People cast lots in the Bible. Was that a form of gambling?

Leviticus 16:8“He is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the Lord and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness.”

Numbers 34:13Then Moses told the Israelites, “This territory is the homeland you are to divide among yourselves by sacred lot. The Lord has commanded that the land be divided among the nine and a half remaining tribes.”

Acts 1:23-26So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Casting lots in the Bible was different from gambling in that it was a means of determining God’s will, not a means of making money. It was also a thoughtful, prayerful process. When a new apostle had to be chosen after Judas’s betrayal, the believers selected two men, prayed for God’s guidance in choosing between them, and then cast the lot. Throughout history, God has used many means to communicate his will for specific situations, but prayer is the one he calls us to rely on most (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).