Hello everyone,
What are your views on sports gambling in regards to sila? Would it be considered unwholesome?
Sports gambling
Re: Sports gambling
The view from the suttas:
“These are the four drains on one’s store of wealth: being debauched in sex; being debauched in drink; being debauched in gambling; and having evil people as friends, associates, & companions. Just as if there were a great reservoir with four inlets and four drains, and a man were to close the inlets and open the drains, and the sky were not to pour down proper showers, the depletion of that great reservoir could be expected, not its increase. In the same way, these are the four drains on one’s store of wealth: being debauched in sex, being debauched in drink, being debauched in gambling, and having evil people as friends, associates, & companions.
- AN 8:54
The man debauched with women,
debauched in drink,
debauched in gambling,
squanders his earnings:
That is the way leading to decline.
-Sn 1:6
"In four ways, young householder, should one who brings ruin be understood as a foe in the guise of a friend:
(i) he is a companion in indulging in intoxicants that cause
infatuation and heedlessness,
(ii) he is a companion in sauntering in streets at unseemly hours,
(iii) he is a companion in frequenting theatrical shows,
(iv) he is a companion in indulging in gambling which causes heedlessness."
- DN 31
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.
- BB
- BB
Re: Sports gambling
Gambling involves accessing a random component that you don't have control / decision over the outcome.
For example paying for a box that has a random item vs. paying for the item directly.
It's the paying for the accessibility to access a random mechanism that constitutes gambling, and so even the stock market can be used for gambling. If I give you a box for free with a random item in it, then it's not gambling because you didn't pay for it. Actually a kinder surprise egg or a pack of cards with rare items is also considered gambling.
All of these things can be a money sink compared to having a real job that pays you for your labour.
Btw, I used to program casino games for a few large real casinos and had to familiarize myself with state laws.
For example paying for a box that has a random item vs. paying for the item directly.
It's the paying for the accessibility to access a random mechanism that constitutes gambling, and so even the stock market can be used for gambling. If I give you a box for free with a random item in it, then it's not gambling because you didn't pay for it. Actually a kinder surprise egg or a pack of cards with rare items is also considered gambling.
All of these things can be a money sink compared to having a real job that pays you for your labour.
Btw, I used to program casino games for a few large real casinos and had to familiarize myself with state laws.
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Re: Sports gambling
By sheer coincidence (luck? ) this was posted over at DWM today:
Buddhist poker player donates his $660,000 winnings
But that is a sheer anomaly, outlier. Most gamblers of course lose in the long-run and that is why the Buddha advised against it. It is not the gambling intrinsically, but what it does to you and your family.
Buddhist poker player donates his $660,000 winnings
But that is a sheer anomaly, outlier. Most gamblers of course lose in the long-run and that is why the Buddha advised against it. It is not the gambling intrinsically, but what it does to you and your family.
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Re: Sports gambling
"The only way to make money in a casino -- is to own the casino."
Steve Wynn, casino owner, mogul
Steve Wynn, casino owner, mogul
- Manopubbangama
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Re: Sports gambling
My parents have been gambling for over 30 years and they've made a lot, probably more than a full years salary for some people. They're not Buddhists though. For them though it's more about killing time, and they get free spas, hotels, and buffet with it since they're members. They go less now as I've been trying to get them to enjoy nature more.
However if you have an addictive personality who doesn't know when to walk away, then you'll be like my cousin who lost over $50K from casinos.
I would advise against gambling.
However if you have an addictive personality who doesn't know when to walk away, then you'll be like my cousin who lost over $50K from casinos.
I would advise against gambling.
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Re: Sports gambling
I just read this article online. Interesting he said he is donating the $ to help nuns because of the discrimination they face.DNS wrote: ↑Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:51 pm By sheer coincidence (luck? ) this was posted over at DWM today:
Buddhist poker player donates his $660,000 winnings
But that is a sheer anomaly, outlier. Most gamblers of course lose in the long-run and that is why the Buddha advised against it. It is not the gambling intrinsically, but what it does to you and your family.
But, yes.. ill gotten gains.
Re: Sports gambling
I don't think throwing money away is unwholesome in and of itself, but it's certainly unwise. I know someone who is so addicted to gambling, that as far as I know, he cannot walk away until whatever money he still has (earmarked for that activity) is gone. Recently he actually won a substantial amount on the horses, but soon lost it again, as he then used those winnings to try and win some more - and of course, he ended up broke again. I think if one has dependents it is unwholesome to be so addicted that it drains one's finances, and one can not take care of said dependents properly (this could be classed as neglect); but if it just means you end up broke and the only one who suffers is yourself, I'd just class it as stupidity.
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Re: Sports gambling
Yes, I agree with this. Some people budget the amount they'll gamble and they just use it as a form of entertainment. In Vegas and other cities where there is legalized gambling, most tourists come with a budget of around $500 or so to gamble with and once that's gone, they stop. They see it as entertainment and don't blow all their money. As long as it doesn't finish one's money and they are not jeopardizing the welfare of dependents, I don't think it's wrong per se, just unwise.
Re: Sports gambling
I would say it is unwholesome.
Anyone I've ever encountered who engages in gambling spends more than they win. If you're that keen on getting rid of your money you'd do better to give it to charity or to a monastery.
"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Re: Sports gambling
It's wrong livelihood.
If wrong, is it worth doing?
If wrong, is it worth doing?
Bahagia Tidak Harus Selalu Bersama
Dhammapadå 370
"Tinggalkanlah 5 (belantara) dan patahkan 5 (belenggu rendah),
Serta kembangkan 5 potensi (4 iddhipādā + 1 ussoḷhi).
Bhikkhu yang telah menaklukkan 5 kungkungan (belenggu tinggi),
Lebih layak disebut 'orang yang telah mengarungi air baih (saṃsārå)'."
Dhammapadå 370
"Tinggalkanlah 5 (belantara) dan patahkan 5 (belenggu rendah),
Serta kembangkan 5 potensi (4 iddhipādā + 1 ussoḷhi).
Bhikkhu yang telah menaklukkan 5 kungkungan (belenggu tinggi),
Lebih layak disebut 'orang yang telah mengarungi air baih (saṃsārå)'."
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Re: Sports gambling
How it is ill goten gains qhen he is not cheating the casino machine ?
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
Re: Sports gambling
Source from the suttas? Not necessarily disagreeing with you, the Buddha warned of the dangers of gambling but I've never seen him list gambling under wrong livelihood.
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.
- BB
- BB
Re: Sports gambling
MN 141--Sacca-vibhangga Suttank
DN 31--Singgalaka Suttank
"... And what are the six ways of wasting one's possessions
what not to follow? ... Liquor ... Gambling, etc."
DN 31--Singgalaka Suttank
"... And what are the six ways of wasting one's possessions
what not to follow? ... Liquor ... Gambling, etc."
Bahagia Tidak Harus Selalu Bersama
Dhammapadå 370
"Tinggalkanlah 5 (belantara) dan patahkan 5 (belenggu rendah),
Serta kembangkan 5 potensi (4 iddhipādā + 1 ussoḷhi).
Bhikkhu yang telah menaklukkan 5 kungkungan (belenggu tinggi),
Lebih layak disebut 'orang yang telah mengarungi air baih (saṃsārå)'."
Dhammapadå 370
"Tinggalkanlah 5 (belantara) dan patahkan 5 (belenggu rendah),
Serta kembangkan 5 potensi (4 iddhipādā + 1 ussoḷhi).
Bhikkhu yang telah menaklukkan 5 kungkungan (belenggu tinggi),
Lebih layak disebut 'orang yang telah mengarungi air baih (saṃsārå)'."