So am just curious to know if these little games are the one's that got to him or already developed such habit and to know if possible that the practice will continue elsewhere after leaving there when he lost the money and to look for means through gambling to recover it.
The person or people in question's gambling history should be traced. You can't tell me that the little get-together game is what led them to that level; it's not convincing to me.
Either one of them or one of them is a chronic gambler who wants to show off in every little opportunity they get, which is why they decided to take the game to a whole different level without even thinking about how others will view and look at their action.
Just like we have persons who love to argue alot and be right all the time, so also we do have gamblers that don't even know they are addicted until they start playing and can't help but want to win so badly despite the scenerio or environment they are in.
For fun amongst friends, no real cash should be used and also no expensive gifts to be won, else there will be an unhealthy competition that would ensue and well, we know how humans become desperate to win freebies in any situation because of also the economic situation of many countries too.