Is there a difference between obsessive gambling away your very last penny and gambling for entertainment? I think so. That still does not mean you should gamble at all. Probably not.
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
Proverbs 13:11
Gambling is a slippery slope. Simply gambling for entertainment is somewhat like just trying cocaine for fun; one hit will not kill you or cause immediate damage, but the addiction you are likely to develop could actually kill you.
Gambling addiction is perhaps the most extreme manifestation of bad stewardship.
It is unwise to waste the funds in our command. It is also a tremendous waste of time, as most chronic gamblers spend full days or nights throwing their money into slots.
Casinos typically have no windows in the gambling area, because they do not want you to know what time of day it is. If you came in during the morning while it was light and then could see that it was dark, you might feel like it would be time to go. If you have no idea what time it is, you will have no idea when to leave, so you just stay all day. These are marketing schemes of the business.
Do not be mistaken, people who gamble usually aren’t there because they want to make money or get rich quick. They are there because they are addicted to gambling itself. The psychology of these individuals is marred. You can ask people who gamble on slots and they may tell you that they don’t even want to win, because it interrupts their rhythm of putting money in and pulling the lever. This type of gambling has hijacked the brain’s reward system and made individuals addicted to the thrill and suspense of the gambling. It has nothing to do with the winning or losing, it is all about the suspense of the game. This is a dangerous addiction, as is anything that manipulates our natural reward circuits.
Mantra
Gambling is poor stewardship in disguise.
Application
If you gamble for entertainment, realize that you are playing with fire. What you are doing is similar to drinking or smoking for entertainment. And while gambling will not have negative effects that attack your health, it will lead you directly to poverty. There are better things you can be doing with your time.
If you are already addicted, the likelihood that you will be able to defeat this by willpower alone is low. Even though the philosophy of Spartan Christianity always recommends trying to do as much as you can on your own and build your own willpower and discipline, this time you may need help.
Get help from your bank and set parameters over what can be withdrawn or paid through a card. Tell your bank to set up your cards to reject specific businesses like casinos. You are going to have to lock down all of your resources and ride out the withdrawals. While it would be easy for you to work around these parameters, it still makes wasting your money at least slightly more difficult.
Since this is a serious addiction, you may need an accountability partner for a period of time.
Put someone you trust in charge of your money. Tell them you are trying to improve your life by avoiding gambling and you need help. Get your friend to watch your bank accounts and where money is being spent. Give him the power to freeze your cards or accounts if he/she sees you going off the rails.
Get a grip. Confess your faults. Lock down the variables. Be a Man.
Conduct Yourselves Like Men.
