Insurance and gambling were considered alike because there is an uncertainty of events and payment is made when the event occurs.
Like gambling, the insured is unaware of the time and amount of loss.
Mar 20, 2017 A life insurance company, by contrast, does little else. Legally and culturally, there is a clear distinction between gambling and insurance. Economically the difference is less visible. May 29, 2019 It is a fine line between skill games and games of chance. Many people refer to both as gambling, but that approach is wrong. Gambling can be described as an activity that a person willingly participates by investing a certain amount of money (or another resource) for the chance to win a reward.
If the event occurs, the insured like the gambler gains; otherwise, they are experiencing the loss.
But there are certain differences between the insurance contract and gambling.
In insurance, risks are existing, they may occur at any time.
For example, death, old age, fire, marine perils, accident, etc., may occur at any time.
Related: Risks and Insurance
The person will suffer at the occurrence of these perils, but if insurance is taken against these risks, the ‘usurer will provide a fixed amount or indemnify the amount of loss occurred due to the insured perils.
Thus, insurance is protection against these risks.
Related: Types of Risks in Insurance
In the case of gambling, the risk does not exist, it is being created for a game or amusement white one will suffer and another will gain.
In absence of such game, nobody will suffer. In absent of insurance the property owner will suffer while due to insurance, no party will suffer.
Read more: Pure Risks
In an insurance contract, insurable interest is essential.
Without an insurable interest, it would be wagering, contract. Thus, this principle clearly distinguishes the insurance contract from the gambling.
Insurance and Gambling Distinguished
So it’s clear that insurance is not gambling.