Using fake money gambling application might be a good platform to curb gambling addiction but it would fail if there is no will power or determination to quit. Like you rightly pointed out mate that these application was mainly designed to improve gambling skills and experience. It might serve as a tool of increasing the addiction. After using the application to master some skills, most addicts might want to apply those skills to real gambling. Its just like advising a sex addict to curb his sexual drive by watching pornography.
Good point, but in the end you messed it up - studies show that the availability of pornography reduces the number of sex crimes. It turns out that this serves as a relevant replacement.This will not work in gambling - compare your emotions from, for example, losing (or winning) a million fake dollars and real ones. I think the difference is huge.
Great point. Some urges can be compared to a dam that's struggling to hold water or a contracting spring and sexual tension is just like that. You can release it in many ways, for instance by masturbating and it's proven that without masturbation many "normal" people wouldn't be able to function in a society because their needs are so high that it's difficult to fulfill them in a normal relationship.
Gambling is different. It's not a tension, but rather alcohol that brings you pleasure every time you get a small dose, but you can overdose it and feel bad the next day. You can't satisfy a drunkard or a drug addict by letting them smell alcohol or drugs or play a drinking game. They need the real thing.