I hope that some day, people will start recognizing themselves and if they find themselves under a 'gambler's' category, they will take necessary steps to remain under controlled mindset and not to get addicted to it and cut their connections with almost everyone in their life.
Yes, to get rid off the problems of compulsive gambling, gamblers must realize themselves as the category of "addicted gamblers", only from that point they could make differences into their gambling activities. If they do not take time for self evaluating about their addiction levels on gambling, they will never able to get out of it.
I believe most gamblers do not recognize themselves as a gambler but they do think like they are making fun out of gambling still they do believe they are not the actual gamblers. Before they are realizing about their addiction, most gamblers are getting addicted to gambling severely. From the point when they are doing self-evaluation, I guess changes to their life will be happening.