Topic(s): Moral Issues, Sin, God's Mercy

Bob Prichard

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevski wrote The Gambler in 1866. In this autobiographical novel, he offered a personal understanding of the psychology and physiology of the compulsive, addicted gambler. He documented characteristics such as the need for stimulation, feelings of social inferiority, and low self-esteem. He wrote to finance his own self-destructive gambling habit, but perhaps opened the eyes of others to the dangers of compulsive gambling.

Many today are only casual or occasional gamblers, but an alarming number of people, including many young people, are addicted to gambling. The millions of compulsive gamblers in the U. S. affect an average of ten to twelve others (family, employers, fellow workers), who are also victims of the addiction. Compulsive gambling is often associated with other addictions such as drugs and alcohol, and compulsive gamblers are prone to suicide, and often tempted to crime to support their addiction.

Is there hope for the person addicted to gambling? We must condemn the sin of gambling, but we can also offer hope. God can forgive the one addicted, and provide hope for a better life. Paul told the Christians of Corinth, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). “And such were some of you.” The Corinthians had been involved in terrible sins, but God forgave them, because they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus.

The gambling addict receives the same forgiveness that the Corinthians received when he is washed in the blood of Christ through obedience to the gospel of Christ and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). In obeying the gospel, the compulsive gambler has the blessing of God’s care and support as he attempts to give up the addiction. Ending the compulsive behavior is difficult, but can be done with God’s help.

The addicted gambler must realize that gambling must be abandoned forever. It cannot be done moderately, because the addict is always “just one win away” from being seduced back into the compulsive lifestyle. Since covetousness and getting something for nothing is at the heart of gambling, associating with God’s people will help the gambler learn that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Since “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB), the compulsive gambler must get away from the old gambling buddies. The compulsive gambler must be encouraged to seek help! Organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous have helped many deal with this addiction. The odds of beating this addiction without God are low, “but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)