Gambling with the Jewish Law by Yehudah Poznick During the last elections in Israel approximately three years ago, over thirty political parties ran for seats in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament. One of them, 'The Casino Party', had a very provocative platform: to legalize casino gambling in Israel. Apr 16, 2010 They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement.” (CCC #2413) So the bottom line is that gambling in and of itself is not forbidden or considered a sin, but is a danger that one must approach cautiously.
Some types of gambling may even be considered stealing by some. That would be the case if the came falls under the category of 'Asmachta' which is not a legal way to obtain money. Rashi in Sanhedrin 24b defines asmachta as when you put money down on something, based on a fact which is not really a fact (for example, the 'fact' that you will win. Gambling is forbidden in many Muslim countries, and failure to adhere to these laws can result in penalties including fines and imprisonment. Countries such as the Arabian Gulf have a more relaxed view of gambling. Tourists and non-believers are permitted to gamble under strict supervision, but these relaxed rules are not extended to Muslims.
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