Have you ever wonder why even there are a lot of negative things gambling bought, it still doesnt leave us ? Is that so, gambling has been a part of our culture , even you have plenty or not. Rich people often socialize in the form of casino, while the poor are contented on country games with lower bets. I, as a person living on a third world country, witnessed how gambling form our culture. Town celebrations or "fiesta" are not complete without low cost gambling houses called "perya" where you can bet starting from almost $.02 and above. Every corner of the street has some kids playing coin games and even a wake makes its company awake using card games. Weird isnt it? How about in your country?
There are several buildings with the "National Lottery" signs outside in every part of the town where I live. In fact they have nothing to do with the government apart from bribing it maybe. They are not even lotteries but more like computer slot machines where poor people addicted to gambling lose all their money (don't expect provably fairness in places like this ). Although I like online gambling I never set my foot in such places because they are pure rip-off imo. And I wouldn't call gambling a culture. It is more like a weakness, like smoking or like drinking alcohol, you can live with it keeping it within reasonable limits, but if you abuse it it will kill you.