Sports Gambling: The Bondage Behind the Glitz

The legalization and mainstreaming of sports gambling has brought a shadowy pastime into broad daylight. Now it is being popularized with flashy advertising and the promise of big payouts. Should Christians embrace or reject the lure of sports gambling? 

The commercials often show actors, comedians and other celebrities having a field day gambling on sports. Though we likely don’t have the extra millions that celebrities can throw around on wagers for point spreads and winner picks, the ads make it seem fun and easily accessible to the masses.

However, consider the saying at the end of these commercials: “Gamble responsibly.” 

Perhaps that would be more honestly reworded: “What are you prepared to lose today?” Is it possible that sports gambling has an intended dark side full of devastating consequences? 

We might think, “But the commercial was so great! And the beautiful celebrities are having so much fun!” We, in the other 98 percent, could score some big payouts too, right?

To learn more about the problem of gambling in general and its addictive nature, read our article “Gambling.”

What is sports gambling?

Sports gambling is the pastime of placing wagers on the outcomes of sporting events.

Bettors try to predict game results, point spreads or other nuances of a sport (such as how many fouls a basketball team will commit in a game) and wager money on specific outcomes. If their picks are correct, they win money based on the odds set by the bookmaker. 

These wagers can be made at an actual casino. However, today most bets are made through sports gambling apps and websites.

The ease with which money—both small and large amounts—can be bet on sporting events has contributed to the booming popularity of sports gambling.  

Beyond phony commercials, a real problem exists

We need to discuss how sports gambling, like any form of gambling, is a horribly destructive addiction that hurts many people. According to NCPGambling.org, it’s estimated that 2.5 million people in the United States have a serious gambling problem, while 5 to 8 million are considered to have a mild to moderate gambling problem.

A recent news story highlights the devastating impact sports gambling can potentially have on individuals and families. In December 2024 a family sued a well-known sports gambling agency after a father lost over $1 million of their savings. His wife claims he stole money, including funds from their children’s savings accounts, to fuel his gambling addiction. Reports indicate that over a four-year period, he lost a staggering $15 million by betting on sports (“Dad Allegedly ‘Stole Money' from His Spouse and Kids to Gamble on DraftKings, Lost Nearly $1M in 4 Years: Suit,” People.com). 

In 2023, American gamblers wagered a staggering $264 billion across all forms of gambling (“Gambling Addiction Statistics and Facts 2024”). On average, the typical sports gambler loses 7.7 cents for every dollar he or she bets  (“Sports Gambling”).

Like other addictions, this cycle leads to increasingly risky betting, often resulting in devastating consequences, such as losing life savings, homes, investments and more.

In a Sept. 23, 2024, Atlantic article titled “Legalizing Sports Gambling Was a Huge Mistake,” Charles Fain Lehman points out: “The rise of sports gambling has caused a wave of financial and familial misery, one that falls disproportionately on the most economically precarious households.”

Consider those commercials featuring celebrities to promote sports gambling. They are paid millions to persuade the struggling working class to risk their money. But, according to USAToday.com, the average American’s annual salary in the last quarter of 2023 was $59,384—hardly enough to sustain such lifestyle choices (“Average Salary in the U.S. in 2025”).

As Lehman notes in his Atlantic article, the negative economic effects of sports gambling “are strongest among already precarious households.” 

“The Financial Consequences of Legalized Sports Gambling,” a study published in 2024, found “a substantial increase in average bankruptcy rates, debt sent to collections, use of debt consolidation loans, and auto loan delinquencies” in states that have legalized sports gambling.

According to QuitGamble.com, in sports betting, 86 percent of the revenue comes from 5 percent of the players. 

Lehman writes, “The costs of gambling concentrate among those least able to pay, setting back those who most need help. That dollar that could have gone to buying a home, getting a degree, or escaping debt instead goes to another wager. Such behavior is irresponsible, but it’s hard to blame bettors alone when companies make their profits by pushing them to bet more.”

