The Odds are Against You

from a tract by Allen Webster – Gambling: The Love of Money

Introduction

1. Addition = cannot cease from sin – 2 Peter 2:14

2. Gambling is a psychological addiction

GAMBLING:

1. A Chemical free high

   1. Progressive

   2. Chronic

   3. Mood Altering

   4. Debilitating

2. Bad Odds

   1. W. C. Fields – Horse sense is what keeps horses from betting on people.

   2. In last 50 years – addition to gambling up from 1 M to 15 M

   3. 5 M are compulsive gamblers

   4. 85% of adults have gambled; 80% in the last year

   5. More compulsive gamblers than alcoholics

   6. Proverbs 7:26

3. From Bad to Worse

   1. Three phases – Winning, Losing, Desperation

   2. Jonah – down to Joppa, down to ship, down to bottom of ship, to bottom of the sea

4. Root Causes

   1. Desire for gain

   2. Desire for excitement

   3. Desire for competition

   4. Plan A – study, college, work hard, earn, save, retire at 40

   5. Plan B – Play the lottery

5. By the fruit you will know it – Matthew 7:20

   1. Gamblers – It is harmless fun

   2. Gambling addition leads to:

      1. Deep debt

      2. Criminal activity

      3. Marriage trouble

      4. Hurt children

      5. Suicide