How does Sikhi guide me on gambling? Is playing the lottery gambling?

The Sikh position on gambling is clear, consistent, and comes from both the Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh Rehat Maryada. Gambling is explicitly prohibited.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada

The Rehat Maryada states simply and broadly:

"A Sikh must not commit theft, engage in immoral relationships, or gamble."

Gambling is listed alongside theft and adultery, two of the most serious moral violations in any ethical tradition.

The Guru Granth Sahib, The Spiritual Reasoning

The Gurus condemn gambling not just as a social rule but as a spiritual danger. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

"In the end, the gambler shall depart empty-handed." (Ang 1157)

And in another Shabad, the gambler's state of mind is compared to addiction:

"The consciousness of the gambler is focused on gambling. The opium addict lives by consuming opium." (Ang 897)

The Principle of Kirat Karni

One of the three pillars of Sikh life is Kirat Karni, earning an honest living through honest effort. Gambling violates this principle directly: it seeks gain without honest labour.

Is the Lottery Gambling?

Yes. The lottery is a game of pure chance played for money, which is the definition of gambling. There is no skill, no honest effort, only the purchase of a ticket and the hope of a random outcome. The fact that it is legal and government-run does not change what it is. The Sikh prohibition on gambling applies to the lottery.