A leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cautioned Saturday that an increasing prevalence of gambling, driven by online prediction markets and sports betting, is fostering greed, particularly among youths. D. Todd Christofferson, one of the top three leaders of the faith, spoke at the church’s twice-annual general conference, stating that these activities produce "nothing of value."
Christofferson emphasized that rampant betting among teenagers and young adults is detracting from their studies and relationships. He noted that the accessibility of gambling through smartphones makes it possible virtually anywhere, contributing to its spread. For members of the Latter-day Saints church, Christofferson stated, "Gambling is built on the desire to obtain something for nothing."
This declaration regarding prediction markets being a form of gambling places the conservative church at odds with President Donald Trump's administration. The administration has previously argued that platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket do not constitute gambling and therefore should not be subject to restrictions in states like Utah, where the church is based.
Utah has played a significant role in the ongoing legal debate concerning the regulation of these markets and whether they should be classified as finance or gambling. A federal judge ruled in August that officials in Utah are permitted to enforce the state’s strict anti-gambling laws on prediction markets. This year, legislation was enacted to strengthen Utah’s gambling laws and amend specific language to ensure its application to prediction markets. These markets allow for wagers on various outcomes, ranging from local weather patterns to international conflicts. Christofferson highlighted the broad scope of these markets, even noting the possibility of betting on "the timing of the Second Coming."
Opposition to gambling is a common stance among many religious organizations. The United Methodist Church characterizes gambling as “a menace to society,” while the Southern Baptist Convention, which is America's largest Protestant denomination, has condemned it multiple times and, in 2025, declared sports gambling inconsistent with biblical principle. In Islam, gambling is forbidden, and among Hindus, it is considered a vice. The Catholic Church views gambling as not inherently sinful but potentially problematic.
For more than a century, Utah has largely kept gambling out of the state. There are no casinos, lotteries, or racetracks that permit betting within its borders. This prohibition is deeply rooted in the foundational ideals of members of the Latter-day Saints church, who perceive gambling as a path toward selfishness and addiction. Matthew Bowman, a professor of religion and history at Claremont Graduate University in California, observed that "this is just really taking off all across the country," adding that numerous institutions, including religious and state entities, are actively grappling with this issue.
Saturday’s speech also falls within a period where the church has become more involved in political issues, particularly under President Dallin Oaks, who became the faith’s top leader last October after serving as a former Utah Supreme Court justice. For instance, church leaders this year have expressed opposition to state ballot measures that aim to establish abortion rights in Idaho and Nevada. Bowman commented that the institution's method of engaging with political matters, utilizing public statements and behind-the-scenes lobbying to convey its message, has grown more calculated in recent years. This strategic shift, according to Bowman, followed public criticism regarding the church’s previous stance against California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, a ballot measure that sought to ban gay marriage, where church leaders had encouraged members to become directly involved.