The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-03-27
WHEN is BETTING LAWFUL AND
WHEN is 1T NOT?

about a bona fide contract for future
delivery of goods even though the
seller has not present possession of
them. He knows that he can get the
goods before the time arrives when
he will be bound by his contract to
deliver them to the buyer: he hopes
to be able to get them at cheaper
rates than he charges. All this is law
full trade; there is nothing in the
transaction that need cause him any
Qualms of conscience, writes Father
Slater, S. J. But if there is question
Of a mere speculative contract in
futures, and the intention of the par
ties is merely to bind themselves to
pay differences, one may well hest
tate before giving a definite solution
of the problem.
Such contract is merely wager.
as we have seen: it is in itself to all
intentS and purposes bet concerning
a future and uncertain event, and the
question as to whether it is lawful or
not depends on the broader question
concerning the laWfulness of betting.
An action may be lawful in itself, in
the abstract, apart from special cir
cumstances, and yet in the concrete,
in certain circumstances, it may be-
come wrong.
1t will be advisable to consider the
lawfulnes of different transactions first
of all in themselves, and subsequently
as they are met with in practice. The
question revolves itself, as we have
said, into the broader one of the law
fulness of betting
Now, it is commonly taught that it
is not wrong to make bet, provided
certain conditions are fulfilled. Among
those conditions the principal are:
/. That the money risked belongs to
him who bets, and that he has the free
disposal of it.
A lawyer must not bet or speculate
with the money Of his client; if he
does So. he exposes the property of
his client to risk, and sins against
justice. The money risked in betting
must also be at the free and unfet-
tered disposal Of him who bets. He
must not bet with what is necess airy
to fulfil his obligations, otherwise he
exposes himself to the danger of not
being able to meet them. A father of
family must not bet with what is
required for the support of his chill
dren, else he runs the risk of not be-
ing able to fulfill his natural duty of
bringing them up in manner suita-
BILE to their condition in life.
2. Betting, to be lawful, must be free
from fraud and deceit.
The event on which the wager is
ventured must be uncertain to both
parties. If the uncertainty exists only
on one side. if it is brought about
by means of false rumors and news, if
by deXterous manipulation one of the
parties intends to decide the event in
his own favor the wager is a dis.
honest contract.
3. Finally, the chances must be fair
ly equal on both sides. The sharper
who abuses the ignorance and simple
ity of the countryman, can make no
claim to have come by his gains hon
eStly. He is a rogue and vagabOnd.
A wager that fulfills the above con-
ditions is not a sinful transaction.
But though this may be true, yet, as
is we'll known, habit of gambling is
easily contracted; and when such a
habit has once been formed. it is very
difficult to shake it off. There may
be a certain amount of temporary
success: the excitement and fascina-
| ton which gambling has for many
minds; the ease and rapidity with
which large sums of money may some
times be acquired by this means
all lend their attraction, and combine
| to make what in itself, if INDUCED in
occasionally, may be legitimate form
| of recreation, most dangerous temp
| tation, and the sure road to ruin.