Mormon Church Leader Warns Against Rise in Sports Betting and Prediction Markets

A leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has voiced strong opposition to the increasing prevalence of sports gambling and online prediction markets, warning that these activities foster greed and yield "nothing of value," especially among young people.

D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, asserted at the faith's general conference that gambling is morally wrong and predicated on the desire to gain without effort. He noted that the accessibility of gambling through smartphones is diverting teenagers and young adults from their studies and relationships.

Christofferson's remarks place the conservative church at odds with some political stances, including those of the Trump administration, which has previously argued that prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket do not constitute gambling and thus should not be subject to state bans. These markets allow users to wager on a wide range of events, from weather patterns to geopolitical occurrences.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Utah, has historically maintained a strong stance against gambling, aligning with the state's long-standing prohibition on casinos, lotteries, and betting at racetracks. This opposition is rooted in the church's view of gambling as a path to selfishness and addiction.

Religious organizations across various faiths share concerns about gambling. The Methodist Church has labeled it a "menace to society," while the Southern Baptist Convention has condemned sports gambling as inconsistent with biblical principles. In Islam, gambling is forbidden, and it is considered a vice in Hinduism. The Catholic Church views gambling as potentially problematic, though not inherently sinful.

Matthew Bowman, a professor of religion and history at Claremont Graduate University, commented that the rise of prediction markets and the legalization of sports gambling are national issues that many institutions are currently grappling with. He observed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under President Dallin Oaks, has become more calculated in its approach to political issues in recent years, using public statements and lobbying to convey its messages. This approach follows past public criticism of the church's involvement in California's Proposition 8 in 2008, which sought to ban gay marriage.