zlacker

    > most religions have weighed in on gambling as most societies have been shaped by religion

Really? Except Islam, are there rules against gambling in Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, or Buddhism?

>>throwa+(OP)
Yes, at least for Christians.

I don't know if it comes verbatim from the Bible, but there are many denominations that find that gambling is sinful. Direct prohibitions from the scripture aren't the only source of religious rules - especially for secular questions.

As another example, many denominations have strict rules against alcohol - despite the many positive stories about alcohol in the bible and the role of wine during communion.

>>throwa+(OP)
"Ancient Jewish authorities frowned on gambling, even disqualifying professional gamblers from testifying in court."

"The [Hindu] text Arthashastra (c. 4th century BCE) recommends taxation and control of gambling."

"The Buddha stated gambling as a source of destruction in Singalovada Sutra. Professions that are seen to violate the precept against theft include working in the gambling industry."

Instead of asking a lazy question as a challenge, you could have spent 3 seconds looking this up. It wasn't particularly hard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling#Religious_views

>>throwa+(OP)
Baptists are strictly against gambling - GA introduced free college education funded by the lottery to legalize the state lottery (GA was losing a fortune to cross state gambling).

The largest Christian denomination, the Roman Catholic Church, teaches that, while games of chance aren't intrinsically evil (ie running an MC simulation), and low stakes gambling is allowed (raffle), gambling must be

- fair. That's obvious

- even odds for all participants

Presumably, no house advantage

- not be pathological

You cannot play if you're addicted to gambling, have an addictive personality, or often that an addiction could arise

- not involve very high stakes as the money would have been better spent on the poor

No $10 000/hand table.

>>cedill+h2
Right, Gambling is an extension of greed and gluttony according to Christianity, which are both considered Sins.

>>fdfgyu+Z8
Any claim a state in the US introduced "free college education funded" by a gambling measure is severely wrong. There is nothing "free" about collegiate education. US States simply reduce funding for education by diverting the money elsewhere then claim revenue from gambling is needed to fund education. In the event that gambling revenue is higher than expected, funds are furthered reduced until the status quo is maintained.

>>sidewn+Tj
In GA, GA residents with B-ish averages get free tuition to attend GA universities.

Including GaTech, a top5 eng school, that requires an A average to get in.

Source: dealing with undergrads complaining about their grades and their effect on their scholarship.

EDIT: I agree with what you maybe claiming that "education" does not justify legal gambling. And you're certainly right that most states abuse this argument and the fungible nature of money to just slosh money around.

EDIT: the lotto money is put in a fund that goes to pre-K programs and scholarships. The average required to keep the scholarship is set by the fund's size.