Loneliness, otherwise isolation is very bad because so far as you're always alone all the time there are some bad thoughts that would be running through your mind more especially if you're losing bets because sometimes you can run into depression and even make an attempt to take your own life but when you're mixed with people, maybe gamblers and you also see some persons that are also in same category with you, it makes you calm down and move on in times of challenges so basically, not only in gambling but in life, being too isolated is a bad attitude that can ruin ones life in a lifetime so no matter what you're experiencing or going through, loneliness isn't the best option.
Sometimes taking a little bit of time to be on your own can be a good thing as we also need our space from time to time, but if this is something we encounter continuously then it can easily affect us as well, in view of this we need to keep a balance between both postures, and try to spend some time with the company of other people, but also take the time to be on our own as this is the best approach that we can take for our personal development.
Having that balance will allow you to cope up with loneliness, it's not an easy task though as we know that it can triggered depressions
but we should not resort ourselves to something that may cause more problem in life.
If we can find ways to stay surrounded by people we love or find something that will eliminate that loneliness.
In a short run, maybe gambling can bring you a temporary entertainment but resorting to this venue, it would be an easy way also to
trigger addiction, as sooner or later you will find yourself interpreting addiction as only part of your entertainment.
I think it really depends on what they want and what they will choose to do when they are in a lonely situation, after all for someone who has never gambled for example it is unlikely that they will immediately think of gambling when they are in a lonely situation, It is more likely that they will play online games on their gadgets and not include gambling or call one of their friends to accompany them, and for people who choose to engage in gambling I think they have previously tried gambling and on the other hand I think their goal is not only to seek pleasure but also with curiosity based on a victory, such as pitting their luck on luck.
So I think it's about choice, after all there are many other activities that can be entertaining but without risk, such as playing the games I mentioned above or maybe watching a netflix series to fill their empty time.
Yes, if in the end they have to allocate their time to gambling then addiction does not happen immediately because everything will go gradually, it requires a change in mindset and point of view first and if this activity is done in the long run every time they feel lonely then obviously in the end addiction is something they will definitely experience.