Should LDS leaders speak out against sports betting?
September 16, 2026 at 6:02 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting

Mormon Land podcast examines whether it's time for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders to take a public stance on sports betting as it becomes legal and widespread. McKay Coppins, a Latter-day Saint staff writer for The Atlantic, discusses his own experiment with gambling on games and what it revealed about addiction risks.
Coppins describes how quickly recreational betting can become problematic and argues the industry preys on vulnerable populations. The discussion considers whether the Church, which has historically opposed gambling, should issue guidance specifically about sports betting apps now that they're accessible on every smartphone. The question gains urgency as Utah remains one of the few states without legalized sports gambling, with pressure mounting to change that.
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