Gambling is an addiction on the other hand trading is like gambling but there is no fear in trading. Because there is very little chance of losing all the money by trading. But those who are addicted to gambling have a little more risk because all the money is at risk during gambling. I am a gambler. And trading finds many differences between the two so I think both have risks.
Gambling has two broad types in it. EV+ where your skills matter more and EV- where luck is the only thing that matters. People tend to play the latter more than the former because they are easy to start and give you the quick kick without you having to learn about it. Trading if done as spot trading is an EV+ game while any other mode of trading is EV- and this more risky.
So now you can compare the two better and make an informed decision which ones to get into. Money is at risk always but the quantum of risk is lower in spot trading.
I know several gamblers who ended up taking part in trading, even though they were beginners and it was recommended to trade spot. but more of them are more interested in futures trading. Maybe because they are used to gambling on luck, they see future trading as part of maximizing their luck rather than their skills.
Some people call trading without skills and knowledge the same as gambling. Maybe that's true because they place trading positions like placing bets in a casino.
Trading is something that you don't control but try to use your skill and strategy to see if you will make profit from it. This means that your are taking a risk to see the outcome of the market. Likewise gambling, you can only predict the predict or predict the market and you may be right or wrong. Gambling will lead to more loss no matter how you think that you are skillful in it because it is based mostly on luck. In trading, you can have your own trading strategy that works out for you and you also know how the risk management, if you become a professional, you can make more profit than you lose. The thing worst is when you allow your greed and emotion to control you when trading or gambling,you must run at loss.