Emotional gambling is investing one's emotions in the uncertain outcome of an otherwise meaningless event, such as a sports contest. It is similar to gambling except no money is at stake.
Emotional gambling can also consist of exaggerating the significance of the outcome of a meaningful event, such as a stock price or a political race, and investing one's emotions in the exaggerated significance of the uncertain outcome. Emotional gambling, like other kinds of gambling behavior, is highly addictive and can threaten the addict's capacity for a normal, healthy life. In that respect alone, it can be considered sinful.
Strong emotional gambling by sports fans may lead to rioting and acts of vandalism, when the results of games or sports events are or are not what they hoped for. Other health problems, such as heart conditions developed by addicted fans and former players and especially coaches, are also predictable.
Emotional gambling distracts people's time and energy away from productive activities, such as reading the Bible.