselves before they get involved in gambling or other questionable things.

1. What effect will it have on me? 2. What effect will it have on others? 3. How will this action affect the cause of Christ?

Every dollar you spend on gambling:

• Promotes gambling

• Increases the temptation of the poor

• Increases family neglect and divorce

• Increases the suicide rate

• Increases the crime rate

• Does not help the cause of Christ

If you would not buy a raffle ticket because it would support the homosexual movement or a XXX adult film, then you should not gamble knowing that your money will be used to support all the sinful things that come from gambling.

Matthew 25:27 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.