I'm a little confused by what you said, isn't the point being made about whether it can still be called gambling if there's no money involved? but did it predict something? this is my understanding.
Help me understand what you are saying that although it is not money we are still gambling with something worth money. Please elaborate on what you said, thank you.
No need to be confused with what other people are saying or other people's statements that are here, just with your thinking argument about what Op said.
If you think that free betting gets real prizes like the Op said and you judge it to be gambling then yes it is gambling.
But if you think it's not gambling, well it's not gambling.
Pretty simple to understand.