It is really not easy to get over the addiction of gambling. Gambling is something which really can make people an insane addict.
That is the extreme type of addicts. One end of the spectrum and not the complete spectrum. There are casual gamblers too how go to Vegas for a stroll and burning some cash at hand. But they dont expect to win and come back soon enough.
Gambling addiction needs a lot of interference of family in the life of a gambler along with proper medication. There are no ways that one can on his own get over the addiction.
In the extreme variety, it does need professional help but lets not make that as a general statement because it is not. Rather it follows a bell shaped curve where the maximum frequency is for those who are occasional players. They play for fun and at the most need the help of their close ones to stop them.
I have shared my story here before in one of the threads, and while I agree that I became seriously addicted to gambling I disagree with the fact that people like me cant recover, because we very well can recover if we wish to recover and thats how I recovered despite being a gambling addict.
Further @best dreams I once again disagree with your analysis that a gambler cant recover on his own, because they can and I have personally seen people who have recovered because they felt the need to do so.
Lastly in my personal opinion I feel that what youre saying maybe partially true, or you have very less experience of the gambling industry hence youre being overly judgmental in the case of addicted gamblers.