Gambling issue in Alabama...

What is the definition of “gamble”? According to websters it is :
1: to play a game for money or property b : to bet on an uncertain outcome
2 : to stake something on a contingency : take a chance.

So the question is what do we consider gambling according to this definition?
A.) Stock Market: if you invest in the stock market than you are issued shares that represent ownership interests in a company. There is both common stock and preferred stock. Common stock holders elect the company's board of directors and actively participate in the company's success (or failure) through a rising (or falling) stock price. Common stock holders may also receive dividends, provided the company is profitable, obligations to commercial creditors and bondholders have been met, and the board sees fit to declare them. In the event of liquidation, however, common stock holders have no right to assets until all other obligations of the firm have been met. Common stock holders may have "pre-emptive" rights to maintain their percentage ownership of the firm. For example, a common stock holder with 100 of the 1,000 outstanding shares of the company, or 10%, may (or may not) have the right to buy 10 shares of a new issue of 100 shares. Preferred stock holders, in turn, are generally guaranteed dividends at a fixed rate, but they have limited voting rights. So then the stock market is gambling. You may gain or you may lose. It is a risk you take. If you take the risk - you are gambling.

B.) Raffle Tickets: if you purchase raffle tickets you are in turn buying a chance to win something. You are taking a risk that you may lose the money you put in. So participating in a raffle is gambling. You may win or you may lose. You are taking that risk.


These are only 2 examples of gambling. There are many forms of it. Many forms that you don’t think about. People take risk or gamble everyday of their life in some form.

So the bigger question is as a Christian is gambling wrong or a sin? The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
I Timothy 6:10);(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. Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11; Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle Proverbs 23:5; Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Gambling is a risk and at best a waste of money; but it is not a sin. People waste money on movies, tobacco and alcohol. Doesn’t make it right; but it is the same thing. Does the governor have a task force out for tobacco and alcohol? I haven’t seen or heard of one.

So my point and opinion is this. People waste money; we always have and we always will. Doesn’t make that person any less a christian than the next person. These places like Victoryland have been around for years. They had the dog track (which I may also add is gambling) long before the bingo machines were in there. It has provided much needed jobs for people trying to feed their family. There are also many charities that have received donations from these places. To go in there and shut them down was a complete waste of time and seriously a disaster to people that are now out of a job.

This issue is not going to just go away. It is time to put this to a vote. Define the laws of gambling. Decide once and for all if we are going to have these entertainment places. And if it is illegial; than shut the Indian Entertainment places down as well. What is law for one should be law the all.

Once again… This is MY OPINION. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; BUT it is time to vote and put this to an end. I for one would much rather spend my entertainment money in my state so it would benefit us than to go to Mississippi and spend it.