Sports Gambling: The Bondage Behind the Glitz.

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Sports Gambling: The Bondage Behind the Glitz

“The Super Bowl is the biggest single sports betting event in the United States. It’s estimated that $1.39 billion will be wagered on this Sunday’s game. Our latest blog explores sports gambling and the dark reality hidden beneath the craze.”

“Sports gambling ads make betting look fun and easy. But is there a darker reality behind the glitz of sports betting? Is the thrill of sports gambling really worth it?

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.”

Most bets are made through sports gambling apps and websites. The ease with which money can be bet has contributed to the popularity of sports 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”).

Sports gambling heavily favors “the house,” leaving bettors chasing the fleeting thrill of winning.

Sports gambling heavily favors “the house,” leaving bettors chasing the fleeting thrill of winning. This pursuit is driven by dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical, which remembers pleasure pathways and pushes us to seek bigger wins when smaller ones lose their appeal (GamblersHelp.com.au).

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.

Photo credits: iStock.com/bluecinema, iStock.com/South_agency, iStock.com/Hispanolistic.    From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/sports-gambling-the-bondage-behind-the-glitz/?

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God Rules With Strength and Gentleness. Want to Live to 100? Eat More Beans!

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God Rules With Strength and Gentleness

Isaiah 40:10-11

Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

“These two verses condense a tremendous amount of information about how God will rule when Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth.

The book of Revelation explains that as Jesus Christ is coming down to this earth, the armies of the nations of this world will attack Him as if He were an alien invader (Revelation 19:19). Christ’s response to these unprovoked attacks will be with “a strong hand,” as He forcefully puts down the rebellion and makes it clear who is in charge (Revelation 19:20-21).

But that is just one aspect of Jesus Christ’s rule. Isaiah mentions that He will bring a “reward” with Him for His faithful followers who will then assist Him in “His work” of teaching His way of life to the survivors of the end-time troubles.

Isaiah 40:11 is a beautiful picture of our all-powerful God gently gathering people like little lambs and feeding and caring for them.

God is both strong and gentle at the right times. He wants us to learn to follow His lead in this area of life as well.”          Listen to the "Verse by Verse" episode covering this scripture at:  https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/god-rules-with-strength-and-gentleness/?

For more about Isaiah 40, see “God’s Perspective on Prophecy.” For more about how God will rule in the Kingdom of God, see the articles in our “Kingdom of God” section. 

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Want to Live to 100? Eat More Beans!

“Want to know how to live to 100? Eat plenty of beans, says plenty of research studies on the longest-living populations in the world.

Campodimele, Italy, a hilltop village south of Rome, has so many centenarians that it’s known in Europe as the “Village of Longevity.” Daily, its citizens enjoy a diet full of beans like lentils, chickpeas, and white beans.

How to live to 100

A few years ago, scientists identified five groups of long-lived elderly people (aged 70 and older) – Japanese in Japan, Swedes in Sweden, Anglo-Celtic people in Australia, and Greeks in both Greece and Australia – and observed them for the next seven years, tracking their health status and food choices among nine different categories: vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, cereals, dairy products, meat, fish, and monounsaturated fats. A total of 785 elderly people were followed.

Nowadays, there are many tasty varieties of beans on the market, not only staples like garbanzos but also choices like cranberry, cannellini, and fava beans. Eat beans and live longer, maybe even live to 100.

The researchers found that legumes were the most important dietary predictor of survival among the elderly, “regardless of their ethnicity,” they wrote.* For every 20-gram increase in daily legume intake (20 grams is about three-quarters of an ounce), “there is a 7 to 8% reduction in mortality hazard ratio.”

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more perfect food than beans. They are an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates. They’re very low in fat and virtually sodium-free. Plus, they’re filling.

And fiber? Even the lowest-fiber bean puts most other foods to shame. A cup of high-fiber beans, like pinto or black beans, tallies up 16 grams of fiber.You’d have to eat about eight slices of whole-wheat bread to get the same amount of fiber. And it’s primarily cholesterol-reducing soluble fiber, which makes beans an excellent heart-healthy alternative to meat.

Bean prep these days has gotten so much easier, thanks to the ready availability of cans of already-cooked beans, and you can find many “no salt added” varieties, which is really wonderful for keeping blood pressure under control. If all you can find is salted varieties, get rid of some of the salt by rinsing the beans through a colander.

Here are some simple tips for how to get more beans into your life (and how to live to 100):

• Toss a handful of beans into your salads (try the rich, buttery flavor of cannellini  beans)
• Stir beans into your pasta sauces or soups. Make an easy, sensational bean soup by combining canned white beans, any vegetables you already have, low-sodium chicken stock, and chopped fresh Italian parsley. Season with no-salt-added Italian blend seasonings and 1 tablespoon of low-sodium soy sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Fold beans, like black and pinto beans, into corn tortillas with salsa, shredded nonfat jalapeno cheese, and shredded lettuce.
• Puree beans for dips. For a zesty Mexican-style dip, combine pinto beans, chopped red onion, fresh cilantro leaves, and lime juice in a food processor and blend. Whip up your own delicious and inexpensive hummus dip in a processor with just five ingredients: two garlics, one can of no-salt-added garbanzo beans, three-quarter teaspoon sesame oil, two tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt, and two tablespoons fresh lemon juice.

Source:   https://www.pritikin.com/your-health/healthy-living/eating-right/539-want-to-live-to-be-100-eat-more-beans.html

* Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004; 13 (S): S126.

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Are New Year Celebrations Pagan in Origin?

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Spike Mafford/Photodisc/Thinkstock

Are New Year Celebrations Pagan in Origin?

“Simply put, the answer is yes—New Year celebrations did originate in paganism.

Much of the symbolism associated with New Year’s celebrations today has very definite pagan origins.

In the earliest days of the Church (the first and second centuries after Christ) there were no such celebrations as Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “According to the hypothesis . . . accepted by most scholars today, the birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian [Roman] Calendar, January 6 in the Egyptian), because on this day, as the sun began to return to northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of the invincible sun)” (1967, Vol. 3, p. 656).

Those customs carried over in the observance of Christmas (with its many traditions and practices steeped in paganism), and the “birth” of the “new year” of the sun. This is why the Roman calendar in use today designates Jan. 1 as the beginning of the new year as opposed to God’s designation of the spring month of Abib or Nisan on the Hebrew calendar as the beginning of the year (Exodus 12:1-2).

Much of the symbolism associated with New Year’s celebrations today has very definite pagan origins. Kissing at the moment of transition to the next year is rooted in pagan sexual practice and superstition. And evergreen wreaths associated with Christmas were originally part of the pagan Calend celebration of Jan. 1.

Because we live in this secular society and most of the world operates according to the commonly used Roman calendar, it’s common to think of a new calendar year as beginning Jan. 1. Yet involvement in the celebration of that is not appropriate.

That said, one should be careful not to become too judgmental if, for example, someone is viewing a football game or parade at that time of year—as opposed to actually celebrating a New Year festival.

If you’d like to learn more, many resources are available that show the pagan origins of New Year’s Day celebrations. You can find related material in reference encyclopedias and online research resources as well.”  From:  https://www.ucg.org/learn/bible-questions-and-answers/are-new-year-celebrations-pagan-origin

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