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Is gambling wrong in and of its self? If you make 5 million a year and loose 1 million at the casino every year, is that a sin?
What is wrong about gambling?

I think there's no question that gambling for money is a sin. It's really just a way to indulge in the sins of lust and greed.

We have quite a few Indian casinos around here and I used to enjoy going to them. I never really lost a huge amount of money and always limited my losses, but the last time I went was a couple of months before I was baptized. I could see the evil that permeates there. Old people with oxygen tanks dragging them in so they could gamble. Drunks, smokers, etc. It was so...sad and pathetic.

This sin has become normalized in our society now. Satan has been effective in making these things mainstream. Las Vegas was "sin city". Now every state just about wants their own sin city.

As far as Bill Bennett goes he deserves what he gets. If he wants to present himself as a virtuous man, then he sure as heck better lead a virtuous life or he's no better than a pharisee. He needs to recognize that his behavior is a sin and repent of it.

***I think there's no question that gambling for money is a sin. It's really just a way to indulge in the sins of lust and greed.***

Ever owned any stock?

Compulsive risk taking is a sin (lack of self control), but is all risk taking (financially) a sin?

This week I refinanced our home. I locked in at 4.75% (15 YR fixed). I am gambling that the rates will not go lower.

If he wants to present himself as a virtuous man, then he sure as heck better lead a virtuous life or he's no better than a pharisee.

Please don't malign the pharisees. "Hypocrite" would work just fine in this context.

I think there's no question that gambling for money is a sin. It's really just a way to indulge in the sins of lust and greed.

Most people who gamble know full well that their money is to be lost. It is a form of entertainment. There is always the possibility of a significant winfall, but it is as remote as to be practically non-existent.

You could take your vacation money, and spend, say $500 to go to Florida and lay on a beach. (That's sloth, by the way.) Or you can spend $200 to go to Vegas (travel expenses are far less) and risk $300 while you are there. At the end of the day, in both cases you have merely purchased a vacation.