I hope that was of some help to your question, I have written a more detailed study on the topic of sports in which many of the same principles would apply to board games which would be found here entitled “Competitive Sports & Christian Character”. May the Lord continue to bless you and guide you.

“Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
…
And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. (verse 23) Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. (verse 24) And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. ”

So verse 24 records New Testament gambling, it was done by those who crucified Jesus Christ. As followers of God we are called to “Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). And “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (2 Corinthians 6:14, Epesians 5:8-11)

The apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit continues to write…
” For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.” ” (Ephesians 5:12, 2 Corinthians 6:17)

Gambling in all forms is something we must completely abstain from.

Regarding alcohol I actually am in the process of writing an article in regards to this subject and will post the link here, however for a quick answer we saw in Mark 15:23 referenced above we saw that Jesus refused to drink alcoholic wine. The word wine in the Bible can refer both to alcoholic or non-alcoholic grape juice. This article goes into an in-depth study of New Testament Bible passages such as the one you mentioned. Regarding alcoholic wine the Bible is clear “Wine is a mocker,Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1) Jesus never partook of such a substance as the aforementioned link shows. I hope these verses are beneficial to your walk with Jesus and your additional comments or questions are welcome. Let us put away these actions and be transformed by His grace.

I read your article but I think you are assuming to much about the heart of the grambler. If I place a two dollar bit at the race track where I might win 5 bucks and no one is bluffing or lying is that a sin? I would have to say no. Also, I am sure that there was gambling during the NT era so why is it not mentioned in the bible. Lastly, in your last paragraph it seems that you would list drinking as a sin. I would say be drunk is a sin but not drinking. I am sure that the water Jesus turned to wine was alcoholic. I am think that gambling or drinking in excess is sinful. Moderation is the key as with so many things.

I think logically we can both see there they are quite different. When I buy a table from a carpenter, I pay him money for his time and effort and the materials he used. In return, I receive a new table. It is a mutually beneficial and fair agreement. But in poker, one deceives someone to take all their money and the other receives nothing but an empty wallet. I think we can agree that the results are not mutually beneficial.

Now considering your last statement, when you state that because everyone already knows that deception and bluffing can occur at a poker table (in fact it is part of the game), then it is not lying. Let me kindly share yet another example that we can agree with when we consider such a statement. Let’s say two nations are at war, and one representative of each nation meets with the other to talk terms of peace. They come into the meeting knowing that the other individual could lie. And let’s say both of them do lie to each other. And then the meeting ends. Now, let’s ask the question, did they still lie and was it still a sin? Of course! Lying is a sin no matter what, there is no stipulation in the Ten Commandment stating otherwise. And a foreknowledge of danger does not negate the sin. For example, let’s say those two individuals meet again, knowing that because it is a war, that one might attempt to murder the other. And when they meet one does murder the other. Does God just overlook such a sin? Certainly not.

Let us therefore consider if bluffing is a sin….first a definition from http://thesaurus.com/browse/bluff

Main Entry: bluff

Definition: boast; deceit

Synonyms include fraud, front, humbug, jiving, lie, pretense, pretext, ruse, sham, show, stall, subterfuge, trick

Here we see the very definition of bluffing is “deceit”. Synonyms include fraud and also to lie. The law of God, the Ten Commandments tells us “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. ” (Exodus 20:16) The Bible also states..

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ~ 1 John 3:4 KJV

Bluffing is lying. Lying is a transgression of God’s law. Transgression of God’s law is sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ~ 1 John 1:8

Therefore…
These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” ~ Revelation 3:14-19

Jesus says today you are spiritually naked, you are not clothed in Christ’s righteousness and you have been blind to your own sin. But….”As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten”. Jesus says my son, I still love you. “Therefore be zealous and repent” Why?

He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. ~ Proverbs 28:13

The only way to inherit eternal life is to confess and forsake such a sin. Attempting to justify such an action will result in eternal loss. But humbling yourself before Jesus at the cross, confessing your sin to Him and forsaking such a sinful action such will result in you receiving complete mercy and forgiveness. On top of that, Jesus has promised “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21) What a great reward is this!

Beloved wouldn’t you rather have Jesus? “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Matthew 16:26, Deuteronomy 30:19)