No, God does not condone nor bless gambling. The soldiers at the cross crucified, beat and mocked Jesus. Their behaviors were cruel and unrighteous. Their gambling was vulgar. Those soldiers are not examples of God’s holy will.
God intended there to be only 12 Apostles of the Lamb. Revelation 21:14 (NKJV), “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
However, God never authorized the eleven apostles to choose a replacement for Judas. As recorded in Acts 1:15-26. they pursued this course as they saw fit as natural men. The Holy Spirit had not yet begotten them to be new creatures in Christ. (See Acts 2.) Thus, God’s power and influence was not yet guiding them. Additionally, the man they chose, Matthias, was no doubt a good man, but he was never mentioned again in the New Testament.
In this case, casting lots to choose the correct replacement was not gambling. They made a human decision by using the Jewish tradition in the Old Testament of casting lots, because they did not yet have the discernment of the holy spirit to guide them. Jesus was not involved in the decision.
The apostles decided that two men would be good choices. (They were the wrong two men.) Then they cast lots to see which one was God’s choice, but neither were suitable replacements.
Instead, Jesus chose Saul (who became the great Apostle Paul) to be his twelfth apostle. Acts 26:15-17 (NKJV), “So I (Saul) said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ‘But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.”
Paul identified himself as an apostle. Galatians 1:1 (NKJV), “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)”. So, the casting of lots to find a replacement for Judas was not God’s will.
Nowhere in the Bible is gambling a holy or loving act. By gambling, would you take someone’s rent money? or precious piece of jewelry? or week’s wages? Many gamble with money they cannot afford to lose. In fact, they may need that money to pay their bills. Would Jesus gamble and hurt people this way?
No. Instead God told us to work to support ourselves. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV), “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” Working – not gambling – for money is God’s will.