Is Playing Lottery Different From Gambling?
Gambling is a game of luck and uncertainty, which involves placing a bet, with all the other players agreeing to put their possessions at stake, in exchange for a chance to win the booty. The players can put up anything valuable as stake, such as cash, agricultural lands, or any precious gems that they may have at the moment. Ultimately, the winner sweeps the booty that was put at stake by the rest of the players, without compensating them for what they lost.
Gambling can be of different types such as online betting, slot machines, card games, lottery, etc. Lottery is also a very popular type of gambling, in which the winners can win pre-decided gifts and prizes.
Although gambling is highly popular in several parts of the world, yet, it is strictly forbidden in the Islamic nations because Islam considers gambling to be an absolutely unethical practice, something which is equivalent to committing a big sin, and must therefore be avoided.
But in the other parts of the world, gambling has gained immense popularity and it is treated not only as a means of earning some extra cash, but also as a means of entertainment. Governments of many countries like Spain, France, Canada, Belgium, U.K, and in several states in the U.S even encourage lotteries and conduct mega lottery bonanzas from time to time. The revenues so generated are used for improving public utilities and general facilities for the public, such as using the funds from lottery for construction of schools, playgrounds or hospitals.
With almost everyone craving to gather some easy money, the trend has also been noticed in developing nations of the world, where people are struggling to meet their ends. In spite of their poor financial condition, a good portion of the monthly earnings in invested in lotteries and gambling in the hope of striking gold. The chances of winning the lottery is very remote and the money so collected from the sale of lottery tickets is used for public works, just like the taxes paid by us. We can thus label lotteries as “tax on stupidity” or tax that is levied on our stupid investments.
Gambling has almost become an obsession with people. This can sometimes, take a very ugly shape when individuals start suffering from an insuppressible urge to gamble, a disorder named as “compulsive gambling”. This is a psychological disorder and the patient becomes so obsessed and addicted to gambling, that he needs rehabilitation and therapy to restore a state of normalcy.
Playing gambling at the cost of someone’s hard earned money or possessions is absolutely unethical. Instead, lottery and gambling can be played purely for fun, using less valuable gifts and token amounts as this will not harm anyone and everyone can enjoy the game irrespective of whet
Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a South African UK Lottery Ticket website, where you can buy tickets to play the UK lottery and participate in the Euro millions draw.