Salt Lake City – At the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints’ twice‑annual general conference, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, one of the church’s three senior leaders, warned that a rapid rise in online sports betting and prediction markets is endangering Utah’s youth. He said the ease of placing wagers on smartphones is pulling teenagers and young adults away from their studies, families, and faith, producing “nothing of value.”
Church’s moral stance on gambling
Christofferson emphasized that, for Latter‑day Saints, gambling is fundamentally immoral because it seeks to obtain something for nothing. He described the practice as built on greed and warned that even speculative bets on events such as the timing of the Second Coming of Christ are “absurd.” The leader’s remarks echo a long‑standing Mormon tradition that views gambling as a path to selfishness and addiction, a view that has kept Utah largely free of casinos, lotteries, and racetracks for more than a century.
Trump administration’s opposing view
The church’s declaration puts it at odds with President Donald Trump’s administration, which has argued that online prediction‑market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket do not constitute gambling. The administration maintains that these services should not be subject to state gambling bans, including Utah’s recent legislation aimed at curbing sports betting.
Trump’s officials contend that prediction markets are a form of financial speculation rather than traditional gambling, and therefore should be regulated under existing securities laws instead of state gambling statutes. This position contrasts sharply with the church’s moral framing of the issue.
Broader religious opposition
Christofferson’s concerns are shared by other faith groups. The Methodist Church has labeled gambling “a menace to society,” while the Southern Baptist Convention declared sports betting inconsistent with biblical principles in 2025. Islamic teachings forbid gambling outright, and Hindu perspectives view it as a vice. Even the Catholic Church, while not labeling gambling a sin per se, warns that it can become problematic.
Impact on Utah’s youth
Experts note that the proliferation of mobile betting apps makes gambling accessible anywhere, increasing the risk of addiction among young people. Matthew Bowman, a professor of religion and history at Claremont Graduate University, said institutions—religious, state, and otherwise—are grappling with this emerging problem as predictive markets and legalized sports betting expand nationwide.
Utah’s longstanding gambling prohibition reflects the values of its predominantly Mormon population, which sees the practice as antithetical to family cohesion and personal responsibility. Church leaders have recently taken more visible political stances, opposing ballot measures that would expand abortion rights in neighboring Idaho and Nevada, and engaging in lobbying efforts on a range of moral issues.
What’s next?
The clash between the LDS Church’s moral opposition and the Trump administration’s regulatory approach highlights a broader national debate over how to treat online betting platforms. As prediction markets continue to grow, both religious leaders and policymakers will likely intensify their efforts to shape the legal landscape.
For now, Elder Christofferson urges families and church members to remain vigilant, emphasizing that protecting youth from the lure of easy money aligns with both faith and the nation’s broader commitment to personal liberty and responsibility.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
