How different is trading from just gambling? I know there seems to be a big difference with technical analysis and whatnot, but in the end aren't you just betting on something completely random?
Yes trading is very much different from gambling. The only thing common is uncertainty. In gambling, a person trades on his luck only. In trading also, there is a luck factor but it is not the only factor. A person needs to have a lot of knowledge about the market. He has to make predictions about the market which is based on technical charts and analysis. So lot of technical work is there which makes trading more difficult than gambling.
Sure - a successful gambler is simply a lucky man but a successful trader is a guy, who has a lot of experience and skills. He works very hard every day to earn the money.