JUETENG IS A SIN OR NOT?

JUETENG HISTORY
Jueteng (pronounced hwe-teng) is an illegal numbers game played in the Philippines.
Jueteng came from China and it means flower (jue) and bet (teng). Although illegal, it is
a widely popular game with participation that crosses most, if not all social and economic
boundaries, played by rich and poor alike. With long odds and no limits on minimum or
maximum bets, the lure of quick riches through a lucrative payout is by far its strongest
appeal.

The game relies heavily on having a large number of wagers, and there is no limit to the
amount of the bet(s). Usually the gambler selects two numbers from 1 through 37, and
the winning number is determined by selecting a pair of numbers from a set of 37
numbered balls. Thus the theoretical odds of winning on any one play are one in 37C2, or
1/666. This is unlike the numbers games in the U.S. during the early part of the 20th
century, where the last digit of the winning pay out or the number of the winning horse
for three consecutive races determined the winning combination.

Although much has been done to curtail or eradicate this form of unregulated gambling
by government and community leaders, it appears that such efforts have fallen by the
wayside due to its vast popularity, and the poverty which cripples the country.

JUETENG IN THE PHILIPPINES

Jueteng is an illegal numbers game played in most provinces of The Philippines. It

involves the combination of 37 numbers. In some areas, the operators use 38 numbers.
For 37 of 37 numbers, there are, 1,369 combinations; while for 38 of 38 numbers, there
are, 1,444 combinations.

Local lottery operators accept bets as small as 25 centavos and as high as P100 per
combination. It is most popular with the under-privileged and middle class.

Collections of bets reportedly run to about P50 million daily in Luzon. Most of the
affected areas are Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Nothern Luzon, Metro-Manila, Bicol
Region, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Autonomous Region in that order. There are no
widespread operations of jueteng in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Thousands of people in Luzon also make jueteng their source of livelihood, either as
collectors of bets or supervisors (cabo as referred to in the local dialect).
HOW IS IT PLAYED
The numbers 1 to 37 marked in small wooden sizes just like those in bingo games are
placed inside a container usually made of rattan. The draw is witnessed by all the 'cabos'
to demonstrate a semblance of honesty.

Somebody from the group of spectators witnessing the game shakes the numbers inside
the container and then draws one number, which will become the first number of the
winning combination.

The first number taken out is duly recorded and returned to the container for the drawing
of the second number of the winning combination.

The container is shaken for the second time and another number is drawn for the second
number of the winning combination.

Bibliography
The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does
warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5).
Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs
13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of
money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.

What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in

moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil.
People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of
money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or
purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other
things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be
saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work, not gambled away.

While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck”
or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the
sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to
the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of
Jerusalem. The apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas. Proverbs 16:33
says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

What would the Bible say about casinos and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing
schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer
inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a
decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for
taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty
pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or
social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who
can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of “getting rich
quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of
winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined.

Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or
gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause.
While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly
purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse
financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any,
truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His
mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who
gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the
needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated
drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or
want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches.

First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some
people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and
be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will
I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will
hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Conclusion
In conclusion, compulsive gambling is an addiction. Compulsive gambling destroys homes, marriages, and

relationships. Gamblers also resort to crime to support their addiction. Compulsive gambling can also cause

medical problems and it also leads to death. Like other addictions compulsive gambling can also lead

people down the wrong path in life. Compulsive gambling is just like a drug or alcohol addiction. So with all

this said the government should step up and offer more help with compulsive gambling. They should offer

more recovery programs for compulsive gamblers.