While it is normal for someone to enjoy the novelty of gambling, it should be taken as a form of entertainment and not an obsession. Gambling is a risky activity, and its odds are designed to favor the house. Despite this, the gambler should still plan to lose money. Furthermore, a person should budget their money for gambling so that it is not an unnecessary expense. Chance-based gambling, such as bingo or gaming machines, should be considered as a form of entertainment, not an addiction.
Many Protestant denominations, including the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Church of Lutheran Confession, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Assemblies of God, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, oppose gambling, especially in casinos. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Members of the Church of God International oppose gambling. While legal gambling is still a significant source of revenue for governments, many religious groups are hesitant to accept the money derived from illegal gambling.
Although gambling can be an entertaining distraction for teenagers, it can also be detrimental to a child’s mental health. Parents should stay vigilant and look for signs of mental health, social, and educational problems in their children. As a parent, it is important to support positive extracurricular activities, which help teenagers build self-esteem and burn off their energy. While it is possible to prevent gambling in children, it is never too late to start the process of healing.