In an era marked by widespread moral and social laxity, where rapid access to information outpaces any concern for its truth, falsehood, or legality, and amid global and personal economic crises, the illusion of quick, effortless wealth has surfaced—even as times of crisis demand double the effort. Through monitoring various platforms and conducting field work with youth, a recurring danger has emerged: the erosion of the value of work and production, accompanied by deliberate alongside calculated efforts to manipulate young minds with false promise of easy riches. Below, we shed light on this dangerous scourge of online gambling.
To help every parent realize that extremism—in all its forms—can stealthily enter their homes like cancer, as the adage goes: "Danger can strike where it is least expected." Online gambling is no longer confined to physical venues. It has migrated directly into smartphones, accessible via a single tap through apps promising rapid gains with lures like "Try Your Luck," "Double Your Profits," and "Guaranteed Bet."
Online gambling rarely presents itself openly; it disguises itself behind sports, gaming, predictions, and digital contests, appearing as a skill or leisure activity while leading toward severe psychological, financial addiction, and ruin—a destruction no less dangerous than joining an extremist group.
The harm extends far beyond the individual. Gamblers may sacrifice household essentials—food, housing, healthcare, and education—and, in extreme cases, resort to selling organs or even their children. Islamic scholar Al-Barmawi defined gambling as any transaction involving uncertain gain or loss (Ghunm or Ghurm). All forms of betting constitute prohibited gambling (Maysir), of which God says:
"O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, altars, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful."
This mirrors the severe health harms of alcohol and drugs highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Spread and Danger of Online Gambling
While both traditional and digital gambling are forbidden, online betting spreads far more rapidly due to 24/7 availability, spatial convenience, and anonymity. A person can lose everything from their bedroom, on public transit, or at work. In field interviews, several individuals reported losing all their possessions in just a day or two.
This spread is fueled by celebrities boasting about gambling, deceiving youth into chasing similar wealth. Furthermore, gambling apps employ calculated psychological tactics: continuous notifications, welcome offers, small initial bets, illusory rewards, and seamless top-ups. Consequently, users shift from seeking profit to chasing losses in a compounding cycle of debt and desperation.
Psychological and Behavioral Impacts on the Individual
Online gambling traps users in constant anxiety, swinging between temporary euphoria and repeated shock. This triggers compulsive attachment, turning betting into an escape from stress or boredom. Studies confirm this poses heightened risks for adolescents, who are naturally more impulsive and susceptible to quick-profit marketing.
Parents must engage in transparent dialogue with their children to build trust and protect them from these traps. Crucially, these apps warp the concept of success—replacing hard work and patience with luck and risk. This shifts a financial threat into a moral collapse: expecting gain without labor, devaluing money, lying, stealing, borrowing, or resorting to suicide. Parents must instill a strong work ethic, keeping youth engaged in constructive activities during free time, recalling the Prophet’s guidance: "There are two blessings which many people lose: health and free time."
Psychological and Social Impacts on the Family
Online gambling drags entire families into turmoil. Chronic losses lead to hidden debts, strained relationships, domestic conflict, and potential crime, while impacting children's well-being as the WHO notes. Socially, it exploits vulnerable groups—unemployed youth, low-income earners, and students—promising an escape from financial distress that ultimately deepens their poverty.
The Religious and Moral Dimension
Gambling relies on consuming wealth unjustly and basing income on risk rather than lawful effort. It breeds hostility, corrupts one's relationship with work, and encourages deceit. Countering this phenomenon requires continuous religious and digital literacy awareness, emphasizing real labor over deceptive advertising.
Finally, those trapped in gambling require structured psychological, financial, and familial support rather than mere stigma—alongside restricting accessible digital payment channels and fostering open family communication to reach safety together.