Online Gambling’s Boost From Obama Administration 'Extremely Hazardous,' Says Pastor
Online gambling has recently received a boost from the Obama administration, following a Justice Department opinion that was made public Friday – reversing decades of previous policy that included civil and criminal charges against operators of most online poker sites.
Until recently, the government deemed all forms of online gambling illegal under the Wire Act of 1961. This law specifically banned wagers from occurring across state and international borders.
However, the new interpretation of this act now only prohibits betting on a sporting event or contest, and allows Internet users to purchase lottery tickets online as well as gambling via online poker.
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This decision helps both online gambling and the government, as the activity is taxed. But to pastors like David Wright, the CEO of DOersTV.com, the allowance of online gambling can be extremely hazardous.
“I believe it is a very bad idea,” Pastor Wright told The Christian Post, regarding the government’s recent change in opinion. “It’s very consistent however with the Obama administration’s lack of morals and righteousness."
He also explained how online gambling is extremely dangerous for those already struggling with the problem. “It’s like opening up a liquor store next to a recovering AAA center or housing a pedophile next to a day care center,” said Pastor Wright.
However, others still feel that this new opinion is beneficial to the online gaming community. “The United States Department of Justice has given the online gaming community a big, big present,” said Nelson Rose, a gaming law expert at Whittier Law School to Reuters.
The department’s opinion, written by Assistant Attorney General Virginia Seitz, shows that the government’s main goal with the Wire Act was to halt wire communications for sports gambling, but more specifically off-track betting on horse races.
Congress also was concerned about betting information on baseball, basketball, football and boxing being transmitted frequently over the Internet. “The ordinary meaning of the phrase ‘sporting event or contest’ does not encompass lotteries,” Seitz wrote. “Accordingly, we conclude that the proposed lotteries are not within the prohibitions of the Wire Act.”
This could possibly spawn states creating online lotteries in order to boost tax revenues and help offset the ripple effect of a federal deficit-reduction push.
But to Pastor Wright, the government promoting any type of gambling can have serious effects on society. “Christians should look at gambling in the light of how it affects our fellow man who struggles with it,” he said. “Lust is lust and whatever we do not have self control over, whether it be a food lust, sexual lust, money lust, etc.. that is bound to bring damage and negative consequences to self and others.
For Christians trying to set an example within the U.S., gambling should be avoided, according to Wright.
“Christians should not look narrowly on gambling. Technically, there is no scripture in God’s Word that says a person cannot gamble or that gambling is a sin,” he added. “But in the light and context of scripture, as it is clearly revealed in 1 Corinthians 8 chapter, anything that we know causes our fellow man to stumble is a sin, bad or good.”
Wright told CP that money is a blessing from God given to man to use for his purposes, not for activities such as gambling where all could be lost in the twinkle of an eye. He also explained how moderate gambling, much of what is done on these web sites should not be partaken by Christians.
“It is never ok for a believer, who is a steward of God, to put any assets God has blessed them with in harm’s way,” Wright said. “Because it’s God’s assets that he has given us stewardship over and God is not a God of waste.”
