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I sometimes buy the mega millions and the powerball and once in a while i buy some scratch offs do i have a gambling problem?
what about chinese auctions?
“Once in a while” is not a problem with gambling.
As to whether it is a halachic problem to gamble, CYLOR.
do i have a gambling problem?
Signs of problem gambling include:
- Preoccupation with gambling
- Being secretive about gambling/lying when confronted about it
- Increasing bet amounts
- Trying unsuccessfully to stop
- Chasing gambling losses with more gambling
- Restless or irritable when not gambling
- Committing crimes to finance gambling
- Jeopardizing relationships, jobs, education or career opportunities because of gambling
If you have any of those symptoms, you may have a problem. Otherwise, probably not.
The Wolf
(Full disclosure: I occasionally buy one [and only one] lottery ticket when the pot is sufficiently large.)
Real gambling is a problem, even without halacha. Just look at the potential problems that result from gambling. The Ramchal clearly spells out in Mesillas Yesharim that anything that will lead one to do something assur is assur under the same aveira that it will lead to, and no one can deny that gambling leads to many serious issues. This is besides that, [for sure when other jews are involved,] gambling is stealing acc to the shulchan aruch (CYLOR for complete analysis).
Poskim have been matir buying ONE ticket as that’s your hishtadlus for hashem to give you money bederech hateva but not more than one cos I think it’s a nes to win anyway so buying 2 is lack of Emunah (I’m not positive with the svoro)
The Chofetz Chaim was upset when his wife purchased ONE lottery ticket, and promised all winning to Tzedaka, should he win.
Can someone explain to me why gambling is stealing? I’ve never gambled but can’t imagine how those two come together?
your question is not simple
requires at least a familiarity with learning Gemorrah
but those that hold it is stealing it is because the party losing did not expect to lose and does not willingly give up his money to the other
you will certainly say, of course he knew he might lose and of course he gives up the money willingly, he gives it up doesnt he, he doesnt protest or put up a fight. i cant explain it further but theres your answer, ask a Talmid Chochum to explain it better.
But Mod80, despite your protestations to the contrary, you are a Talmid Chochom.
i appreciate that. im glad that i give such an appearance
It’s called asmachtah where (as mod said) the other guy did not really expect to lose and you are sorta stealing from him but there are nafko minas if the money is on the table etc.
Interesting. Never heard of that. I’m just surprised because I know that Frum Jews have been gambling in many places as a game. But I guess it doesn’t make it right if “everybody” does it!
IIRC the other issue was that Chazal didn’t see gambling as a productive enterprise so they pasuled any professional gambler for eidus. As usual, consult your local orthodox rabbi.
why would anyone want to get into gambling anyway? The Mesillas Yesharim writes: “Seeing as man has the intellect to recognize and run away from danger, how is it that he could even [want to do so]. . . one who does so is worse than an animal, as even animals have the sense to run away from a percieved danger. . . One who blunders through life unaware is like a blind person who is on the edge of a frothing river, who is next to an extreme danger. . . ” Translation: Anyone who willingly gets into gambling is a “worse than an animal”.
Yes, it is gambling but according to many poskim it is not considured Mesachek Bekuvia.
whether or not al pi shuras hadin mamash it is assur or not, it is definitely beyond stupid.
whats mesachek bekuvia
Just one more point,
There have been studies done about people who have won the lottery, in a vast majority of cases within 4 years they are divorced, not talking to half their families and broke.
I mean it would be nice to have a few million bucks, but not at that cost!
Zach- no prob- I don’t need 70 million. But 10 million would do it and still keep me sane 😉
Buying a lottery ticket is not an asmachta, since there is a kinyan. However, it is certainly unwise to gamble regularly.
Smartcookie the problem is that a lot of the folks who win 1-4 million think they are suddenly very rich, they are not. If you win 1 million its not like they give you a check for $1,000,000 you get a yearly check for say $50,000. Now $50,000 is a nice chunk of cash but its not millions. If you take that money and pay off your house with it that is pretty smart, if you take it and then go crazy and buy a million dollar mc-mansion you are going to go broke (not you personally)
As close as I get to the lottery is working for internet startups. (so far I have had 1 of 4 pay out, and it was a lot less than a million)
I was told buying 1 ticket is not an issue, buying more than one or when you cant afford it, thats a bigger issue
zach – you can choose a lump sum payment (instead of annual) from the lottery.
I was reading in the book “The Garden of Peace” by Rav Shalom Arush just this past shabbos that money won gambling is not kosher as one is benefitting from other’s loss.
However this does not include these lotteries that are sold as a pot as you mentioned above. This money is not acquired by other’s losing anything.
