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Gambling
Gambling is seeking gain at the expense of others, solely on the basis of chance. The Salvation Army is acutely aware of the suffering and deprivation visited upon thousands of persons as a result of gambling. Our experience indicates that many of those who gamble tend to disregard their primary responsibilities in life and frequently bring embarrassment and hurt to those dependent on them. This does not, however, lessen the evil to those who participate without any apparent financial effects on themselves or their families.
Since all gambling is motivated by selfishness, it runs counter to the Christian expression of love, respect and concern for one's fellow men. Often it begins in an apparently harmless way, but its continued practice frequently leads to grosser excesses and tends to undermine the personality and character of the gambler.
Official sanction and public acceptance of this evil is, in the opinion of The Salvation Army, contrary to the Christian principles to which we subscribe.
Salvationists should resist participation in any scheme which would give them material advantage on the basis of chance.
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Gambling: An update
2002
Revenues (net of prizes) from government-run lotteries, video lottery terminals and casinos reached $11.3 billion in 2002, up 5.6% from 2001 and four times higher than a decade earlier.
Gambling continues to be very profitable for governments, with revenues yielding $6.0 billion in profit. This level was three and a half times the profit of $1.7 billion realized in 1992.
Lotteries accounted for 27% of all non-charity gambling net revenues in 2002; casinos, 34%; video lottery terminals, 23%; and slot machines outside casinos, 17%.
An estimated 42,000 men and women were employed in the gambling industry in 2002, compared with only 12,000 in 1992. Women occupied 55% of jobs in gambling, compared with 46% of jobs in non-gambling industries.
While the likelihood of gambling increases with income, the proportion spent decreases.
About 59% of households with incomes of less than $20,000 gambled in 2001, spending an average of $357. In contrast, 77% of households with incomes of $80,000 or more gambled, spending an average of $642.
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