Gambling a moral issue? NO!

[phep]

It often amazes me to hear people refer to gambling as a moral issue. This is from gamblers and non-gamblers alike. Once and for all, gambling is not a moral issue.

When money is transferred from one party to another, that is a financial issue. If someone gambles and loses, they have transferred their money, to the sportsbook or casino. They chose to do a financial transaction and spent their money on gambling. Likewise, if this person wins, the sportsbook or casino does the transfer. Again, a financial issue. Exchanging money for goods or a service in this case is a financial issue. Period.

When another person or entity directs what you can and cannot do with your money (gambling laws), now that is a moral issue. If a third party confiscates your money (taxes), that is also a moral issue. Those that would infringe upon your free choice to do as you want with your money, to infringe upon your financial transactions, are doing so immorally. Those that confiscate as much as is possible under whatever guise can be created, are acting immorally. Both are undoubtedly moral issues.

See the difference? It is very clear to me.

[Blowfish]

Phep, I agree with you, but for the sake of argument:

What about financial transaction involving prostitution? Like gambling, it involves free will and the sale of goods and services....yet people will argue this is an immoral activity.

Also, how about murder-for-hire? That is a financial transaction between two parties. That can be argued that this affects a third party, therefore falls under morality, yet can be boiled down to a financial transaction.

Those that argue morality are saying that the activity as a whole affects society and they way they behave. It is wrong, people should be responsible for themselves, but the entire concept of big government is the masses aren't in complete control of themselves and must be guided accordingly. The same goes for certain churches...

Gambling has always been associated with the underground because rarely do people have civilized ways to settle disputes. They are forced to act rashly because they very law that is supposed to protect them is not on their side.

[phep]

Blowfish,

I was going to put something in there regarding crimes like you mention, murder for hire, etc. Of course there are illegal activities that are immoral. However, gambling is not one of them. It's all about money, but the laws are created under the guise of morality. When religion comes out against gambling, it is not because the powers that be truly believe it is immoral. Rather, it is a financial issue - less contributions if their patrons are gambling.

[oddswiz]

The church doesn't seem to have a problem with BINGO though!

As with government, it's all hypocritical.

[Blowfish]

Bingo--I had thought of that one, then thought, the hell with bingo, the Church says it's okay to molest children--as long as it was just once......

Moral must be relative..........

[LoboLoco]

why is gambling a moral issue? people like sports and games. if they want to make it more exciting by putting money on the game that is their business. how is it different from liking companies and buying stock or being a daytrader?