Gambling

"There is a very easy way to return from a casino with a small fortune: go there with a large one."

This quote from author Jack Yelton is a reminder how gambling is illusionary, and losing is almost guaranteed.

The common definition of gambling is twofold:
a. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
b. To play a game of chance for stakes

Bad Habit

Gambling is a bad habit that has serious consequences with regard to family and personal life. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported that more than 15 million Americans have a serious gambling problem.

Studies show that most people do not realize the devastating impact that the gambling habit can have on them. Gambling may start as just something that people do when they have some spare time and extra change but often it quickly worms its way into their routine and becomes an all encompassing and hard to break addiction that rules their life.

Therefore, when gambling becomes compulsive, it takes over people’s entire life, wrecks their marriage, alienates their family, leaves them in financial ruin and destroys their life.

Like alcohol abuse, gambling is often a root cause for domestic violence and child abuse.

Furthermore, gambling is bad for people’s health and the truly addicted can suffer depression, insomnia, intestinal disorders, migraine and other stress related problems, according to a new study.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. Therefore He prohibited intoxicants and gambling for the good of the believers.

[5:90]  O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.

The winnings from gambling are illusionary. The devil wants us to follow this illusion and become losers.

[4:120]  He promises them and entices them; what the devil promises is no more than an illusion.

[17:64]  "You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.

However, if we follow God’s law and avoid gambling and other vices, He promises us much better returns in this life. His recompense in the Hereafter is even better, beyond our imagination.

[2:268]  The devil promises you poverty and commands you to commit evil, while GOD promises you forgiveness from Him and grace. GOD is Bounteous, Omniscient.

[5:9]  GOD promises those who believe and lead a righteous life forgiveness and a great recompense.

[9:72]  GOD promises the believing men and the believing women gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever, and magnificent mansions in the gardens of Eden. And GOD's blessings and approval are even greater. This is the greatest triumph.

[24:55]  GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked.

State Sponsored Gambling

Many States now allow gambling in the form of lottery, claiming that it brings quick money to state coffers. However, they overlook the long term effects of gambling over the state budgets because it is not as tangible.

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