I personally don't think there is that much of a difference. In the end you are risking your money to gain money. I think the people who say differently problem won some cash from the market and assume its safe, it isn't.
No one said any investment is 100% safe, but at the least with stock shares you're placing money on something other than just odds on a payout table.
The only way those two investments can be considered to have even chances of making a profit is if you have no knowledge about stock market and shares you are investing in.
Even with "knowledge" of the stock market you still have risk. If it was possible to have knowledge everyone would be doing it and everyone would be rich. The bottom line is you are guessing and hoping for the best.