As the issue of gambling enters the public domain with unprecedented regularity in the UK many religious leaders are asking if gambling is ethically and morally correct.
The Methodist church in the UK is asking its members to oppose plans for a casino in their area if they feel it will negatively impact the local community.
In conjunction with the Salvation Army the Methodist church here has urged the government to limit the amount of casinos being built in the UK though their preference would be to ban gambling all together.
Amid initial fears that the Gambling Act 2005 would see casinos spring up in every large town across Britain the Methodist church lobbied government officials asking that they carefully analyze the impact of gambling on the British population.
When the bill was drawn up and it became clear that only certain bids for casino licences would be successful the move was welcomed by the church.
In a statement they said “The Methodist Church is pleased that the Government has listened to concerns about the Gambling Bill and recognised that it cannot allow an uncontrolled explosion in the number of casinos. It is very important that any future expansion is done on the basis of clear evidence and a three-year initial phase is simply too short a period of time to measure complex social and economic trends. Casinos offer some of the most addictive forms of gambling and an increase in problem gambling is not a price worth paying for more gambling opportunities."
The Methodist church urged members to write to their MPs and even advised people on how to object to plans for the issuing of additional gambling licences.
Of course the Methodists are well within their rights to lobby for what they believe to be a dangerous level of progress in terms of gambling in the U.K. and to a point their representations to the Government were successful.
They stress that gambling is an addictive past time which can ruin lives and they have welcomed the promise of increased safety nets at state level to help those who fall into trouble.
But are they being too cautious or is the Government ignoring it’s responsibilities to the more vulnerable sections of our community who view gambling as a possible source of ‘quick money’ to get them out of spiraling debt?
The Government will undoubtedly benefit nicely from the spread of gambling in the UK and the growth in on line gambling will also put a smile on the face of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
While it’s believed the Prime Minister in waiting Gordon Brown is less of a fan of the casino surge than his predecessor the fact that huge revenue will be generated from the industry in the future will not be lost on the Scots man.
In America the religious conservatives pushing certain senators and congressman hard on the issue of online gambling is thought to have been part of the reason for the recent Internet gambling ban. Last year's law was passed as Internet gambling was deemed to be 'morally wrong'. .
Defenders of online gambling in the states argue that:
* Online gambling can be addictive, but only to persons that have an addictive personality.
This is not immoral!
* Online gambling is a fun way to spend an evening and provides a great level of entertainment.
This is not immoral!
* Online gambling is choice adults make about how to spend their own money.
This is not immoral!
* Adults that gamble online spend more time at home and with their families.
This is not immoral!
Many would argue that the War in Iraq was morally wrong in the strongest sense yet the American and British Governments ploughed on with their agendas. Is it a case of one rule for gambling and another rule for other issues?
