Earlier this year, gamblers could wager on which Catholic cardinal would be named the church’s new pope. The new pontiff is now warning that gambling addiction “ruins many families.”
Pope Leo XIV addressed the National Association of Italian Municipalities on Dec. 29 and spoke about the dangers gambling can pose for families.
He noted that gambling addiction is a “serious problem of education, mental health, and social trust,” according to the Catholic News Agency.
Gambling In Moderation Acceptable To Church
Traditionally, the Catholic Church has not viewed gambling as sinful. Some parishes even host bingo nights as part of a church’s fundraising efforts.
The church believes the activity only reaches a dangerous level when done in excess or when gambling becomes an addiction or negatively impacts family necessities.
“The average gambler loses money, but the process is entertaining, so what gambling amounts to is paying money to be entertained, and there is nothing wrong with that,” Catholic Answers notes. “Gambling becomes sinful only when one pays too much money for the entertainment.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church further notes: “Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive [people] of what is necessary to provide for [their] needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement.”
Some religions are against gambling altogether or at least warn against it. Some of these include other Christian denominations, Islam, and Hinduism.
In the days leading up to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost being named Pope Leo XIV, Polymarket and Kalshi accepted millions of dollars in bets on which cardinal would capture the title. Prevost had been a major underdog, with just a 1.6% chance of earning the nod on Kalshi. Polymarket had him just a bit higher at 1.8%.
Poker-winning Priest
Father Andrew Trapp won $100,000 on the PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge game show in 2009. The priest beat three opponents, including Daniel Negreanu, and held a rosary on the final hand.
Trapp said he planned to use the funds for his church, St. Michael’s in Garden City, SC. The priest had played poker for fun for several years before the big score.
“I really still can’t believe how things went, and I’m very thankful for everybody’s support, encouragement and prayers,” Trapp told The Catholic Miscellany newspaper.
“The thing I’m most happy about is that everybody has been telling me I represented the priesthood and the church in a positive way. The fact I was able to win $100,000 for our church makes it even better.”
