Many young people spend their free time playing online games, but when they grow up they realise that they have wasted it. I would advise you to devote part of your free time to self-education, which would further help to stand more firmly on his feet and get a high-paying job that you like. In today's world, you can work online as much as you like.
Gambling is kind of mind controlling act which will never get you to think about getting out of it for any other activities which including self education or anything. So, once you get into gambling you will never think about improving your self in terms of knowledge or physically or anything. So, preventing gambling before getting into would be the only solution it seems it is available for all of us.
I agree most people after growing up, realizing that they have wasted time with gambling but when they are young, even some people are guiding, they are not ready to listen which is the reason for the later-on regrets.