Not all MLM can make you lose money. Direct selling companies that take advantage of MLM can make their dealer get profit. Direct selling often focuses on product selling so they always give huge discounts and promotional items monthly for their dealer or agent to earn money through product selling, if they failed to refer people for passive income. Don't be mistaken between illegal pyramid company that uses MLM scheme from legit MLM company. If you want to earn profit in legit MLM companies, hardwork is needed.
But still, we can't compare both gambling to each other, yes we can spend money in both things and we can be lose more money than we gains. I am really not a fan of MLM since I don't want to talk to people and offer some business. In gambling, there's a lower chance you will be fall into someone's trap because you will play a game wherein you can do it by yourself while in MLM you need to be invited so that you will be under in one person.
I like your expression concerning this gambling we do play because i noticed that some people just go into gambling because they want to gamble. Gambling is base on the place you feel that is best and suitable to you. I like to gamble where people no like to gamble so that my discovery of good platform is what people will use to make much ways.