:bouncy: Interesting topic on Love 97 to day is Gambling right or wrong for the Bahamas and Bahamians
Gambling is wrong
You know that verse in Philemon that says, “Yeah, and verily, he that gambleth or places bets on chariot races or participates in the public lottery in hopes of winning the big powerball, he should stop that. He doth sin.”
Okay, don’t start reaching for your concordances. You won’t find that verse or any other verses about gambling, in the modern sense, anywhere in the Bible. So it must be just fine, right? Let’s organize a church bus tour to Vegas and start holding outreach classes about improving your poker face and picking horses for fun and profit. Wait, something sounds kind of wrong about that, too.
So where’s the line? Is gambling always wrong? Is it always fine? How should believers think about gambling? It’s a question worth asking, because the “sport” of gambling is huge these days. On any given night, a quick tour of your TV dial could land you on three or four poker matches in progress. You can’t listen to sports radio, especially football talk, without hearing the betting odds on all the games. And those lottery jackpots just keep getting higher and higher every year (meaning more and more people are plunking down dollar bills to buy the tickets).
And, as you’ve probably noticed, lots of high school and college students are into gambling in a big way. In some surveys, as many as 90 percent of students in certain schools admitted to gambling in one form or another in the previous month. Gambling sites on the Internet get more traffic than any other type of site (outside of porn).
So what’s the problem? Why should we care? Well, the Bible might not specifically call out gambling as a sin, but it does warn us to steer clear of a lot of the things that are built into gambling. Let’s get specific . . . and practical. (http://www.planetwisdom.com/features/gambling.php)
Then there is the increase in organize crime, destruction of work ethics, neglect of responsibility and addiction.
Gambling is not wrong
We have heard and seen so much stories of persons who were down on there luck seem like nothing was going right but they took a chance and are now millionaires. Is it wrong for such a person to do something like Gambling that was successful in taking them out of the dumps or is it better for them to have stayed. Additionally there are those who through the money they have made by Gambling are now able to help so many. Let us not forget the fact that many large cities around the world have improved their health care, their sporting program and public services via money made from lottery. Is it fear for the church to have such a strong view against Gambling when they themselves sell tickets promising prizes to patrons who are “lucky” enough to be selected by chance. Is there any Church in the Bahamas that would turn down money from a Gambler? Don't the people who work in the casinos go to Churches??

Een no doubt gambling causes more misery then pleasure.Many peeps get addicted to it n lose all or family as well. Eva been to Vegas or Atlantic city n' seen the slums dat surround dos casinos? Boi..I mean right a block away tu.Only place is nice is around dos indian casinos in da countryside. It helps politicians as a cash cow n creates more service hamburger flipper style jobs is all.:hammer:

:bouncy: Interesting topic on Love 97 to day is Gambling right or wrong for the Bahamas and Bahamians
Gambling is wrong
You know that verse in Philemon that says, “Yeah, and verily, he that gambleth or places bets on chariot races or participates in the public lottery in hopes of winning the big powerball, he should stop that. He doth sin.”
Okay, don’t start reaching for your concordances. You won’t find that verse or any other verses about gambling, in the modern sense, anywhere in the Bible. So it must be just fine, right? Let’s organize a church bus tour to Vegas and start holding outreach classes about improving your poker face and picking horses for fun and profit. Wait, something sounds kind of wrong about that, too.
So where’s the line? Is gambling always wrong? Is it always fine? How should believers think about gambling? It’s a question worth asking, because the “sport” of gambling is huge these days. On any given night, a quick tour of your TV dial could land you on three or four poker matches in progress. You can’t listen to sports radio, especially football talk, without hearing the betting odds on all the games. And those lottery jackpots just keep getting higher and higher every year (meaning more and more people are plunking down dollar bills to buy the tickets).
And, as you’ve probably noticed, lots of high school and college students are into gambling in a big way. In some surveys, as many as 90 percent of students in certain schools admitted to gambling in one form or another in the previous month. Gambling sites on the Internet get more traffic than any other type of site (outside of porn).
So what’s the problem? Why should we care? Well, the Bible might not specifically call out gambling as a sin, but it does warn us to steer clear of a lot of the things that are built into gambling. Let’s get specific . . . and practical. (http://www.planetwisdom.com/features/gambling.php)
Then there is the increase in organize crime, destruction of work ethics, neglect of responsibility and addiction.
Gambling is not wrong
We have heard and seen so much stories of persons who were down on there luck seem like nothing was going right but they took a chance and are now millionaires. Is it wrong for such a person to do something like Gambling that was successful in taking them out of the dumps or is it better for them to have stayed. Additionally there are those who through the money they have made by Gambling are now able to help so many. Let us not forget the fact that many large cities around the world have improved their health care, their sporting program and public services via money made from lottery. Is it fear for the church to have such a strong view against Gambling when they themselves sell tickets promising prizes to patrons who are “lucky” enough to be selected by chance. Is there any Church in the Bahamas that would turn down money from a Gambler? Don't the people who work in the casinos go to Churches??

