Most people can gamble or drink or have sex or eat chocolate or take painkillers without it becoming a problem.
Wrong.
Is gambling okay? That's your question? I doubt anyone that has seen what gambling does to people can say it's "okay". I agree responsibility plays a role, but some people are born with a character flaw that gambling magnifies. Would society be better off without gambling?
Yes, it would. You can stand by your opinion, but you're the one that claims mine is childish and wrong.
How about you practice what you preach and stop being a huge hypocrite? Some people believe in the choice of freedom so stop trying to push your own opinions and beliefs down the throat of others.
I'll leave you with the answer to your question:
[is] Gambling is okay?
Yes. Yes it is. Get over it.
Who's pushing opinions down someone's throat here?