A Dangerous and Unsocial Form of Excitement
Religious leaders are finally pushing back against online gambling.
The rapid growth of online sports betting in America over the past decade has led to a puzzling lack of moral condemnation from religious leaders. While churches traditionally warned against gambling, in recent years they have remained relatively silent as state legislatures legalized sports betting and gambling ads became ubiquitous.
Jonathan Cohen, a gambling policy researcher, notes that the National Association of Evangelicals barely addressed the issue despite denouncing it as "socially, morally and economically destructive" in the past.
In 2022, a Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans found gambling morally acceptable, the highest share ever recorded. In his recent address at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' General Conference, President D. Todd Christofferson condemned gambling, emphasizing that it is morally wrong as it is built on the desire to obtain something for nothing and enriches only the purveyors.
He urged Christians to be wise stewards of their resources and warned against casual gambling, stating that it may lead weaker individuals into temptation. While journalists and legislators have begun to scrutinize the industry, the responsibility for moral leadership ultimately lies with religious leaders.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
