It is common for gamblers to play deafness to advice especially if it is coming from someone who doesn't gamble at all or who gambles seldomly. I am having the notion the brother to the gambler might also be a gamble and knows how to make his brother listen to him about his addictions. It takes an experienced and trained person to talk an addict out of their addiction.

When something grows into an addict it takes extra discipline to break out of it. And to make an addict see reason with you the words of conviction must be full of experience, less of condemnation and packed with encouragement.