I bet that there are lots of people who've gambled their entire life without getting addicted whatsoever.
How we may say that is not an addiction ? Is this statement is not contradicting with what most gamblers here stating ?
I mean most gamblers are sharing that gambling is giving them ONLY losses. If that is true then continuing with gambling for entire life must have a reason which might be addiction.
How many people buy weekly lottery tickets? Would you say that they're addicted to gambling? Even if they spend the same amount of money every week and it does not cause them harm in any way?
Engaging with lottery is a clear-cut indication of addiction. See, buying lottery in seconds and then waiting for the result is justifying that you are enjoying your way of gambling ? They might have started for chasing down their early losses and spending same amount or limited amount will not indicate that they are not addicted.
It's almost impossible to make these kinds of generalized statements, you'll always have people that have a completely different reaction to long-term exposure.
Probably you have mistaken that addiction as a negative one. A teacher who is engaging himself for various education related activities also gets addicted with his activities. I have seen many teachers who are unable to stay at home after retirement.
Now, go back to your statements. Doing something for entire life must have some reason beyond why that is existing. There are CLEVER drunk-addicts like they do drink very small amount for every day but they never lose their conscious also they are able to hide this activity from family members. Could we call them non-addict ?
Trying out lottery tickets must be a pure way of gambling. Because, it is being practiced only for the reason of winning some big money. When keep trying it, a gambler will always get greedy but due to available resources they may limit themselves for weekly once or any like that that. We may term them "CLEVER" gambling addicts.