Gambling is the cause of excitement for an individual, regardless of what wealth that individual may own.
Gambling has caused the destruction of thousands of individuals and families, many who are homeless are because of gambling. Gambling is addictive the way a drug would be, and in order for an individual to fulfill his need to gamble, he reaches to a point, where he gambles his entire home, that same home he has worked his life for. For a few hours of pleasure, in order to fulfill that individual's bad habit, he gives away his whole hard work, gambling is the closest family to alcoholism. Gambling may start from a single quarter, or casual playing at homes through cards, making a person end up in the casino. With the pride of loosing money, gradually giving up the whole life of hard work, of the wealth and home. Making a person end up in declaring bankruptcy, without thinking about what will happen with his lovely daughter and son's expenses. Day to day hard work and earnings are drowned gradually in gambling, similar to the way people are playing for fifty dollars on the slot machine. Tomorrow those same people will end up on the poker table, making that person loose everything to the casino, in the same way that thousands of dollars are drowned in to casinos. People fall in love with those casinos and race tracks, more than their own wives and children. People lie to their families, and they hide and run to the casinos and racetracks. Because of this habit, many were caught in stealing money from their jobs. Many business people sell their stock, even below cost, in order to receive some cash in hands, in order to play. Satan gives those individuals illusions, that they are wasting their times in business, and in the casino where they can sit like a lord, while they are drinking, smoking, they can enjoy earning money without sweating. Satan makes the casino so attractive, making him win at one time, however at many times he looses. The casino's give very special treatments, free trip to Las Vegas or Atlantic city, high classed food and give away prices, luxurious hotel rooms at next to nothing prices, and free limousine services, they even give money to start gambling. These facilities are granted most of the time to those who can afford to burn their money on a regular basis. In order to make sure that the expenses of the casinos are paid, the casinos are running because of them. If one were to go to Las Vegas, at many time you may see how much people have won on a daily basis. However, you do not have to be a genius to realize that those casinos have hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, and they have to pay for their heat and hydro expenses, and after that, they may earn millions of dollars. We may see that out of thousands of losers, there are only a few winners. An individual's eyes become closed, for the sake of showing off in front of society, that individual bets large amounts, but later faces the grave consequences. Due to such individuals, casinos are becoming filthy rich, the expenses only of casinos are worth millions of dollars. In accordance to statistics, 30% of the state tax paid in the United States are only from casinos.
Gambling makes a person like an alcoholic, who cannot live without alcohol regardless of the result. Gambling works the same way as alcohol does, for example a bottle of beer would have about 5% alcohol, or wine would even have more, and scotch and brandy has even more alcohol. An individual goes drunk after 2 or 3 beers, the same thing applies to someone who buys a lottery ticket for $5 or $10 dollars, without thinking he or she is going to win or loose, he or she satisfies themselves that they are doing so for "pleasure." Lottery tickets are the first stage of gambling.
Some people are more professional in gambling who are able to play towards slot machines, or betting on sports, or horse racing. And the most advance are those who pass there time in casinos. Did anyone ever realize that when they lose money, a $1000-$2000 or even $10,000 dollars, it is not easy to earn this money after all expenses net are paid, which is lost in a few hours or a few days by them. Which is earned through hard work and valuable time involved, which is lost in a few minutes.
Why does Islam declare these actions as unlawful and prohibited?
When Satan is sitting on them, their brains become controlled by Satan, an they act like a four year old. Satan is from the jinns, and the brain of a jinn is only equivalent to a four year old kid.
Islam says no to these actions, regardless if it is big or small.
Now this is taken so easily, that many churches offer bingo, and this is labeled as a social activity to pass evenings. One may realize why Islam is the right path, because Islamic laws stop an individual from anything which is harmful. Islamic teachings are to be alert, attentive, and careful from calamities. As we know, a cancerous cell starts individually, however it eventually spreads through out the whole body. Gambling is the same way, which destroys family life savings, and lots of business men who use to be very big business people are on the streets today as a result.
And the beauty of this Satanic act is that whomever loses, he never feels it much. Regardless what happens, and his promise is so accurate most of the time, behind is regular lifestyles, he is ready to sell his wife's jewelry, his belongings, his furniture, and eventually his house.
This disease is worst then aids and cancer if focused seriously. Most of the time if one visits Las Vegas, you will find common sayings how many people won a million over there. However no one understands, what type of money is lost by people, in order to pay the casino's million of dollars entertainment expenses. And casinos are the most highest taxpayers, and on top of that they make money.
No one can realize when they go to gamble, that their end will be out of this society, and none will even come close to them if they have no status and money. It is very painful for them when they have big status, and lose there status, and when they realize there loss, it is to late.
Allah (SWT) is our creator, and when he forbids something, there is very big wisdom and advantages for the human being. Because of our selfish Satanic act and desire, e destroy the same blessings granted by Allah to us. As a result we will suffer here, and will be greatly punished in the hereafter.