Gambling!!!!

[Nastro]

Gambling, is it right or wrong? Your thoughts....

[Dev]

Gambling is wrong. In my opinion, gambling has at its root, greed.

Oxford defines greed as:

greed
· n. intense and selfish desire for wealth, power, or food.
– ORIGIN C16: back-form. from greedy.


SO intese and selfish desire, not a good combination. That kinda mentality will cause problems between friends and family.

[kilaj1]

bowy in my opinion gambing is good when you a win :eusa_wall :icon_lol:

But I do belive that it has a very dark side to it.

[Chris]

Gambling is wrong. People work work to earn ... easy come easy go ;)

[Greatis]

but who says you don't work when gambling? :eusa_thin

I mean think about it.

[Chris]

but who says you don't work when gambling? :eusa_thin

I mean think about it.

I'm sorry, but scratching the card and rolling dice doesn't constitute work :icon_lol:

[BlackCryptoKnight]

...there are a number of scripture texts that address the principles involved. Here are some:

The 10th commandment found in Exodus 20:17 talks about coveting which is the root of most of our problems. What is one of the reasons that people gamble and play the lottery? They covet money, quick and easy. 1 Timothy 6:10 declares that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Therefore, the enticement of gambling and playing the lottery obviously comes under these texts. But there is more. God has given to each person certain talents, which among other things includes time, money, influence and a host of other related items. He is going to have each person give a strict account of how these were used. If they are wasted and dissipated, often the indulgent ones are not the only ones who pay the price. Families often must go without basic necessities because of one member's addiction.

Matthew 6:21 quotes Christ as saying "where your treasure is there will your heart be also." For those who engage in this traffic, money is the mutilator. In the parable Jesus told of the rich farmer. He condemned him for saying how rich he was and that he would tear down his barns and build larger ones. You recall that the story ends with the man dying that very night. Then whom will this wealth belong to?
http://en.bibleinfo.com/questions/question.html?id=748

[Nastro]

Why is it not seen as an investment with great returns should it work?

[Chris]

An investment involves a calculated risk and for it to be feasible the risks have to be in the investor's favour. Gambling's risks are not in the favour of the gambler.

[Xenocrates]

[Switching to Devil's Advocate Mode]

DISCLAIMER: Please note that I do not support gambling in any way shape or form. The following can of worms I'm about to open is merely to facilitate a more exciting discussion.

Gambling is wrong in the context that it employs the quick attainment of cash, from the sheer love of money. That's our reasoning right? Good. Let's shake things up a little and make it a little more interesting:

When we invest on the stock market, is it Gambling and thereby wrong?

The same principles are applied. You may either win some, or loose some - Quickly. Usually a stock broker is the one that watches the trend for you. If you are arguing from the point of view that you are merely providing capital for companies to function (the whole point of stocks), then we could analyse casino gambling in the same light. You bet on a table, and if you loose, your capital finances the casino's operation.

Same thing with horse racing. If you loose, you finance the operations of the betting services. That's how they get paid. Same thing with the Lottery. If you loose, you provide a greater deal of capital for the eventual winner, and hence increase the jackpot total if nobody actually wins.

So if we say Gambling is wrong, exactly how is it wrong? For if gambling is wrong, then in this context, so is:

- Investing on the stock market
- Flipping notes in real estate for possibly high returns on equities
- Trading goods on some market for the best available price
- Auctioning items to the highest bidder

All of these activities employ very similar mechanics to gambling. So where do we draw the line? Or rather, the real brain teaser is, how do we know if a line should be draw at all?

Aaaah! Let's see some real responses now. :icon_twis

(Please re-read the disclaimer before you respond)

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Ok X...

We can agree that trade (exchange of goods or services) is not gambling right? When trading, people tend to negotiate to get the best price for them.
When you buy stocks, what you are doing is acquiring some asset which has a value. That value is based on the strenght of the compnay whose stocks you've bought - their growth potential, revenue, capital base etc.

When you trade on the stock market, what are you doing? You are negotiating with other traders for the best price for buying or selling stocks.
What is it that determines whether you gain or lose money in the stock market? It is the perception of value of the stocks you hold. If the general market consensus is that stock X is valuable, the price increases - more money for you if you decide to sell. If the general market consensus is that stock X is not very valuable, then the price drops, and you lose money on your investment.What influences the perception of value? Facts on the companies whos stocks are being traded - income, debt, assets, growth, PE ratio and external factors such as economy and legislation etc.

