[fdgjgbdfhgb]

I didn't interpret the parent comment as saying that religion can be used to/is effective at combating excess, but that the only existing efforts to combat this kind of excess come from religious groups (i.e. there aren't any secular groups lobbying against gambling). I don't know if that is true and I don't necessarily agree with the comment btw.

[cafard]

Aren't there secular groups lobbying against gambling?

I am afraid that governments lost the moral high ground a long time ago, when they started up lotteries (commonly with worse odds than the old numbers game).