“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 19:14 RSV-CE
When Pope Leo XIV recently addressed the growing moral dangers of gambling, many Catholics expected him to speak about the financial harm and addiction that plague adults. But his warning went deeper. He spoke about children — the ones “whom Christ holds closest to His Sacred Heart” — and how they are now being lured into a culture that glorifies chance, greed, and instant reward.
His words echoed like a trumpet blast across the Church:
“We live in a world,” the Holy Father said, “where gambling is no longer whispered about in shame but celebrated in the open. Where once sin hid in the shadows, now it shines on screens and billboards, teaching the smallest among us that money is won, not earned — that risk is excitement, and that losing is simply part of the game.”
The New Face of Gambling
Once, gambling took place in smoky back rooms and neon-lit casinos. Today, it lives in the palm of a child’s hand.
Through phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and even television, the seeds of chance are being sown early.
Children are being groomed to accept gambling as normal long before they are legally allowed to participate. Brightly coloured betting adverts appear during televised sport, often starring popular athletes or comedians. Social media platforms host “free spin” games, “loot boxes,” and fantasy sport competitions that mirror adult betting in all but name.
And the advertising is relentless. Everywhere — from online casinos and sports betting apps to televised bingo, horse racing, and lottery commercials — the message is the same: gambling is exciting, glamorous, and harmless.
The Pope condemned this “wave of manipulation” in his latest message:
“Advertising has found new ways to tempt the innocent. It dresses greed in happiness, and loss in laughter. Even our children see their sporting heroes standing beside the logos of betting companies. This is a betrayal of their trust.”
How the Young Are Drawn In
What begins as a game of chance can quickly take hold of a child’s imagination. Psychologists warn that early exposure to gambling-like activities can change the brain’s reward system, conditioning children to chase the thrill of winning.
Many online games now use “loot boxes” — randomised digital rewards purchased with real or virtual money — a mechanism disturbingly similar to slot machines. Research in the UK has already shown that children exposed to these systems are more likely to gamble later in life.
The result is a generation quietly being trained to link excitement with risk. When those same children turn eighteen, gambling feels not only familiar but expected.
The Hidden Victims
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is direct:
“Games of chance or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement.” (CCC 2413)
But how many families are watching that enslavement begin not with a bet, but with a brightly lit phone game or an advertisement between football highlights?
Children, too, suffer when parents or relatives fall into gambling addiction. Debts, stress, and secrecy can tear families apart. The Holy Father spoke movingly of this during his Angelus reflection:
“The poor suffer most when hope is replaced by chance. Children learn to fear the doorbell, because another debt collector has come. And yet the world laughs and calls it fun.”
The Gospel and the Spirit of the Age
Our Lord’s teaching leaves no room for doubt about where our priorities should lie:
“You cannot serve God and mammon.”
— Matthew 6:24 (RSV-CE)
The “mammon” of our age wears many disguises — the lust for wealth, the hunger for fame, the illusion of quick success. Gambling feeds them all. It whispers the old temptation: “You can be in control.”
But Christ calls us to surrender control — to trust in God’s providence rather than chance. When we gamble, especially compulsively, we do not only risk money; we risk hope itself.
The Pope’s warning is not simply about economics or social policy. It is about souls — and the formation of hearts that should be innocent. When a child learns that losing is funny and winning brings applause, he begins to believe that life itself is a game.
The Culture of “Harmless Fun”
There was a time when betting shops were discreet, almost apologetic. Today they stand beside coffee chains and supermarkets, with screens flashing promises of “free bets” and “cashback.” Online, their reach is limitless.
Television and social media saturate young audiences with imagery that blends gambling and sport so seamlessly that the two appear indistinguishable. A football match is not just a game anymore — it’s a betting event. Every goal, every foul, every substitution becomes another opportunity to wager.
Even family-friendly game shows and lottery draws frame gambling as community entertainment, where smiling presenters hand out cheques and confetti falls.
Yet beneath the surface lies sorrow. Behind every statistic about gambling revenue stands a home where bills go unpaid, relationships crumble, and children learn to mistrust love that should have been unconditional.
Teaching True Stewardship
Catholic teaching reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God. Money, like time, is a resource for love, service, and care — not for indulgence.
St Paul writes:
“For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith.”
— 1 Timothy 6:10 (RSV-CE)
Our response, then, must be not only to condemn but to educate. Parents, catechists, and teachers must speak openly about gambling. They should explain to young people that the industry exists to profit from loss — that the “house” always wins.
More importantly, children should be taught the joy of earning, saving, and giving, and the peace that comes from trusting in God rather than games of chance.
Healing for the Addicted
No sin or struggle is beyond redemption. The Church does not condemn the person enslaved by gambling but calls them home with compassion.
Confession and pastoral care can bring renewal. Many dioceses now work alongside Catholic charities offering counselling and financial guidance for families affected by gambling addiction.
As Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful:
“The heart that confesses its weakness is already on the path to freedom. The Lord does not despise the broken gambler who turns to Him — He embraces him as the father embraced the prodigal son.”
Those trapped in gambling’s grip must hear this truth again and again: you are not your losses. You are loved.
A Call to Governments and Media
The Holy Father also appealed to governments and broadcasters, urging them to show moral responsibility in their regulations and content:
“It is not enough to protect the economy while neglecting the soul. A society that profits from despair will one day weep for its children.”
Catholic social teaching places moral duty on all who wield influence — lawmakers, advertisers, and digital platforms — to ensure that profit never outweighs the dignity of the human person.
He called for restrictions on gambling advertising during hours when children are likely to be watching, and for greater transparency about the true odds of winning. Above all, he asked the faithful to speak out, to challenge the myth that gambling is harmless.
The Light of Faith in a Dark Marketplace
As Christians, we are called to be salt and light — to bring truth where illusion reigns. The gambling industry thrives on illusion: the illusion of control, of easy success, of harmless fun.
Christ, however, offers a joy that needs no illusion — a peace “which passes all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)
If we wish to protect the little ones, we must lead by example: by refusing to normalise gambling in our own speech and habits, by supporting families in crisis, and by praying for those who believe luck will save them.
We are not to be silent. Every time we remind a child that their worth lies not in winning but in being loved by God, we strike a blow against this culture of chance.
Reflection
To look at the face of a child is to see trust, simplicity, and the reflection of God’s own innocence. The forces that seek to corrupt that innocence — whether through violence, pornography, or gambling — are the same forces Christ Himself faced in the desert when Satan tempted Him with the kingdoms of the world.
The devil offered Jesus glory and wealth; Jesus answered with Scripture. We must do the same. For when a society begins to gamble with its moral boundaries, it risks everything.
A Prayer for the Rest of the Week
For all who read this blog post and all who never will
Lord Jesus,
You welcomed the little children and blessed them with Your love.
Protect all children from the snares of this world —
from greed disguised as entertainment,
and from the false hope of riches without work.
Give parents wisdom to guide,
teachers courage to speak,
and communities the strength to resist the lure of easy gain.
Have mercy, Lord, on all who are trapped by gambling’s chains.
Heal the hearts that are burdened by loss and shame.
Let every person who turns to You find freedom,
and may our homes be places of honesty, prayer, and trust in Your providence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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