: [QUOTE]The Bible doesn't have a specific commandment about gambling, but it is mentioned several times, always in bad company and a negative context[/QUOTE]

: Well, not always negative. Matthias was chosen by lot as the twelfth apostle. Both men were within the 'inner circle' of disciples, and Joseph Justus remained so afterward. One can claim, of course, that God decided the result. Or maybe the eleven just couldn't decide between two such worthy candidates.

Matthias is a fair enough example. In fact casting or drawing lots was used several times in the Bible as a means of determining divine will, or being impartial (ie dividing up the land for the 12 tribes of Israel, Joshua 18; assigning official duties for priests, Levites, etc., 1 Chron. 24:5ff; finding out who to blame for bad weather, Jonah 1:7, etc.) The Wisdom writings endorse arriving at impartial or even divine decisions by casting lots (Prov. 16:33, 18:18). One might argue that casting lots for Jesus' garment was just an extension of the same practice, despite the vicious circumstances, and one does deal with gradations along a scale of sorts in considering an activity like gambling.

: I have no objection to state lotteries if they are thought of as a voluntary tax. You contribute voluntarily to excellent state programs, usually for education or the elderly, and as a reward you're given a chance to receive a little (or a lot of) extra cash. When I lived in Pennsylvania I bought lottery tickets from time to time and won $1000 twice. That was nice, and the individual contributions for tickets never hurt my pocketbook or burdened me or my family.

On the other hand, a great many people who persistently buy lottery tickets can't afford it, and their families do miss the dollars thus squandered. Few people think of it as a benign tax, in practice. Buyers of lottery tickets are not thinking, "well, I guess I'll give the government a couple of bucks today." They are hoping for a quick return with no particular effort, maybe instant wealth. The hordes of ticket buyers for a $200+million state lottery last week weren't looking for a chance to contribute the the state. Nor do lotteries seem to accomplish what they promise, when it comes to funds for schools or other presumably noble government expenditures. Instead, huge amounts go to promotions and promoters and suppliers, and the funds previously designated for programs that receive lottery money are raided for other uses. It is a tax, certainly, but not a tax with good moral credentials or high integrity or accountability associated. The lottery does fuel the current American epidemic of gambling addiction, and lends an air of sanctity (after all, the state sponsors it) to an activity that has generally been recognized as a vice, and a close companion of other vices and abuses.

By the way, the original comment was prompted by the link posted in message 1059, which was subsequently deleted -- a link to online gambling.