Mormon Leader Decries Gambling, Prediction Markets

D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a strong condemnation of the proliferation of online gambling, including prediction markets and sports betting, during the faith's semiannual general conference on Saturday. Christofferson asserted that this surge in gambling, particularly among young people, fosters greed and yields "nothing of value." He highlighted that the constant accessibility of gambling through smartphones distracts teenagers and young adults from their studies and personal relationships.

Central to Christofferson's argument is the church's theological stance that gambling is inherently immoral, as it is predicated on the desire to acquire wealth without effort. This declaration places the conservative church in a position contrary to some political viewpoints, such as those expressed by the Trump administration, which has argued that platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket do not constitute gambling and should therefore be exempt from certain regulations. Utah, the home state of the church, has been a focal point in the legal battles over the classification and regulation of these prediction markets, with state officials seeking to apply strict anti-gambling laws.

In August, a federal judge ruled that Utah officials could enforce its stringent anti-gambling statutes on prediction markets. Further legislative action this year in Utah aimed to tighten existing gambling laws and amend their language to explicitly encompass prediction markets. These markets enable users to place wagers on a wide array of events, ranging from meteorological forecasts for Los Angeles to geopolitical outcomes, and even, as Christofferson noted with incredulity, the timing of the Second Coming.

The opposition to gambling is a widely held sentiment among various religious organizations. For instance, the United Methodist Church has characterized it as "a menace to society," and the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, has also formally condemned gambling, citing its detrimental societal effects. Christofferson's remarks underscore the church's commitment to its moral principles and its concern for the well-being of its members, particularly the youth, in the face of evolving digital entertainment and financial platforms.