I agree with your opinion and all of that, if it is based on really big intentions and determination then I am sure that even a crazy gambling addict can stop and recover from his addiction.
But the problem is there is this intention because it is difficult to have the intention and persistence to be able to stop and most gambling addicts really want to recover but when they try it they are tempted again to play games or bets that they have previously loved.
Saying how to stop gambling is easier than we imagine and of course to be able to get through all the challenges to stop is very difficult.
In my opinion, I think being gambler addict is a choice likewise abstaining from it is a choice. To me, I believe majority of the gamblers have no intention of quitting despite the pressure from friends and families. There's no manual for quitting gambling but at least there are known practices that's working for many people in controlling their gambling addiction. Some of these practices involved keeping yourself busy in the midst of people who not into gambling, minimize your access to betting platforms and of course reduce holding of funds.
Being a gambling addict is normal but gambling without sense is abnormal because from the original post, no sensible person will indulge in such a barbaric act like the said old man did. I felt for the little child and the mother.
I agree that stopping your addiction is actually a choice but the problem is that the choice is really hard to make and its not that they don't actually want to stop or they don't know that this act can destroy them, its just that some of them lack the will power to actually stop this habit because an addiction is really hard to stop especially gambling and drug addiction and most people are even an addict of both.