What Do the World's Major Faiths Say About Gambling?

You can bet on pretty much anything online these days: from sporting events, to elections, to natural disasters.

But how about an even more consequential event? Apparently, you can also wager on the return of Christianity’s savior, Jesus Christ. 

Online betting website Polymarket is allowing users to place bets on the return of Jesus Christ by the start of 2027. What are the current odds? The market has His return in the range of a 2-5% chance.

Should Jesus return, those who bet correctly will hit a big jackpot – though one wonders how, exactly, they’ll collect their winnings in the midst of global rapture. 

Potential Jesus jackpots aside, that got us thinking. What do the world’s major faiths say about gambling?

Christianity

The Bible never explicitly mentions casinos, lotteries, or sports betting. But it has plenty to say about money, greed, and stewardship. Many Christian critics of gambling point to verses like 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Hebrews 13:5 adds, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”

Some Christians argue that gambling fosters covetousness, and can undermine trust in God’s provision. Proverbs 13:11 warns, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”

That said, Christian views vary widely. The Catholic Church does not consider gambling inherently sinful, stating in the Catechism (§2413) that games of chance are morally acceptable unless they deprive someone of what is necessary for themselves or others. However, many Protestant denominations discourage or oppose gambling outright, especially when it becomes addictive or exploitative.

Judaism

The Torah does not directly ban gambling, but rabbinic tradition wrestles with its ethics. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 24b) disqualifies professional gamblers from serving as witnesses, labeling them as dice players who do not contribute productively to society.

Biblical principles often cited include Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet… anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Some rabbis argue that gambling resembles a form of theft if one party wins money based on unrealistic expectations rather than informed consent.

At the same time, casual or recreational gambling is often treated more leniently in modern Jewish communities, particularly when it does not harm others or become exploitative.

Islam

Islam is among the clearest and most uncompromising on gambling. It is explicitly forbidden.

The Qur’an states in Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:90: “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing on stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” The next verse (5:91) warns that gambling and alcohol sow “enmity and hatred” and distract from the remembrance of God and prayer.

Because gambling involves uncertainty and unearned gains at another’s expense, it is considered haram (forbidden). In Islamic jurisprudence, even small-stakes betting falls under this prohibition.

Hinduism

Hindu texts offer a cautionary tale rather than a blanket ban on gambling. The Mahabharata famously centers on a disastrous dice game in which Yudhishthira gambles away his kingdom, his brothers, and even his wife Draupadi, triggering a devastating war.

The Rig Veda (10.34) includes the “Gambler’s Lament,” a vivid warning against wagering on games of chance. The hymn portrays gambling as addictive and ruinous, describing dice as “deceptive, hot and burning,” arguing that “they give and take again.”

While Hinduism does not universally prohibit gambling, many traditions warn against it as a vice when it leads to moral decline or neglect of duty.

Buddhism

Buddhism approaches gambling through the lens of suffering and attachment. The Sigalovada Sutta (Digha Nikaya 31) lists gambling among activities that lead to the “loss of wealth” and social decline. It warns of six drawbacks to habitual gambling, including the loss of friendships, loss of credibility, and – of course – loss of money.

Because Buddhism teaches non-attachment and mindfulness, gambling, which often feeds craving (tanha), is widely discouraged. While not always framed as a strict prohibition, it is seen as unwise and spiritually counterproductive.

Is Gambling a Sin?

Across traditions, a pattern emerges. Few faiths frame gambling as harmless fun. Most warn against greed, addiction, exploitation, and the social fallout that can follow in its wake. Islam forbids it outright. Christianity and Judaism debate its moral limits. Hindu and Buddhist texts caution against its destructive potential.

Across time, culture, and faith, the moral concern over habitual gambling is quite consistent. And while few faiths explicitly prohibit gambling, all warn of its destructive potential: what begins as a game of chance can quickly become a test of character… so it’s best to be careful. 

Does that mean placing a wager on Jesus's return is a bad idea? You'll have to be the judge.