So hmmh, see, I have a cousin who works for a betting company, and recently, on one of those moments in-between a village tour when we had reunited for family funeral, he took time to tell me about his work.

Photo by Kaysha: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-near-roulette-table-in-casino-4580175/

With each village town we passed, he slid his finger outside the car window to tell me how his company had already “scouted that town.”

He explained to me their criteria of doing business in each upcountry town, first, for each town, they (his betting employers) gauged how busy and populated by youth the area was).

They obviously targeted young people, and though he didn’t directly say it, I knew what he didn’t directly say. Young desires to get rich quick while anticipating less risk, translated into more business prospects for his employers.

It was sad to listen to it all, that the European company he worked for (for all their developed western privilege) would not only come to the capital city of an underdeveloped county, but continue miles deep in its villages of Nakifuma, Mukono, with the goal of preying on the profits of those adolescents we saw selling pineapples by the roadside.

So when the students at church asked about the morality of sports betting, I only remembered and illustrated.

When you bet, you are not only looking at chances of earning, you are supporting greedy institutions that prey on the lowest of human desires while ignoring God’s designs for work. The prophetic book of Amos, that’s big on God’s justice, would say, “Your religion is going after the livelihood of the poor.” Even if you still call yourself a faithful temple faithful, a Christian one at that.”

Fortunately too, the students asking had just finished a camp workshop where we examined Paul’s words, “…Whoever does not work should not eat.” (2 Thess 3:10) which implied, God has ordained “industry” and “work” (not trying your luck on La Liga teams) as a means of sustaining good work.

We agreed that what Sports betting actually did was not only kill, but dull, human drive for initiative, good work and love of neighbours. It instead created a perverted and addictive appetite, targeted towards the poorest and vulnerable.

Following Christ is also getting awakened to the reality of the God of Isreal, who has now grafted us into his covenant through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

The God who walked our earth and dined with the poor, required that Pharisees do not live and thrive on false society values while continuing to offer lip service in the house of God.

If you too know any young person trapped in gambling, I would recommend you get together with them and examine the desire driving their longing for “chance” more than grace. Grace to set up initiatives that provide for their needs as they renew a world dominated by predator initiatives, like sports betting companies.

Also consider joining larger conversations of how Christians in Kampala can faithfully live out their faith at work, renewing fallen industries and sectors through their labour. Plug into our Entebbe, Muyenga or Bukoto, Faith & Work Cohorts, or Join our Whatsapp community to learn more.