It is difficult to ask for a helping hand when you hide from the closest people that you play gambling. It is not that hard to become a gambling addict. If you ask any gambling addict how he got into such a situation, it is very likely that he will either not admit that he has any problems, or will say that he does not understand how it happened.
The closest people will know that you gamble no matter how it will be hidden they must know it, now imagine gambling is almost everyone knows even though they never play for example.
There will be more people covering up their shame than saying that they are addicted, which is clear that they know how to do it, they just don't explain that they also have the same problem.