Society loses out with gambling

THE Methodist Church has a long tradition of unwavering opposition to gambling.

In the 1950s it disapproved of hospital sweepstakes and football pools. In 1987 the Church deplored the introduction of the National Lottery declaring that the investing of the lottery with the prestige of government sponsorship was “morally unacceptable”. Methodists believe gambling lowers the tone of a nation. It is a form of the love of money which the Bible defines as the root of all evil.

Much is being made of the jobs that will be created in North Tipperary by the casino and the “boost” it will give to the whole region. Evidence from the USA and Australia suggests that whilst such enterprises themselves boom, the impact on existing businesses and infrastructure is less positive.