Gambling has both good and bad aspects, but because the bad side is more reflected in the society than the good side, people identify gambling as bad. But among the good aspects of gambling, it is considered as an important means of passing idle time. But when a lonely person feels helpless then only gambling can give him some relief from loneliness and he can find himself in gambling. When a lonely person spends time gambling, he will no longer feel helpless and lonely.
I'm in line with your points, but at the same time, what people are stereotypically inclined with should nevertheless be approached cautiously. But if you look around you, those who are causing the stereotypes of gambling are not changing their ways, that's the issue. I believe generally that when people are facing issues/mistakes, the first case(s) could be a mistake but when it is being repeated, it is no more mistake but their fault or who they really are. That is what I view about gambling as well, if many are dealing with it wrongly, changing their ways should be the best approach here so that it will stop all these bad names that are being meted out to gambling. Sadly. the reverse is the case.
Gambling on its own is not bad and is even beneficial in some ways, and it is even an extra activity that is socially inclined. But people are engaging in it wrongly, how nonsensical could that be? I often wonder what people could think or how could they be weak to the point that they allowed themselves to be controlled by gambling to an extent. Above all, this can't be the fault of gambling, and most importantly, I maintain that everything about it can't be bad, it only depends on the preparedness and smartness of the gamblers in engaging it. If done well, it will be positive overall.