Gambling addicts need some help and unfortunately, they cannot help themselves to get out of the cycle without the help of others. It will take time because an addict will always seek what he is accustomed of but he or she needs to endure so that sooner, he can pull himself or herself together and start living normally.
For the boy who just turned 18 years old, he might've been a responsible gambler but he is still in a risky position because at that age, he will still have some hardships weighing the situation which in turn make a bad decision in life. It's still to soon for him to take this path and it's best for him to find another hobby because he is still studying.
Children shouldn't be allowed near gambling before a certain age but parents nowadays don't really care about these things, they don't even supervise their children after providing them with all kinds of facilities like electronic devices and internet connections and everything else they might need for gambling or being able to gamble. If they have a device with internet access and has money and also know how to access gambling platforms, what can stop them?
The only thing that can stop children from getting involved in such things is the regular supervision of the parents. They shouldn't allow them to always stay locked in their rooms and do whatever they want without even checking their devices to see what they do on them, such children will surely get spoiled.