Is gambling a sin?

Gambling may be defined as an act of betting money on a game of chance. On this context, friends often ask me - is gambling a sin? This question always keeps me unspoken saved for saying- to each belongs his answer. To the well-nigh holy, any form of gambling is sin.

To the not-so holy however, gambling per se or a legalized one is not a sin. This is why many people from all walks of life gamble. Some play Lotto or buy sweepstakes tickets. Others try to hit the jackpot on a slot machine in a Casino. Still others take joy in playing parlor games like mahjong or pusoy dos.

Parlor games may not have been legalized, just the same however, people play them at home or during the wake of a dead relative in accordance with a tradition handed down from generation to generation. For all we know, if a wrong is accepted or practiced for so long by the biggest number of persons, it becomes a right to be observed by government officials and law enforcers.

Even then, however, the best source for knowing if gambling is a sin or not a sin is the Holy Bible. But the word of God appears to be silent on this matter. There is only a connotation of gambling when the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross agreed among themselves to cast lots for the seamless under garment of the crucified Christ, (John 19: 24).

Moreover, if legalized gambling is a sin, then Macky Pangan is the worst sinners of all. Why? Well he preaches the gospel and plays a game of chance as well. And like him a penny ante player, many priests play a game of chance even as some are even known to be high rollers. Therefore, if these men of light are free to bet on a slot machine, then Macky is free to play bingo without being bothered by his conscience.