The book continued to say that if a person has true emunah he buys one ticket and only one ticket. He knows that if the Ribbono Shel Olam wants him to win then that ticket will have the numbers needed to win.
I heard once that Hashem took our Yetzer Hora off avoda zara and put it on money instead.
Its not for nothing that people are obssessed with gambling….
frumladygit-
I don’t understand. If emunah is the answer than why buy even one ticket? Just believe if Hashem wants you to have the money you’ll get it. Is it because making a hishtadlus doesn’t contradict your bitachon? Then make a hishtadlus, and better your odds by buying more than one ticket!
just learnt tonight in GOE….buying a lottery ticket is NOT gambling IF you only buy one. Its all in Hashems hands whether you will win big or loose…if ur going to turn to statistics instead of Hashem….well ur hopeless then!
buying a lottery ticket is NOT gambling IF you only buy one.
Of course it’s gambling.
Whether or not it’s acceptable within halacha is a different question — but, undoubtedly, it *is* gambling.
The Wolf
CharliHall: “Chazal didn’t see gambling as a productive enterprise so they pasuled any professional gambler for eidus.”
Which, seemingly would not apply to buying a lottery ticket, since Chazal were referring to someone whose occupation was gambling, not the occasional gambler. As for the reason given by klach of stealing, as yitayningwut and frumladygit pointed out, there would not be an issue with a lottery ticket.
I like Wolf’s approach; once in a while when the pot’s big.
The chances of winning a lottery are usually so small that you don’t expect to win when playing.
It therefore can not be considered gambling.
Throwing your money off a bridge is Mutar….
check out a teshuva on the topic in yabia omer. he basically says for sfardim its gzaila and for ashkenazim its mutar. (and then says if a sefardi is meikel like the ashkenazim…theres hell to pay). then he says even fot ashkenazim it might be assur….check it out…
haros,
If you don’t mind, can you please tell me where that t’shuvah is so that I can look it up?
“Which, seemingly would not apply to buying a lottery ticket, since Chazal were referring to someone whose occupation was gambling, not the occasional gambler. As for the reason given by klach of stealing, as yitayningwut and frumladygit pointed out, there would not be an issue with a lottery ticket.”
This analysis makes sense to me, but I’m not a rabbi so my opinion doesn’t count.
“if ur going to turn to statistics instead of Hashem”
The largest association of professional statisticians in the world once held its annual meeting in Las Vegas. Now, most people, when they walk into a casino pick out an interesting game on which to gamble. We statisticians, on the other hand, start calculating expected values in our heads. Realizing that all the expected values favored the house, my colleagues didn’t bother throwing their money away and the casinos lost money on us. Supposedly we were asked never to return and in fact the association has not had its meeting there since.
“if ur going to turn to statistics instead of Hashem”
When I was in graduate school, one of my professors was interviewed on the radio about a huge jackpot that the lottery was promoting for its next drawing. He pointed out that were he to walk across the street to buy a ticket, he was far more likely to be struck by an automobile and killed while crossing that street than to purchase the winning ticket.
I’ve heard it said that gambling is a tax on the mathematically-impaired.
Since winning a lottery has an extremely low probability, it’s stupid to buy a ticket. Not assur, not evil, just stupid. Human nature, we live with it.
I view it as a form of entertainment. For $1, I buy the right to fantasize for a few hours about what I’ll do if I win. It’s among the cheaper forms of entertainment.
The chances of winning a lottery are usually so small that you don’t expect to win when playing.
It therefore can not be considered gambling.
It most certainly can. For starters, there are many people who, unfortunately, *do* expect to win. In addition, even seasoned gamblers understand that every game *must* favor the house — so no one can be said to be able to “expect” to win.
In the end, it’s gambling. Even I, who buy a ticket as a form of entertainment, still view it as gambling.
The Wolf
ill check it up in an hour. ill get back to u
yabia omer chelek 7 chosen mishpat siman 6—his maskanas based on tshuvos rav paalim, and what he’s medayek from there isnt muchrach at all, decide for yourself….
he gets involved with lotteries, gambling, differnce if its from jews or goyim, and the quote from the chida on a meikel sfardii like the rama is “tzarich kapara”.
also, see pischei chosen from rav blau shlita of sanhedria, chelek kinyanim, perek 21 page 565 lengthy discussion, about lottery, gambling, raffles, etc..
hope it was helpful.
I don’t know but it’s over $250 million, so go out and buy one!!!
don’t know if its gambling but it sure is silly. The odds of winning are worse than 1 in 100 million. Better take that money and give it to tzedaka or spend it on another mitzvah so you are guaranteed to get back more.
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