Expert: Brian Thompson - 9/22/2010

Question
If you have a fund raising event under the Assemblies, why is a raffle cosidered gambling? Is it wrong to have tickets and raffle a prize at event. i am puzzled why this would be gambling. I thought going to casinos and giving money and playing games to get money back was gambling vs. giving a prize away to help a needy cause. Thank You

Answer
Hi Kendra

Gambling is any game of chance. There is no difference between a number of people playing cards for a pool of money and people buying tickets in order to have a chance of winning a prize.

If you want to have a fund raising event have a charity auction or just tell people there is a need and ask them to help. There is  a blessing when people give  freely to the purposes of God as opposed to people getting something in exchange for their money.