Thoughts On New Casino

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Fascinating movement of floors, apartments and differing views. Thank you, Auntie Edna.



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Dubai

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Funny series of commercials. I do not drink Whisky, by the way.

Thoughts On New Casino

 

The new casino on a walk route. The through road is brand new as it used to be a dead end surrounded by forest. Red trees included for artistic purposes.

The building, road construction and eventual opening of the casino in Maple Ridge, almost in my neighbourhood and in that of Mr. B. Buff has brought about some dialogue between myself, Uncle Chuckles, Mr. B. Buff and JB.

None of us are personally interested in gambling.

We all agree contrary to some fundamentalistic and conservative evangelical Christians, gambling in itself is not necessarily sinful, but that would be in strict philosophical terms.

It is socially and philosophically connected to many sinful practices. I think I can safely also state that none of us would place gambling on equal unethical, immoral terms as partaking at a house of prostitution, or partaking at an illegal drug house.

The consensus theologically and philosophically being that gambling can be reasonably and very cautiously approached in a similar way as video games, that being a certain amount of money may be spent with the idea being primarily for entertainment purposes and not primarily financial gain purposes. Noting there is no typical financial gain associated with video games unless one is in a major tournament. and earning money there would be unlikely.

I do realize one could be a paid game tester which is reasonable work.

A profession Uncle Chucklins has suggested to me more than once! And I have not played many video games since I left for the United Kingdom.

'Unjust gain', is a term I have seen and read from Mennonite and Baptist North American sources in regard to gambling and is attempting to profit financially with gambling as a career or hobby financially when one can statistically and philosophically reason that the odds are against him/her and always in the favour of the 'house'. And in favour of the State.

I have seen and heard of persons that reason they have a system to beat the odds. But if this is true, I reason he/she will soon be barred by gaming establishments.

Blackburn warns against the 'Gambler's Fallacy' as in the probability of some outcome always remaining the same, and a 'roulette wheel has no memory'. Therefore if patterns appear to change it is not because the wheel is hot and it is also not the law of averages as in things will become more in the favour of the gambler. Blackburn (1996: 133).

Therefore, unjust gain and attempts at such should be avoided within the context of gambling. Is is misdirected use of time and money.

I have seen and read the implied argument that if one supports a casino in any way shape or form, one is supporting a form of government abuse and tax of the people.

Therefore even playing one slot machine or having dinner at the restaurant would be sinful, it seems to follow.

Also that by supporting the casino one is contributing to the sin of others and is therefore sinning.

This reminds of somewhat, although not a perfect or near perfect comparison of persons that purchase products from a company/corporation that has some unethical practices and/or supports some unethical, anti-Biblical views.

I reason here one in Christ needs to seek truth and balance in prayer, asking for the best and good finite motives and related actions and acts.

I have only gambled once and that was in the late 1990s when my brother gave Pope Chucklins and I money and we tried slot machines in Reno. We were both very frustrated by the gaming culture in Reno and lack of intellectual, artistic options. I made sure I did not lose any of the money I was given and so obviously I did not play very many slot machines!

I reason we did not sin.

Generally, I would not gamble and support the industry and have within my conscience, no desire to lose money, or have unjust gain. This is not a claim of being sinless, however.

With a talk/drive the other night, my one friend wanted to see the casino, not to gamble. The building and outside presentation are an improvement to Maple Ridge, my friend and I both admitted. I was impressed by the friendly and professional looking security staff. This being on my mind as the legality, licensing and security of a casino is under the regulation of the Ministry of Finance, Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch in British Columbia, and most of my Justice Institute course dealt with legal issues.

The establishment was clean and professional looking.

When I first discussed work possibilities with my Work BC agent, that was very helpful, she suggested applying, once I have my license as a security worker, at the newly opened casino.

I am opposed to this for some primary reasons:

1. I wish to use my license for other work such as by-laws and not security work. I wish to have set hours which would allow me a second career, perhaps on the weekend in ministry.

2. I do not wish to be involved with work in a casino because of other ethical and moral considerations. Mainly because of potential fights with drunk patrons, and I do not wish to hurt someone with my martial arts target training approach, be hurt, face legal issues, or have to use first aid, as that was part of my recent EST course as well.

3. Being an employee means I would be very committed to the industry and the negatives such as the taxation by the State, and the addictions of others. It is questionable if it would be a greater good with that level of involvement.

I do acknowledge it is possible that it could be a greater good for me to work at a casino due to Christian witness.

4. I do not wish to expose myself to the noise pollution.

This being stated, I like all Christians am to always be a witness, if I am called by family or friends to visit at that casinos restaurant, which in the case of the new casino in the mind of my friend and I looked like a very good restaurant, would I be sinning in eating at the restaurant?

I reason not because the greater good is to eat with friends and family. The lesser evil would be supporting the industry with payment for a meal.

Yes, similar type of reasoning could be used in taking children to Disneyland or Disney World, even though ones disagrees with some of Disney's corporate policies and/or entertainment produced. One is considering greater goods and lesser evils. The fulfillment of children being a greater good outweighing supporting a corporation with some lesser evils, in that context.

These are considerations in a fallen world in light of the problem of evil.

For one to gamble in moderation, and not in unjust gain, without sinning there would need to be a greater good that outweighs the bad in supporting the industry and its negatives, supporting the government tax, and supporting the addition of others (some may be addicts).

In the most strict philosophical sense I would reason this would be possible. Perhaps for example, it is a stress relief for a worker for 15 minutes after work some days and the person overall stays in the black or close to it. It may, I have to philosophically admit, for the sake of stress mean a greater good is for the person to participate in this form of entertainment moderately.

However, personally ethically and philosophically, I would look elsewhere for entertainment and stress relief, but I am acknowledging that this issue is not black and white, but gray/grey.

Therefore, once again as is my general intellectual approach, I favour in regard to gambling and casinos a moderate conservative philosophical and theological position as opposed to a radical liberal or conservative view.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.