7 Things All Christians Must Know about Sports Betting

While we could simply give a moral injunction against placing bets, Scripture helps us to see how betting is a symptom of deeper issues. Changing behavior rarely changes the heart, yet transforming the heart always results in different actions. We must begin with the inner corruption leading people to gamble. 

Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). The Bible doesn’t condemn money itself. But it clearly warns against the danger of making money an idol, especially the foolishness of getting a quick profit. Sports betting tempts us with the promise of a fast gain, shifting our hearts away from God’s provision toward insecure chance. 

As a matter of the heart, the Bible talks extensively about the evil of greed, and the apostle Paul directly calls covetousness and greed “idolatry” because it puts the desire for possessions above God’s heart. Greed treats money as a type of savior or something to trust in. Instead of worshipping the Creator, our greed worships created things. 

More importantly, greed and covetousness prove evil because they draws us away from what God has designed us for: contentment and generosity. A whole-hearted person realizes the wealth of what they have. We find satisfaction in God’s provision. Further, we find ourselves generous, trusting in the heavenly riches of the Father instead of worldly wealth. 

As believers, we shouldn’t want anyone to fall into such wrong thinking and away from the blessings God has for us in generosity and contentment.

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Sports betting can present itself as a game of knowledge and strategy. Analysts study statistics, trends, and matchups. Apps suggest highlighted “expert picks.” Bettors believe in their own skill, research, or even “gut feelings” to help them win money. But this is an illusion of control. These apps make money because way more people lose than win. 

The Bible reminds us how God alone has authority over outcomes. Proverbs 16:3 tells us, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Scripture calls us to place our trust in God, not to our own manipulation of results through our strength. Proverbs 16:33 declares, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Casting lots was a type of rolling the dice, a game of chance. 

Getting involved in sports betting can put the outcomes in our hands when we believe, “I know this team, matchup, and player.” However, so many things can go wrong or right. Bad teams find a way to beat great ones all the time, all against the odds. Why would they play the game if people could predict the outcome? It’s a fake form of self-reliance. 

As Christians, we must place our trust in God alone for consequences and results, and he has promised how all things work for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We trust his goodness and power, not our own understanding.

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Along with the illusion of control, those who gamble on a game seek to control the outcome through other means. In other words, they cheat in some way to make sure they win and get a big payout. This undermines the integrity of the game. 

In recent years, authorities have investigated and arrested player, referees, and coaches for unduly influencing outcomes, leaking secret information, even simply throwing a game. When such large sums of money can ride on a play or a point spread, some people try to hack the system for personal profit. A sport has honor when it reveals discipline, reward, character, teamwork, and excellence. Such corruption in the game distorts what should be a good thing. 

For Christians, the Bible calls us to integrity. “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1). God cares deeply about honest scales, a form of equality, which includes fairness in competition and business. The apostle Paul talks about how an athlete only wins when he or she plays by the rules (2 Timothy 2:5). Losing with integrity pleases God. He counts winning with deception an abomination, a truly evil thing. 

Athletes, officials, and coaches should compete and lead in ways that honor the Lord and demonstrate integrity. The betting culture tempts people to compromise such standards. We must value integrity over profit in every area of life.

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Fifty years ago, Christians would have said gambling was a sin. Psychologists would have said it was addictive. And yet, with modern technology, no one could have predicted the level of addiction we see today. 

In the past, a person had to travel to a casino or “bookie” to place a bet. Now, betting apps sit in our pockets, on our smart phones, every moment of the day. We can place wagers on a game with only a few taps on a screen in our pajamas. The platforms allow us to place bets on the game before and during the game, even on individual plays. Designers create these apps to be addictive, usually hiring psychologists to help them, all with bright graphics, instant notices, bonus credits, and rewards systems. These trigger dopamine responses. 

Christians should recognize how these companies try to manipulate and entrap people. The Bible encourages us to be free, and as such, we shouldn’t be under the power of anyone or anything else. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I will not be dominated by anything.” It requires diligence for all of us to stay free from such temptations and addiction. We shouldn’t purposefully place ourselves in a cycle designed to enslave us.

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As we said earlier, these betting companies make a ton of money because most people lose money gambling. The addiction and financial consequences of gambling don’t affect the individual alone. Those with families also feel the impact. 

When a person continues to risk money on games, he or she puts their household at risk, too. Losses can build up quietly through small wagers and gambling more to try and make up for previous losses. The failure and loss of money leads to shame and secrecy, and families often don’t know how bad it is until the gambling becomes a crisis. Over time, financial stress creates more secrecy and broken trust. Since finances always top the list of reasons for divorce, gambling can decimate a family. 

Scripture calls us to be faithful stewards of our resources and practice sacrificial love within the home. Betting lies to us, falsely promising big money, and we lie to ourselves how we would use the money wisely. Yet foolishness doesn’t lead to wisdom. Gambling away funds needed for bills, savings, and charity undermines our ability to bless our families and others. 

Hebrews 13:5 urges us to “keep your life free from the love of money.” When gambling losses accumulate, some people might go further into debt, lose needed savings, and hide from spouses. These actions place the family in crisis. We must begin with wisdom and faithfulness in our financial choices to protect our marriages and children.

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Some people argue Christians have the freedom to gamble and that the Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us not to. 

While true, Christian freedom isn’t the same as godly wisdom. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.” As a Jew and Christian, Paul went into Gentile places with various traditions regarding food, drink, and other areas of life. He entered these areas to preach the gospel, however, not for his own entertainment. Paul experienced freedom, not living his life by strict laws. However, he also had to use discernment about what things were dangerous for him, even if not explicitly wrong. 

If an activity weakens our discipline, fogs up our judgment, or undermines our ability to be generous, we should question the activity. 

We live for an eternal treasure, not an earthly one. As Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth … but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). Gambling promises wealth but only delivers instability and loss. The kingdom of God offers something we can’t lose: a secure eternal inheritance. We have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4). How do we gain this reward? Charity to the poor and obedience to Christ. 

Wisdom doesn’t only ask, “Can I do this?” but “Does this move my heart more like Christ?” We must live for eternal rewards and becoming more like Jesus. That’s why we’ve been made free.

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With all these things in mind, we must consider how to engage the culture of gambling. To be clear, we’re not called to judge or condemn. Yet we should speak the truth in love, for the good of others, not some moral superiority. 

Many people who participate in sports betting don’t see it as reckless or sinful; they seek entertainment or to join the crowd. We must resist a sense of self-righteousness. Instead, like Jesus, we can come full of grace and truth (John 1:14). 

Knowing the dangers, and out of love, we should approach and not be silent. However, we should approach others with gentleness. Our goal should be to help and inspire others to look to the eternal rewards, not shame. We can point to a better and more secure investment. The gospel redirects our hearts toward these eternal rewards. 

Paul reminds us to be “rich in good words, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future” (1 Timothy 6:18). Our personal God stories and lives also call people higher. Stewardship, self-sacrifice for the good of others, charity, and generosity create eternal impacts, here on earth and in the future. 

While we call people to Christ and the Kingdom, we must model joyful giving and stewardship. With our actions and words, we can invite people to trade risky betting for secure heavenly rewards.

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