Sports Betting: The Thief That Robs You With Your Own Hands – A Biblical Response to the Rising Tide of Sports Betting
Joseph Attoh 
“Sports betting and problem gambling are thieves that rob people of sleep, peace, and trust—and they use the victims’ own hands to do it.”
There is a thief that does not break down doors or climb through windows. It does not need force because it is invited in willingly—one tap at a time, one stake at a time. Sports betting and problem gambling steal a person’s sleep, peace of mind, and the trust of those around them. The tragedy is that the victim’s own hands often do the stealing.
As the world’s attention turns once again to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, now in its knockout stages across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, it is worth reflecting on what this global spectacle has quietly become for millions: not only a celebration of football but also a season of temptation, financial loss, and, for some, devastating ruin.
A Brief History of Sports Betting
Wagering on the outcome of contests is almost as old as competition itself. Ancient Greek and Roman spectators placed bets on chariot races and gladiatorial contests. In more recent centuries, horse racing became the foundation of organized betting in Britain and America, giving rise to the first licensed bookmakers in the nineteenth century. Football pools later emerged in the early twentieth century as a modest, community-based form of wagering.
The real transformation, however, came with two developments: the legalization of commercial sports betting in many jurisdictions from the 1990s onward and the arrival of the smartphone. What once required a visit to a betting shop now fits into a pocket. In Ghana and across much of Africa, mobile money integration has made betting as easy as sending airtime—available at any hour to almost anyone with a phone, including, alarmingly, many underage users.
Betting companies have also become some of the most visible sponsors in football. Their logos appear on jerseys, stadium advertising boards, and television broadcasts, normalizing gambling as an ordinary part of following the sport.
Voices from Within the Game
It is telling that some of the very athletes the betting industry depends on to promote its products have refused to participate. Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national team and one of the world’s most recognizable footballers, has publicly explained why he refuses to appear in sports betting advertisements. He has said that gambling has harmed people close to him and disproportionately affects communities like the one in which he was raised.
His position carries weight because it comes from within the football world itself. When a player of his stature turns down lucrative endorsement deals from betting companies, it sends a powerful message: those closest to the game often see most clearly the damage gambling can inflict on those watching it.
The World Cup Season and the Betting Surge
Major tournaments such as the World Cup are the betting industry’s busiest periods. Every match becomes an opportunity to wager—not only on the final result but also on goals, yellow cards, corner kicks, and countless “prop bets” designed to keep users betting continuously rather than occasionally.
Advertising intensifies, promotional bonuses multiply, and the emotional highs of the tournament—national pride, underdog stories, and dramatic finishes—are carefully leveraged to attract even those who might never gamble under normal circumstances. For many people, what begins as a harmless flutter during the World Cup develops into a habit that outlives the tournament itself.
The Toll on the Individual
Sports betting and problem gambling can leave deep personal scars:
- Sleeplessness and anxiety as the mind becomes consumed with odds, scores, and mounting losses.
- A loss of self-worth as personal identity becomes tied to winning and losing rather than to one’s God-given value.
- Compulsive behaviour, where betting progresses from occasional entertainment to an addiction that overpowers self-control.
- Spiritual decline as trust shifts from God’s faithful provision to luck, chance, and superstition.
The Toll on the Family
Gambling rarely affects only the individual. Money intended for rent, school fees, food, and other necessities is often diverted to betting. Trust between spouses deteriorates when finances disappear without explanation. Children absorb the tension created by financial hardship and emotional instability.
Debt accumulated through chasing losses can burden a family for years. In the most severe cases, gambling has contributed to broken marriages, domestic conflict, and even criminal activity committed either to finance gambling or to conceal mounting losses.
The Toll on the Nation
The consequences extend beyond individual households.
Productive hours are lost to constantly checking betting odds and live scores. Significant amounts of money flow from local communities into betting platforms, much of it ultimately leaving the country through offshore operators. Public health and counselling services, already under pressure, must bear the growing costs of gambling addiction with limited resources.
Perhaps most concerning is the effect on the younger generation. Many young people—even students—are being conditioned to view quick, unearned wealth as a legitimate path to success. This mindset quietly undermines the virtues of diligence, patience, honest labour, and responsible saving that build strong families and prosperous nations.
A Biblical Response
Although Scripture does not mention sports betting by name, it speaks clearly about the attitudes that drive it.
Proverbs teaches that “wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Proverbs 13:11). This directly challenges gambling’s promise of effortless riches.
Apostle Paul warns Timothy that “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare…,” adding that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9–10). At its heart, betting often reflects a desire for quick financial gain disguised as harmless entertainment.
The Bible also calls believers to work diligently with their own hands (2 Thessalonians 3:10–12) and to trust God—not chance—for their provision. Jesus instructed His followers not to worry about material needs but to seek first the Kingdom of God, trusting that the Father would provide all they needed (Matthew 6:31–33). Gambling invites people to trust the odds; the gospel calls them to trust God.
Finally, Scripture commands believers not merely to resist destructive temptation but to flee from it. Paul exhorts Christians to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and to flee the love of money while pursuing righteousness (1 Timothy 6:11). To flee means creating distance—not keeping temptation within easy reach. It means deleting the betting app rather than attempting to manage it through willpower alone.
How We Can Stop and Recover
- Be honest. Call betting what it has become—not harmless entertainment but a spiritual and personal stronghold. Confess the struggle to God and to a mature, trusted believer.
- Remove access. Delete betting applications, block gambling websites, and limit access to the money that fuels the addiction.
- Replace the void. Gambling often fills a longing for hope, excitement, or escape. Replace it with prayer, worship, meaningful work, healthy recreation, and genuine Christian fellowship.
- Seek accountability. Freedom from compulsive gambling rarely happens alone. A pastor, counsellor, support group, or trusted mentor can provide the guidance and accountability that willpower alone cannot.
- Return to God’s Word. Allow Scripture to reshape your understanding of provision, success, and hope, replacing the false promises of gambling with the enduring promises of God’s faithfulness.
- Teach the next generation early. Churches, schools, and families should educate young people about the dangers of sports betting before the habit takes root—not merely after the damage has been done.
Conclusion
The World Cup will end on July 19, but for many people, the habits formed during the tournament will continue long after the final whistle.
Sports betting and problem gambling remain thieves that steal sleep, peace, financial stability, and trust—using the very hands that God intended for honest work, generous giving, and building lives that honour Him.
The Church cannot remain silent while this thief operates openly, disguised as entertainment and clothed in the colours of the beautiful game.
Instead, let believers hold firmly to the God who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills,” who supplies every need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), and who offers a hope that no wager can ever provide.
“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
— Luke 12:15
Written by Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah, (La Area Youth Pastor)
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