Illicit Freebies?

I'm blogging from Larry Bird's hometown of French Lick; Sullivan U's having their faculty "advance" at the French Lick Springs Hotel this weekend. I'm comfortably ensconced in my room, watching the Pistons beat the Lakers after practicing our skit for tomorrow morning and making a visit to the hotel's casino.

Yes, the casino. They had a $10 free playing money voucher as part of our check-in package. I've never been inside a casino in my life, at least not in the gambling part, other than to momentarily walk past the tables en route to a concert at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant.

Dilemma: do I have the discipline to take advantage of the offer, pocket any winnings off of my freebie, and walk away? Is it sinful to do so? After a bit of prayer and a call to Eileen back in Lexington, I decided to give it a shot.

I got my $10 comp card and headed to the nickle slots; instead of feeding coins in like the old one-armed-bandits, this system has a debit card-like setup. I proceed to make $42 on my $10 of gaming money, cash in my winner slips (getting a bar-coded coupon-like critter for the $31 highlight jackpot rather than a gusher of loose change takes a bit of the mystique out of things, but c'est la guerre) and leave the joint.

I know that the casino is willing to spend $10 on folks, counting on making a gambling fan or addict out of that on some. Was I tempting fate by making my foray?

Good question. I'm not one who has that gambling bug, at least not the casino type of gambling. I don't enjoy the games much and know that the house will win in the long run. However, if the house gives me $10 free, I'm literally playing with the house's money, not mine.

I might get that for sports betting, where there is an art and science to handicapping games and races. However, I know I have that weak spot, and steer well clear of Keeneland in my new home turf of Lexington. Sullivan has Keeneland outings at least once a year, but I've opted out of such trips, lest I get the parimutuel bug.

Question to the Peanut Gallery- Is this a stronger brother-weaker-brother issue? Should I have passed and not given other folks a good example when someone else might get hooked on gambling? Possibly, but I don't know of too many weaker brothers.

It seems odd that something might be legit if it's a freebie but sinful if you're paying for it. If someone hands you ten lottery tickets, do you rip them up? If you think you might get hooked on the lottery, maybe. It will depend on the person, I think.

What sayest thou?

Comments

[Lee Anne Millinger]

This is something my friends at church have talked about a bit. It could be a weaker brother thing. And it may depend on your motivation for playing the games, whether it's for fun or to make some money.

For me it's a matter of stewardship: Is this the best way to use the money God has entrusted to me? Does He want me to spend His money in this way?

One of my best friends shared how she was in an office where everyone would chip in $1 for lottery tickets when the jackpot got over a certain amount. Except for one woman who was a Christian and declined to participate. She didn't make a big deal out of it, she just politely declined to chip in. Norah was impressed with the woman's witness, but couldn't see anything wrong with playing the lottery.

She began to pray about it, and gradually the Lord showed her through his Word that her confidence needed to be in His provision, not in winning the lottery. So it became a matter of trusting God for her. And she won't gamble for that reason.

Or you could see it like my brother-in-law, who buys a ticket once a year, "just in case God wants me to win." ;-)

[Bene D]

I work with anti gambling advocates who do what they do for a lot of different reasons.

60% of church goers no longer see gambling as a moral issue, I don't know that using your comp is sinful. Would it be sinful if I gave you mine?

Good for you for taking your winnings and walking away.
You get it, most people honestly don't. Next faculty retreat, this place has your number, and they'll expect you to use the comp and 10 of your own.
You know that - which is a good thing.

The industry counts on reeling in the 10% who become pathological. They gamble on the rest of us.

I haven't much patience with scolds who have never set foot inside a casino. Go, try, understand, be aware. I'll be a bit more inclined to listen to what you have to say about it.

I went to a casino during Gambling Awareness month because it was time to learn.
Hated it.
Got thinking about clocks, oxygen, VLT's, probabilities on five reelers...my head was not a fun place.
The person I was with put $10.00 on their card, played a 25 cent machine and 9 dollars in won a thousand. I reacted by getting physically ill, which I know is not a normal response to a win.:^)
I have no desire to ever step foot in one again.

My weakness would be the track, having been I stay away. Don't touch lotto tickets, will play scratch tickets over coffee if someone else buys.
Don't do pools, no one gives me a hard time about that.

I can't make that call about using a comp for you -and wouldn't.
I'm make a royal ruckus if you put yourself on the do not play list and you were comped.
Big fuss. Lot's of noise. Steam roller.
Fire breathing. Alert the media noise.

I don't see it as stronger/weaker brother, or 'their' money or worry about someone whose brain says stop.
As for the spiritual - I think you're more apt to listen to the Holy Spirit than bells and dings.

You couldn't hand me 10 lotto tickets Mark, I'd refuse them. Not in a superior way, just honestly as possible. I don't care if you think I'm a fool.

I wouldn't rip them up, I'd give them away if you didn't respect my decision.
I wouldn't think less of you if you took them, we live in a culture where this is not a conscious thought process for people much anymore.

I like what Lee Anne said.
I would not want to win a lottery.
So, I won't play.

[lisa marie]

have you ever heard of Pascal's Wager? Pascal is the definition of a pious gambler.