Is it valid for a non-Christian to seek Christian persuasion to effect a certain behavior? While the temptation and or inducement may favor such facts, the logic of such persuasion may not be valid and this question may end up being a fool's errand not unless there are such universal principles which may be appealed to.

Nevertheless a Christian pondering this matter may find light in the following verses(King James Version):Mathew 6:33, 1 Corinthians 10:23-29, and Phillippians 4:8...(Not that the verses given to @dunkang may not be used).

The argument being that the primary duty for the Christian is to realize the Kingdom of God and enjoy the fulfillment of the promise of finding all other things as per Mathew 6:33 and in so doing being judicious of choice such that his/her efforts are not diverted and the primary duty abandoned as in 1 Cor 10:23-29 which is complemented by Philippians 4:8 which exhorts that the mind be occupied by ideas and objectives which may be very difficult to sustain in a gambling/betting situation.

The Christian worldview has no space for gambling in the sense that the universe is controlled by God who has a relationship with everyone that certainty is possible in day to day affairs. The suffering experienced in poverty for example is a pointer to the poor Christian that he/she may not have optimized his/her relationship with God and that only a fervent seeking can liberate him/her permanently and certainly. Gambling on the other hand offers no such assurances.

Therefore a Christian engaging in gambling may be reneging on his faith and truth of the word.

Let me start with the matter of 'work'. Work has gone through many definitions, but look for example at the Marxist critique, work and labor are seen not just as means of getting wages but as also spiritual expressions. In the same measure, work in the Christian context is also a spiritual endeavor which may not be differentiated from other activities. So the question of stopping to work and seeking the Kingdom doesn't arise.

Therefore the relationship between seeking the Kingdom and gambling is that one necessarily precludes the other in terms of core assumptions and aspirations yet more often than not they are geared to solving the same issues. Hence the Bible references, not 'quotes' may not be misplaced.

Even a cat or a dog has a 'heart'; and the goal of religion isn't 'goodness'. Everything is good. The aim of religion is to discipline the mind for enlightenment and relating with the universe with peace and certainty, and this I agree, is complex. Necessarily so.

@dunkang, first you have to make up your mind whether you believe in the Bible or not. Otherwise, do not ask question over sth you are not ready to follow...

Maybe a different perspective might help...