In the March, 2005 issue of The Business Monthly, in the “From The Editor” section, Editor Mark R. Smith opines “It’s Time for Maryland to Get Gaming.”
It’s an old, and tired argument – and one we’re (“We” being some combination of Republicans, Marylanders, and responsible-minded citizens) likely to lose sooner or later.
Mr. Smith takes a typically democratic turn at wordsmithing by carefully crafting the argument (Watch for the twist) “I really, really hate seeing $400 million discretionary dollars that could be spent here in the Old Line State being gambled away in Delaware, West Virginia, Las Vegas, the Moon or wherever.” (emphasis mine)
The implication being that if the money is “spent” here in Maryland, it’s a good thing. However, if the same money goes to anywhere else (in the universe, apparently), it’s being merely “Gambled Away”, and therefore a bad thing. If it is spent in the same way here, is it no longer being “Gambled Away”?
He goes on to say “Yes, there will be more gambling adducts in the state that could reduce the potential payback by draining state resources more than anyone anticipates – but to such a degree that it would negate the overall benefit? Hardly. Addiction is an illness, yes, but we all have to be responsible for our actions.”
This is an interesting argument. He advocates personal responsibility over Governmental interdiction. Which would normally sit very well with me. However, we’re not talking about a situation where the Government should choose not to act, instead increasing awareness & education to promote personal responsibility. No, we’re talking about the Government TAKING action to tempt and place increased risk and responsibility into the hands of the people. According to Stop Slots Maryland, a site that I do not claim complete agreement with, but has some interesting counter arguments, “Government is a contract among it’s people. We collectively agree to limit drinking, driving, prostitution, voting ages, drug use and other human behavior. For many people, gambling is an activity that needs limits. Proximity to convenience gambling increases the risk of problem gambling. It is not a Constitutional right to be encouraged by the State.” An interesting argument to consider.
And the argument goes that we (Marylanders) need this new revenue source to overcome budgetary problems, deficits, etc., and that this income would provide huge increases to education, jobs, etc. Yeah, instead of deciding to really take the hard line and reduce Government spending, attract new businesses and jobs to the area, and so on – we should instead create bigger, long-term problems instead.
Once this door is opened, it can likely never be closed again. And it presents far more problems than it solves.
I would urge everyone to carefully consider – and to pray about – this issue. Are you buying the hyperbole? Are you being swayed and tossed like a boat in a storm by all the propaganda? What’s in your heart about it? Don’t have the attitude of “Well, it’s not for me, but I can see how other people might want it.” Let’s not cause other’s to stumble by our action (or inaction). Let’s advocate (and vote) responsible spending and proper Government.
If you are a supporter of this issue, I might suggest looking deep into your heart and asking “Why? Do I have a gambling problem” and if so, seek help. Addictions take many forms, but they all boil down to Idolatry.
Without going deeply into the various religious, political, ethical, moral, legal, etc., issues surrounding gambling – let’s just focus on the obvious – common sense. All forms of gambling exist for exactly one reason – to make money (for “the house”). They are specifically designed and tweaked to force the odds heavily in the favor of the institution hosting the gambling. OK – so that may seem like an argument in support of state-legalized gambling. Except that means the money comes from somewhere to fill the coffers of that institution. In every case, the money comes from gamblers – an obvious but important point. I do not personally know the statistics (though I have my opinions), but I found this article that points out that 52% of regular casino gamblers (or 46% of participants in any type of gambling) are not in the workforce. That means that approximately half of the people gambling are not producing revenue for their household, but are extracting money from their household that they likely cannot afford.
The ads and the supporters of legalized gambling will glamorize the issue (and even the problem itself). You’ll see ads featuring a handsome middle-aged man, flanked by a couple of beauties, with a drink on the table, and stacks of chips in front of him. The insinuation being that if you gamble, you’ll be attractive to women, make loads of cash, and have the lifestyle you always wanted. The reality is that gambling promotes alcoholism, prostitution, philandering, idolatry, bad stewardship, and a host of other problems.
OK, let’s look (as I must) at the biblical perspective… Family.Org has some great articles and links on the issue, including this one.
Although there are no passages in the bible that speak directly to gambling, there are countless principles and commands that speak to the heart issues surrounding gambling. Principles such as:
Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (you will have to work to earn your money and food – it will not be provided for you for free)
Proverbs 14:31 “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Proverbs 22:16 “He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich – both come to poverty.” (As a state, we would be oppressing the poor to increase our wealth through gambling – we would also be giving gifts to the rich (the gambling magnates))
Isaiah 3:14 “The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.”
Proverbs 12:11 “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.”
Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 15:27a “A greedy man brings trouble to his family.”
Luke 12:15 “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”
2 Peter 2:18-19 “For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.”
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet… anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Gambling seeks to obtain the resources of others without providing anything of value in return.)
1 Timothy 6:9 “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
2 Thessalonian 3:10b “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
For additional references on a biblical perspective on gambling:
Family.Org Gambling: A biblical perspective
Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?
Gambling: Moral or Immoral? Lotteries, Casinos and the Bible
Also, I’d encourage you to read “An Open Letter From 220 Religious Leaders to the President and Congress on the Spread of Gambling.”
