Working where theres so much gambling

[divinefaith]

I was thinking of trying to apply for such a job but then I had concerns of the morality. I can just imagine how some people have their addictions and it would be like Im feeding it.

Am I right to be concerned or have I taken it too far?

 

[Corki]

I was thinking of trying to apply for such a job but then I had concerns of the morality. I can just imagine how some people have their addictions and it would be like Im feeding it.

Am I right to be concerned or have I taken it too far?

There is nothing inherently sinful about gambling. Other people’s addictions can lead us to concern but you can’t make them rule your life.

Would you not work in a grocery store because some people have food addictions? Not work in a pharmacy because some people have drug addictions?

 

[divinefaith]

There is nothing inherently sinful about gambling. Other people’s addictions can lead us to concern but you can’t make them rule your life.

Would you not work in a grocery store because some people have food addictions? Not work in a pharmacy because some people have drug addictions?

I agree with your point. But I seem to picture how there will be the known regulars who display an intensity in gambling behaviour. Not that I can judge who has an addiction and who hasn’t…

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

There is nothing inherently sinful about gambling. Other people’s addictions can lead us to concern but you can’t make them rule your life.

Would you not work in a grocery store because some people have food addictions? Not work in a pharmacy because some people have drug addictions?

I know the feeling: working grocery retail, I see a sad number of people making terrible food choices (terribly overweight people buying cart-loads of mostly junk food, terribly under-weight people buying nothing but bottled water and diet drinks). For a while, I used to worry that I was contributing to the ruin of their health. Now I just quietly pray that they get the help that they need to balance their choices.

 

[JoArtist]

If we were that strict about things, we would have little to no interaction with the outside world. If the job doesn’t support anything inherently sinful (like working in a store that sells pornography) then it should be fine. You cannot be responsible for the addictions of others.

 

[Richard320]

Gambling is a form of entertainment, and is not, in itself, sinful. There wouldn’t be Bingo games and raffle tickets at Catholic parishes if it were.

If you’re sensitive, and can’t numb yourself to the gambling addicts you see losing all their money every payday, then don’t take the job. Ideally, you would love what you do for a living, so it wouldn’t feel like work. But it doesn’t work that way for most of us. I settle for, “I don’t mind getting out of bed to go to work.” When you dread going to work, it’s time to find a new job.

 

[timotheos]

Gambling is a form of entertainment, and is not, in itself, sinful. There wouldn’t be Bingo games and raffle tickets at Catholic parishes if it were.
.

You know, I wonder about this, and the common tendency to classify it as harmless entertainment. Even the most casual player knows well the sense of greed that slips in all too easily, even when you’re not betting the farm. And the prevalence of denial among gamblers about the lack of constructiveness of their behavior is a little too high to be coincidental.

In short, I’m not so sure it leads one to God as much as it leads one away from him.

 

[maryjk]

I agree with your point. But I seem to picture how there will be the known regulars who display an intensity in gambling behaviour. Not that I can judge who has an addiction and who hasn’t…

Of course you can’t judge who has an addiction and who doesn’t.

You know, I wonder about this, and the common tendency to classify it as harmless entertainment. Even the most casual player knows well the sense of greed that slips in all too easily, even when you’re not betting the farm. And the prevalence of denial among gamblers about the lack of constructiveness of their behavior is a little too high to be coincidental.

In short, I’m not so sure it leads one to God as much as it leads one away from him.

I don’t know about this. The last time I played bingo, I spent about $20 and won $300. It was the first time I had won in years. But $20 for a night of fun with my Mom was enjoyable. Of course the $300 came in handy since I had traveled 900 miles to spend time with my parents. The win allowed me to not count the visit against my budget.

Winning or losing, I always spent $20. Winning or losing, I always only played once a week.

I wonder if gamblers are in denial any more than those that drink or take drugs.

 

[timotheos]

I wonder if gamblers are in denial any more than those that drink or take drugs.

Probably not.

Even the most casual player knows well the sense of greed that slips in all too easily, even when you’re not betting the farm.

I suppose I’m actually talking about myself here, but I’ve heard similar comments from others. I don’t like gambling because I find myself wanting to win, perhaps a little too much for my own good.

 

[divinefaith]

Now I just quietly pray that they get the help that they need to balance their choices.

If we were that strict about things, we would have little to no interaction with the outside world. If the job doesn’t support anything inherently sinful (like working in a store that sells pornography) then it should be fine. You cannot be responsible for the addictions of others.

Good point

Gambling is a form of entertainment, and is not, in itself, sinful. There wouldn’t be Bingo games and raffle tickets at Catholic parishes if it were.

If you’re sensitive, and can’t numb yourself to the gambling addicts you see losing all their money every payday, then don’t take the job. Ideally, you would love what you do for a living, so it wouldn’t feel like work. But it doesn’t work that way for most of us. I settle for, “I don’t mind getting out of bed to go to work.” When you dread going to work, it’s time to find a new job.

I’ll need to look further into it before I work out my attitude. thanks