There are market forces at work. It is possible for persons to gauge how the market will respond to certain stocks and therefore make decisions to buy stocks with the view that they will make money. There's no research you can do to figure which are the best lotto numbers to buy- number selection is purely a chance event.

People can approach investing (whether in stocks or other ventures) as if they are gambling if they don't educate themselves properly about the venture and understand the risks. That approach is not smart, and from a moral perspective, any decision that a person makes that is not properly thought out and rational can be argued to be "wrong" simply because they acted irresponsibly.

I think that's the crux of the gambling debate - acting responsibly with ones resources. It is irresponsible to take risks which are overwhelmingly against you, for purposes of selfish greed.

[AngelsKiss]

Teehee...just had to go dig up some old stuff :icon_mrgr

I don't think everyone gamble because of greed. Some ppl gamble for the thrill of it.

[Drew]

i tried it once when i was on a cruise earlier this year. i don't see the hype at all.

[Malloc-X]

xeno what about that time i saw u at corner pocket bettin on a game of billiards, u might not support it but u did it atleast once

[Chicokid]

Tried a slot machine once...lost all my coins :(

[Jae]

I don't like losing money, so if I gamble and lose, there would be Hell to pay. Always asking myself why I haven't won the lotto yet? Well d'oh haven't bought any tickets, smartass!!!

[AngelsKiss]

My grandfather use to run a Chinese gambling house :icon_mrgr

[bernie]

My grandfather use to run a Chinese gambling house :icon_mrgr
so you chinese?:eusa_thin

[AngelsKiss]

so you chinese?:eusa_thin
My grandfather not me :)

[Manu]

What about a christian woman who has a dream and 6 numbers come to her and she takes it upon herself and goes and buy one Lotto ticket with one set of numbers and wins the Jackpot? Is that gambling? Or divine intervention? When it is done by chance?

[Bahama Mama]

I personally dont gamble. I prefer to bank my money and watch it gain interest, or invest it (at some point in the future).

I think gambling works against good work ethics, and the practicality of saving and investing ones money.

I dont think it is wrong, it is just not smart in my opinion.

[AngelsKiss]

Well I buy the lotto. What I find funny is that there are people who say they don't buy the lotto and then they tell you well if you win to remember them. Personally if I win they wouldn't getting a cent from me :D

[Nastro]

It is ironic how many persons who are by no means in support of gambling, are big players in the stock market ;)

Ah.... go figure.

[Izemi-Clem]

Hail

It is because the defintion of gambling is skewed and scattered with many grey areas, competiton has always existed in mankind and so the grey areas exist between sports and chance, speculation and obsession.

On any level there are those who seeks to gain the most by contributing the least, regarldless of who suffers the consequences.
Make no mistake they are benifits to any of these systems, as long as the distribution of the benifits are spread equitable over the larger masses rather than for a select few ie. State run lotteries where the proceeds are used for public works and social programs (SDA and reggae boys, building of sports complexes around the island).

Trinidad celebrated their frist million-th visitor to their shores long before Jamaica did, soley because most tourists opt for countries that have casinos, take Las Vegas for instance. It proves if you are serious about tourism you have to go all the way in providing what the tourism market requires.
There are rumors that the Jamaican government is making plans to introduce casino gambling and we see businessmen jostling to take advantage of this when they do.

Izemi-Clem

[easyskanka]

Just hope that the introduction of casinos does not increase the crime levels in JA.

[Nastro]

Just hope that the introduction of casinos does not increase the crime levels in JA.

No more than the removal of jobs on average of 200 posts per month.

[Drew]

It is ironic how many persons who are by no means in support of gambling, are big players in the stock market LMAO, thats so true.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Is foreign currency trading gambling? Some people think it is. But then some people thing trading is stocks is gambling too. :rolleyes:

What do you all think? Is foreign currency trading (like what Olint does) gambling?

[ramesh]

I don't know.... even crossing the street is a gamble. Who knows when a car may come and hit you down without warning? What of flying? Isn't that gambling your life on the hope that the plane won't suddenly drop from the sky or be taken over by terrorists. :eusa_pray :eusa_thin

[Greatis]

Life is a gamble they say right????? ... I think that gambling has too many grey areas I myself am not sure if the stock market or forex trading is gambling.