At the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) on Tuesday, the church voted to condemn sports betting, as well as denouncing online pornography, gay marriage, and abortion.
The Southern Baptists have a long-standing tradition of opposing gambling, dating back to the 19th century, but this is the first time the church has specifically denounced sports betting.
It said the industry “fosters a culture of greed while specifically exploiting and preying upon young adults, the impoverished, and those with addictive personality traits.”
The church has around 13 million members throughout the US, including powerful figures such as Ted Cruz, who advocates policies put forward by the institution.
Sports betting a target for Christians
With the sports betting industry growing exponentially since the PASPA ruling was reversed in 2018, church leaders have grown concerned over the negative impact on American citizens.
With a growing number of states legalizing sports betting, Americans have wagered over $500 billion since 2018. Last year, sportsbooks generated $13.6 billion in revenue, almost double the $7.6 billion generated in 2022. Missouri will open its market later this year, and there are now just a handful of states that do not offer some form of legal sports betting.
The spread of online gambling, in particular, is a concern for Christian leaders. Kyle Worley, a Southern Baptist pastor from Texas, wrote last year, “Gambling is not a new temptation, but I believe that the advent of online sports gambling raises the stakes considerably on how seriously Christian leaders should address questions around the moral and theological nature of gambling.”
Smartphones making casino gambling too easy
Worley went on to decry the ease with which people can gamble at online casinos connected to sportsbooks through their smartphones. He added, “Online sports betting companies sponsor broadcasts and sports media, so the push to play is everywhere, and it’s easy to join in. People can register and pay in just a few taps right on their phones. Plus, tying it to sports makes the gambling seem more innocent than poker and blackjack.”
Adding in online casinos, Americans lost a total of over $40 billion on gambling last year. The losses may have been even greater on unregulated gambling platforms. Estimates suggest losses there could be as much as $67 billion, which would take the total to well over $100 billion in losses.
As well as decrying the rise of sports betting and casinos, the SBC also voted to push for bans on online pornography, gay marriage, and abortion.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
