Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article II. On Wager
¶1.
Wager is a contract by which several persons, contending concerning the truth or the event of some thing, promise something to one another, or deposit it with someone, so that it may belong to him who has spoken the truth.
942.
- Questions. - Q. 1. Whether the contract of wager is lawful?
942.
Resp. Affirmatively, with the things to be posited having been posited; for it bears nothing dishonorable before itself. - St. Lig. n. 869, and others commonly.
942.
Q. 2. What are the conditions that a wager be lawful?
942.
Resp. 1. That the matter be understood by each party in the same sense; 2. that there be an intention of obliging oneself and of paying what is promised; 3. that the event be uncertain to each party. - See Cases, n. 1017.