D. Todd Christofferson, one of the top three leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, warned Saturday that the rapid expansion of sports betting and online prediction markets is fostering greed, particularly among young people, and producing "nothing of value."
Speaking at the faith’s general conference, Christofferson stated that gambling is "morally wrong" and argued that it is built on the desire to obtain something for nothing. He noted that smartphones have made gambling accessible to teenagers and young adults, potentially robbing time from their studies and relationships.
What the Left Is Saying
While the source material does not explicitly quote Democratic leaders on this specific issue, the church’s stance aligns with traditional progressive concerns regarding consumer protection and the regulation of financial speculation. Historically, Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups have supported stricter regulations on gambling and prediction markets to protect vulnerable populations, including youth. The church’s opposition to the Trump administration’s deregulation of prediction markets mirrors broader Democratic critiques that financial innovations can bypass existing consumer safeguards.
What the Right Is Saying
The Trump administration and many conservative policymakers argue that prediction markets are financial instruments rather than gambling, allowing them to operate under federal commodity regulations rather than state gambling laws. This perspective emphasizes market freedom and innovation, suggesting that platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket provide useful information about future events. The administration’s stance supports the expansion of these markets across the country, opposing state-level bans that restrict consumer choice and business activity.
What the Numbers Show
Utah has historically maintained strict prohibitions on gambling, with no casinos, lotteries, or racetracks that allow bets, a policy rooted in the influence of the LDS Church. The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in America, declared sports gambling inconsistent with biblical principles in 2025. Methodist leaders refer to gambling as "a menace to society," while Islam forbids gambling entirely and it is considered a vice among Hindus. In contrast, the Catholic Church does not consider gambling a sin in itself but views it as potentially problematic. Matthew Bowman, a professor of religion and history at Claremont Graduate University, noted that the rise of prediction markets and legalized sports gambling is a growing trend across the country that institutions are currently grappling with.
The Bottom Line
The LDS Church’s public condemnation of prediction markets signals a potential intensification of political and regulatory battles over the classification of these platforms. With the Trump administration favoring a non-gambling classification and religious institutions like the LDS Church and Southern Baptist Convention opposing the expansion of betting, policymakers face increasing pressure to define the regulatory status of prediction markets. Observers will watch to see if this religious pushback influences state-level legislation or federal regulatory decisions in the coming months.