Why Are Christians So Indifferent to Gambling?
Gambling has infiltrated our culture, but Christians are silent. There could be many reasons why that is so.
by John H. Redekop

A generation ago, when gambling in this province consisted of little more than betting at racetracks and secretive selling of Irish Sweepstakes tickets, Christian churches campaigned against gambling.

Today, gambling is big business in British Columbia, with more than $2 billion spent on it annually. Gambling establishments have mushroomed across the province, and B.C. Lotto and other agencies have made gambling accessible to everyone who owns a computer.

Why, as The Langley Times noted, did that city's newly opened Cascades Casino get its licensing "almost without one word of protest at an empty public hearing"? Why are Christian voices mostly silent about our gambling culture? Many possible rationalizations come to mind. Story

Irish Billboards of Gambling Jesus Pulled

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Ireland's largest bookmaker, Paddy Power PLC, withdrew a billboard campaign Wednesday that portrayed Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper table - and playing poker and roulette alongside the slogan, "There's a place for fun and games."

The Dublin-based company was responding to legal threats from Ireland's Advertising Standards Authority, which reported receiving scores of complaints from the public in this predominantly Roman Catholic country.

At all 89 locations across Dublin, the offending billboards were replaced Wednesday with new Paddy Power ads that said: "There's a place for fun and games. Apparently this isn't it." Story