Ohio legislators are considering proposals to expand legal gambling on personal devices. While the Catholic Church teaches that certain games of chance are not intrinsically evil, our faith warns that gambling becomes morally unacceptable and socially dangerous when it deprives individuals “of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others” and when the passion for gambling becomes enslavement.  Expansion today would facilitate an unprecedented scope and capacity for enslavement to gambling by legalizing round-the-clock access to highly addictive platforms from any bedroom, dorm room, or workplace in Ohio.

Gambling legalization on personal devices will exacerbate the negative impacts of gaming by expanding its reach to any person in Ohio with a phone or tablet. These persons could include minors, those living on fixed incomes, and those who have already overcome an addiction to gambling by maintaining a strict distance between themselves and the physical establishments where we prudently limit gaming activity.

Urge your Ohio Senator and Representative to oppose the expansion of gambling in Ohio.