My humble opinion is that gambling in and of itself is not morally wrong. What makes gambling wrong is what makes a lot of things wrong, it is excesses.I have no problem with church raffles and certainly will have no problem with gambling once it is lawful and supervised.

A nationally lottery will go along way in helping the disadvantage of the Bahamas. Let us face it Bahamians will gamble, and later humbly and faithfully give a tenth of the proceeds to their church. And all is well with the world.

My beloved mom gambles but I dont gamble on the sole basis that it is against the law of the Bahamas. Otherwise, I would have played 666 yesterday! Lol

I feel that we in the Bahamas are hypocrites if we can sanction Gambling as acceptable for our guess and on the other hand condemn it for our people, is this true Christian principle. Here we are not speaking nor teaching against the practice in our churches but when it is spoken of in the Media for legalization then the voice of the Preachers are heard, meantime persons in the congregation partake every week. It reminds me of that “don’t asked don’t tell” policy President Clinton set up for the Military. Hypocrites we are just hypocrites.

I feel that we in the Bahamas are hypocrites if we can sanction Gambling as acceptable for our guess and on the other hand condemn it for our people, is this true Christian principle. Here we are not speaking nor teaching against the practice in our churches but when it is spoken of in the Media for legalization then the voice of the Preachers are heard, meantime persons in the congregation partake every week. It reminds me of that “don’t asked don’t tell” policy President Clinton set up for the Military. Hypocrites we are just hypocrites.

TRU.:)

yah know theres an issue when yah go in a liquor store and yah cant move cause its packed with peeps buying numbers ..!

I feel that we in the Bahamas are hypocrites if we can sanction Gambling as acceptable for our guess and on the other hand condemn it for our people, is this true Christian principle. Here we are not speaking nor teaching against the practice in our churches but when it is spoken of in the Media for legalization then the voice of the Preachers are heard, meantime persons in the congregation partake every week. It reminds me of that “don’t asked don’t tell” policy President Clinton set up for the Military. Hypocrites we are just hypocrites.

Yep!Thats about sum us up on the gambling issue.

A nationally lottery will go along way in helping the disadvantage of the Bahamas.
The problem is, with such corruption and largesse in government..how will there be a guarantee that lottery money will in fact help those who need it.

1. Who will be put in charge of monitoring all that money? Do you trust a government Minister to oversee lottery monies? And if an "independent" group does so (though there is really no such thing as an independent group if that group is appointed by the government!), what will be the level of accountability? NEMA is a good example of this.

Approximately $8 mil was given to NEMA and the government, two years later, has yet to account for where all that money has gone and how it was spent. Jack Hayward & Edward St. George gave the govt $1 mil of their own money for the repair of govt schools on GB after hurricane frances. The schools didnt get repaired and the govt then announced all the money given to NEMA was gone. When Jack asked for an accounting of the money..they basically told him to suck it.

2. And here is a twist to the debate too. Lets say men and women (as they do now) continue to gamble away their salaries once gambling is legalised. Shall we then say to them, well its all good because your money is going to build schools & hospitals, etc? Thats a funny oxymoron, that you are destroying your home and leaving your bills unpaid and your children neglected in order to help "build" the country.

The problem is, with such corruption and largesse in government..how will there be a guarantee that lottery money will in fact help those who need it.
1. Who will be put in charge of monitoring all that money? Do you trust a government Minister to oversee lottery monies? And if an "independent" group does so (though there is really no such thing as an independent group if that group is appointed by the government!), what will be the level of accountability? NEMA is a good example of this.
Approximately $8 mil was given to NEMA and the government, two years later, has yet to account for where all that money has gone and how it was spent. Jack Hayward & Edward St. George gave the govt $1 mil of their own money for the repair of govt schools on GB after hurricane frances. The schools didnt get repaired and the govt then announced all the money given to NEMA was gone. When Jack asked for an accounting of the money..they basically told him to suck it.
2. And here is a twist to the debate too. Lets say men and women (as they do now) continue to gamble away their salaries once gambling is legalised. Shall we then say to them, well its all good because your money is going to build schools & hospitals, etc? Thats a funny oxymoron, that you are destroying your home and leaving your bills unpaid and your children neglected in order to help "build" the country.

I understand your concern about accountability. But with the correct legislation and private citizens, i have no doubt it can be run pretty effieciently. The percentage and how it is distributed can be legislated so that it can assure that the funds go to where it is required.

