104 Bible Verses About Gambling

I want to talk to you about something I've been reflecting on: using our resources wisely. The Bible teaches us to take care of our families, and that really hits home for me. It makes me think twice about risking what I have on things like gambling, hoping for a quick win. While the Bible doesn't specifically call out gambling, it gives us a lot of guidance to figure out how God feels about it.

Luke 12:15¹⁵ really speaks to me: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." That's a powerful reminder that true wealth isn't about how much stuff we have. It's about something deeper.

And then there's Luke 12:42⁴²: "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?" This verse challenges me to be a good steward of everything I've been blessed with. It reminds me to manage my resources wisely, appreciating everything I've received, and not throwing it away on risky choices.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\par

But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\par

He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches,\par\tab And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.

Weary not thyself to be rich;\par\tab Cease from thine own wisdom.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;\par\tab But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing;\par\tab But righteousness delivereth from death.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand;\par\tab But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath;\par\tab But righteousness delivereth from death.

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;\par\tab But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.\par

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;\par\tab But he that hateth bribes shall live.

Better is a little, with righteousness,\par\tab Than great revenues with injustice.

An inheritance {\i may be} gotten hastily at the beginning;\par\tab But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

The thoughts of the diligent {\i tend} only to plenteousness;\par\tab But every one that is hasty {\i hasteth} only to want.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:\par\tab He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;\par\tab But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

A {\i good} name is rather to be chosen than great riches,\par\tab {\i And} loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The rich ruleth over the poor;\par\tab And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his {\i gain},\par\tab {\i And} he that giveth to the rich, {\i shall come} only to want.\par

Weary not thyself to be rich;\par\tab Cease from thine own wisdom.Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?\par\tab For {\i riches} certainly make themselves wings,\par\tab Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,\par\tab Than he that is perverse in {\i his} ways, though he be rich.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;\par\tab But he that followeth after vain {\i persons} shall have poverty enough.A faithful man shall abound with blessings;\par\tab But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, {\i namely}, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny;I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.\par

As the partridge that sitteth on {\i eggs} which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.\par

They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant measure that is abominable?Shall I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.

For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

Jesus said unto him, {\cf6 If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.}But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.\parAnd Jesus said unto his disciples, {\cf6 Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.}

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.

For {\i it is} as {\i when} a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained other five {\i talents}.In like manner he that {\i received} the two gained other two.But he that received the one went away and digged {\i in the} earth, and hid his lord's money.Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.And he also that {\i received} the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;thou oughtest therefore to have put my moneys to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\par

For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of {\i this} life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.}\par

Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.\par

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.}\par

And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.

Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,and desiring to be fed with the {\i crumbs} that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores.And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house;for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.}\par

And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, {\cf6 One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.}But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.And Jesus seeing him said, {\cf6 How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.}

and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables;and to them that sold the doves he said, {\cf6 Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.}

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,and kept back {\i part} of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back {\i part} of the price of the land?

Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.

Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.For this, {\b Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,} and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, {\b Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.}Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.\par

but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Let no man seek his own, but {\i each} his neighbor's {\i good}.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

{\i Let} each man {\i do} according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Put to death therefore the members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.\par

abstain from every form of evil.\par

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

But godliness with contentment is great gain:for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\par

Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is {\i life} indeed.\par

For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, {\b I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.}

But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.\par

Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world {\i to be} rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.

Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to {\i the will of} God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.\par

But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

{\i My} little children, guard yourselves from idols.\par

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and {\i that} the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

Wealth addeth many friends;\par\tab But the poor is separated from his friend.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:\par\tab There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

He said therefore, {\cf6 A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye {\i herewith} till I come.But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.And another came, saying, Lord, behold, {\i here is} thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:wherein they think it strange that ye run not with {\i them} into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of {\i you}:who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling.

And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.\par

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

{\cf6 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? {\i or} what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.\par

Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things {\i done} in the body, according to what he hath done, whether {\i it be} good or bad.\par

choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;\par\tab It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.\par

He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.

in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, {\i even} these least, ye did it unto me.

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!\par\tab Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

And he said unto them, {\cf6 Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?

Prayer