The lawsuit mentioned above accuses the sports betting company of “actively” participating in the gambler’s addiction “by targeting him with incentives, bonuses, and other gifts to create, nurture, expedite, and/or exacerbate” the problem.

People who continue in such a high-stakes financial game, despite disastrous consequences, are addicted. But somehow, it is still celebrated, encouraged and becoming increasingly mainstream. 

The Bible and money 

The Bible has a lot to say about both the use and the misuse of money. Consider the following scriptures and how they shine the light of truth on the realities of sports gambling:

Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Chasing physical wealth (mammon) for the dopamine rush, or the feeling that comes with the possibility of it, is not allowing God to be the main driving force of our behavior.

Consistently choosing a scheme of losing money is not following God’s wisdom when it comes to our use of time and money.  Proverbs 27:23: “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.”

When we let the dopamine rush control us, it is very easy to miss how deep in the hole we are getting with each lost bet. We may eventually wake up owing thousands of dollars. This is not responsible money management or respect for the financial assets we have been blessed with. This is a wanton disregard for our family finances in search of addictive pleasure. 

1 Timothy 6:10: “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.”

Gambling offers the deceptive promise of getting rich quickly, turning a little into thousands or millions with minimal effort. Though sports gambling may require more research and knowledge than ordinary gambling, it is still based on the lure of getting rich on other people’s efforts. The allure of easy money can be so enticing that it blinds us to the hard reality: Chasing big wins often costs more than we can afford, leaving most people with nothing in return except more problems than they started with. 

Proverbs 17:16: “Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?”

There are so many wise ways to build wealth, such as working harder, adding to our education and making smart investments. Consistently choosing a scheme of losing money is not following God’s wisdom when it comes to our use of time and money. 

Addiction is not rational, but fighting it can be

Of course, someone suffering from gambling addiction may be thinking, “Thanks for nothing. I know all of that. I just can’t stop.” 

But there is help and hope. 

Even in ancient times, people were able—with the help of God and His people—to come back from a variety of unwanted habits and behaviors that were making them miserable (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

If we are addicted to sports gambling, it can be difficult to open our eyes and clearly see the irrationality and destructive spirit behind this compulsive behavior. However, it’s never too late to recognize the problem, seek help and find hope for a better future free of the shackles of gambling.

Consider going through the following barebones checklist if you are ready to move forward and put gambling in your rearview mirror: 

• Admit to God that it is an addiction, not just a bad habit. Then, acknowledge openly to yourself and God that your addiction is a sin, as it breaks the 10th Commandment against covetousness (Exodus 20:17). Repentance always begins with the first step of confessing wrong and wanting to change (1 John 1:9).

• Get help. One time-tested method of fighting addiction is to find a loving and encouraging accountability partner. With gambling, this trusted person may need to have access to our financials and Internet usage so that we are not alone in the fight anymore (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). One of the greatest resources God has given us is loving friends and family who deeply care about us and will get in the trenches and help us fight addiction. 

• Keep going. Like many addictions, your war with gambling may involve setbacks and occasional relapses. However, don’t let failures discourage and drag you down. Instead, learn from them and keep getting back up (Proverbs 24:16). Breaking free from addiction takes hard work, effort and persistence, but the reward of true freedom is worth the struggle.

All that glitters is not gold

Sports gambling, despite its flashy commercials and celebrity endorsements, is like any other addiction—destructive. But it can be defeated with God’s help and with determination on our part. 

God is always there to help us if we ever fall prey to flashy predators. He can help you see through their pitiful, last-minute, state-mandated disclaimers and recognize what is really the case: “Oh, by the way, this product or service may completely ruin your life. Have fun!” 

Thankfully, we have a loving God who wants to help us overcome life-controlling addictions and instead live a fulfilling and abundant life.

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Date Posted: February 6, 2025