LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 343

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

February 1996

Gambling

Introduction

For the third time in American history gambling’ has swept our nation,
becoming a part of the weekly—and even daily—routine of millions of
Americans.’ The current boom is unlike any other for its size and
for the way in which it has become a part of the fabric of American life.”
Gambling has now become America’s new national pastime, dwarfing other
forms of entertainment in this country. Indeed,

gambling is now bigger than baseball, more powerful than a platoon of

Schwarzeneggers, Spielbergs, Madonnas and Oprahs. More Americans went

to casinos than to major league ballparks in 1993. Ninety-two million visits!

Legal gambling revernies reached $30 billion, which is more than the combined

take for movies, books, recorded music and park and arcade attractions!

gambling may be defined as follows: “the bet-
consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the
Outcome of a game, a contest, or an uncertain event, the result of which may be determined

Crime Control Act of 1970 (PL 91-482), the term gembling includes, but it is
not limited to, pool-selling: bookmaking; maintaining slot machines, roulette wheels or dice
tables; conducting lotteries, policy, botita or numbers games; or selling chances to these
games. Mark A. Seegel, Alison Landes, and Carol Foster, eds., Gambling: Crime or Recrestion?
in Information Plus, Wylie Texas, 1994 ed., 16.

"The first “wave” of legal gambti began d

tracks were licensed and in the 1950s bingo and social gambling became legal. In 1963 the

state lottery was again permitted. I. Nelson Rose, “Gambling and the Law: Endless Fields of |

Dreams,” Christian Soctal Action Quly / August 1994), 4. See Siegel, Landes, and Foster, eds,
history.

2.5, for the details of this

°In his chapter on “McGambling: Electronic Betting and the Future of the Industry” in
The Luck Business (New York: The Free Press, 1995), Robert Goodman observes that “elec-
tronic gambling if Machines are the fastest-growing sector of the [gamblin, } ind ust (123),
The legalization of “video lottery terminals” (VLTs) or “video poker” tn some sates has
relfectively created thousands of minicasinos in urban, as well as in remote rural areas”
(VLTs in restaurants, convenience stores, truck stops, etc.) (125). On the horizon, Goodman
predicts, is at-home interactive television betting and, courtesy of the information super-
highway, “the legalization of at-home cable television betting” would give the gambling
industry “access to a powerful new technique to further influence people's gambling behav-
iors” (134). See also Jim Impoco, “Laying Off Bets on the Internet.” U.S. News & Report
Ganuary 15, 1996), 60.

“Gerri Hirshey, “Gambling Nation,” New York Times Magazine uly 17, 1994), 36

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CONTENTS

Introduction ....00..0..0..0. ccc

A Biblical Perspective:
Moral Concerns about Gambling

A Pastoral Perspective:
Freedom, Legalism, and the Christian Life ...cc.eccccccsssss.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the
Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952, © 1971, 1973. Used by permission,

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copynght © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
Permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The quotations from the Lutheran Confessions in this publication are from The Book of Concord:
The Confessions of the Ev. Lutheran Church, ed. by Theodore G. Tapert, Fortress Pross © 1939
Used by permission of the publisher,

Copyright © 1996 The Lutheran Church-—Missouri Sy nod

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It is predicted that by the turn of this century virtually all Americans will
live within a four-hour drive of a casino.’

A significant change in attitude on the part of government has con-
tributed to this recent resurgence of gambling in American life. As a mat-
ter of public policy, government no longer merely permits some forms of
gambling; it now actually promotes the practice.’ Among the reasons given
for this change is the desire of state and local governments to raise needed
revenue without increased taxation—a more “painful” and less politically
popular alternative.” “To these grateful constituencies, gambling is no
longer a sin, but a saving grace.”*

The legalization of gambling and its Promotion by state and local gov-
ermments has in turn contributed to a major shift in public attitudes. Polls
now reveal that for a majority of our citizens the taint of sin formerly
attached to gambling has faded—" after all, if the state government urges
that a person gamble, how bad can it be?”? Despite the moral misgivings of
some, “gaming” (as gambling is now called, especially by its promoters) is
regarded as a form of recreation by increasingly large numbers of people.

Efforts to legalize gambling in recent years, though in nearly every
case successful, have been met regularly by voices of Opposition, including
those former gamblers who have experienced the personal and family
tragedies it can bring. Increased crime, the growing problem of compul-
sive gambling, rising divorce rates, child abuse, the regressive effects of
gambling on the poor, the negative impact on existing local economies,
government dependency, and false expectations regarding the generation
of state revenues are among the numerous reasons cited to show that gam-
bling is more injurious to our society than it is beneficial. Despite these
objections, gambling for a majority of Americans has lost its former stigma
as an evil tarnishing the moral character of those who indulge in it. As one
writer put it in connection with the popularity of state lotteries: “Alchem-
izing vice into virtue, state lotteries glamorize the same activities that could
{have gotten] you five years in the slammer.” Gambling establishments

"Tid.

"Rose, 4

“In 1988 Congress passed the “Indian Gaming Regulatory Act” (GRA, PL 100-497),
which permits “Indian tribes [to] have the exclusive right to regulate gaming actiuty on
Indian lands if the gaming activity is not specifically prohibited by Federal law and is cone
ducted within a State which does not, as a matter of criminal taw and public policy, prohib-
it such gaming activity.” Siegel, Landes, Foster, 10. Native American tribes are now ptaying
2 major role in the expansion of casino gambling throughout the country, and gambling rev-
enue on Indian reservations is expected to increase dramatically in the years ahead

“Hirshey. 36.

“Siegel, Landes, and Foster, 61
“Chris Welles, “America’s Gambling Fever.” Business Week (Apnil 24, 1989), 113.

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