Lotteries, sin or foible?

Ethics, Morality, and Sin

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2ndRateMind
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Lotteries, sin or foible?

Post #1

Post by 2ndRateMind »

So, I play the lottery. Am I sinning?

The thing is, I am not generally in favour of concentrating wealth into the hands of a fortunate few. I would far rather all the world's wealth were equitably distributed, so that hunger, malnutrition and starvation were gone, and all of humanity shared an equality of opportunity.

But despite my principles, just now I paid my usual £2.50 for an infinitesimal chance of winning £110 million. Am I a hypocrite?

When I look at the annual cost of playing, it is £260 per year. And when I look at my finances, I find I really cannot justify that money out of my sparse income. But, then again, I do get a lot of pleasure in considering how I would spend the cash, the futures of my much beloved relatives I would secure, the charities I would support, as well as the occasional expensive luxury I would indulge in.

So, forum, over to you. Lotteries: good or bad? You decide.

Best wishes, 2RM.

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Re: Lotteries, sin or foible?

Post #21

Post by Purple Knight »

Tcg wrote: Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:33 amOne of my very few gambling experiences was in my college days. A few friends and I drove to Atlantic City shortly after gambling had been legalized there. We played the nickel slots which involved a total investment of $2. I felt quite energized even knowing that I'd certainly lose my 2 bucks. Never became addicted, never lost any energy, it was quite a bit of fun.
You weren't really gambling. You paid for the excitement, which you'd surely receive.

Okay, let me be more honest, because that's sort of a douche argument and I know so. To be absolutely honest, I've done the same thing. I've visited a casino for fun, knowing I'd lose money. I don't think a lot of people believe this is sinful. Not this in and of itself.

Whenever I'm around gambling, however, I notice them... the derelicts. It's the same with drugs. It's the same with alcohol. A certain chunk of the populace can't control itself. I'm just not sure my fun is worth their suffering. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade either, and it also seems wrong to ban these things entirely and take away happiness from people who can control themselves. Ban it, don't ban it... both options seem equally wrong to me. I can't get round to a point of view where I'm for something. Every time I get close, I think, no, that would be awful; that would be wrong.

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Re: Lotteries, sin or foible?

Post #22

Post by JacobJonson92 »

I don't think playing the lottery makes you a hypocrite. It's normal to want to dream big and consider what you would do with a big win. But I understand your concerns about wealth distribution. Lotteries can be seen as a "sin" by some, but ultimately it's a personal choice. As long as you're aware of the cost and aren't putting yourself in a financially risky situation, I don't see a problem. Maybe consider cutting back on how often you play to save some money. And who knows, maybe one day you'll hit the jackpot and be able to make a positive impact on the world. I try my luck at online casino UFABET and consider it a fun alternative to the lottery.

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