You must remember that Nema is not a statutory institution and so there really is no legal requirement for accountabilty,except common courtesy and decency!

As it relates to what a person do with there money is really an individual responsibility. Like i said in my earlier post it is ''excesses'' that is the culprit as oppose to the act of gambling.

I can certainly respect those who would rather not gamble at all because they might be rather weak in that regard. I understand that.

As clint eastwood once said: ''a man must know his limitations". We can respectfully agree to disagree on this issue. I dont feel passionate one way or the other.

I understand your concern about accountability. But with the correct legislation and private citizens, i have no doubt it can be run pretty effieciently. The percentage and how it is distributed can be legislated so that it can assure that the funds go to where it is required.
You must remember that Nema is not a statutory institution and so there really is no legal requirement for accountabilty,except common courtesy and decency!
As it relates to what a person do with there money is really an individual responsibility. Like i said in my earlier post it is ''excesses'' that is the culprit as oppose to the act of gambling.
I can certainly respect those who would rather not gamble at all because they might be rather weak in that regard. I understand that.
As clint eastwood once said: ''a man must know his limitations". We can respectfully agree to disagree on this issue. I dont feel passionate one way or the other.

I feel you, and I'm not passionate about the topic either really..but I just like to look at all the angles out there..as there are many. As for NEMA, it is required by legislation passed last year to account for the funds donated to it...the PM promised two months ago in the House that he would table the report on the expenditure, (since NEMA falls under his portfolio). The wait continues...

I personally feel that when one gamble they no longer trust GOD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.so they put their hope in luck or hitting the big lotto.any way you look at it.it's wrong but i can only say that for myself. i use to play also but i wasn't gETTING any-were so i prayed and i know longer even have the will to play so i don't.to me gambling is wrong not only for the Bahamas but the enterer world.let's continue to trust in GOD TO PROTECT AND GUIDE US .LET US NEVER FORGET TO WHOME WE ALL BELONG.

I personally feel that when one gamble they no longer trust GOD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.so they put their hope in luck or hitting the big lotto.any way you look at it.it's wrong but i can only say that for myself. i use to play also but i wasn't gETTING any-were so i prayed and i know longer even have the will to play so i don't.to me gambling is wrong not only for the Bahamas but the enterer world.let's continue to trust in GOD TO PROTECT AND GUIDE US .LET US NEVER FORGET TO WHOM WE ALL BELONG.

its because of people like you that's why I thank god for separation of church and state...the world will continue to pass us by if christian fundmentalist like you continue with this thought patterns...keep God good name out of this...im al for a national lottery and for casino gambling even though I dont indulge..why..because I feel its a personal choice that we in this Bahamian democracy should be able to decide on because it is already happening and the right nefarious characters in govt are profiteering of the underground (but visible) gambling racket...somewhere on this forum I outlined how high tech one numbers racket was...now I hear a co-conspirator of the numbers racket is fully-loaded with da ting and has spread his joy to many an unbeknowing young girl...I also hear he has openly boasted to his friends that he has money and he goes to Miami for treatment (like all da rest) and ...nevermind me talking yinna just be careful!

Have you seen the latest thing about The Government considering the dabate on the national lottery and leagalizing gambling on the whole for Bahamians? They may just be pulling arms and legs again. But I have a feeling that they are going to use this proposition as a platform for the next election. however that would be mighty risky as there are still many voters who will vote according to the opinion of their religious leaders, If it ever goes to such a thing as a referendum it will official indicate how real or hypocritical we are with this issue. But I cant help thinking about it....vote PLP and you an go gamble at Cable Beach?

I personally feel that when one gamble they no longer trust GOD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.so they put their hope in luck or hitting the big lotto.any way you look at it.it's wrong but i can only say that for myself. i use to play also but i wasn't gETTING any-were so i prayed and i know longer even have the will to play so i don't.to me gambling is wrong not only for the Bahamas but the enterer world.let's continue to trust in GOD TO PROTECT AND GUIDE US .LET US NEVER FORGET TO WHOME WE ALL BELONG.
that is all good 2 a point,life in and of itself is a gamble,more times than not you have 2 take a chance and help yourself when in need,the tragedy in all this is that gamblin is only illegal 4 Bahamians in the Bahamas,only Bahamians that's all and that's the real wrong in gamblin.

Either make the lottery illegal for both Bahamians and non-residents or make it legal for everyone. Why is there this double-standard. How Christian does that make you if you say a Bahamian cant gamble in a casino but a non-Bahamian can.

Also, I bet there are many persons who do are against such a thing, but yet they get thier paychecks from a casino.