It is not surprising since we can see how easy gambling access is in America and it makes more people gamble than investing because it is easier and faster for them to access. It also offers a chance for someone to change their life overnight, even when the chances are small and the results are much faster, compared to hoping for investment in stocks. Things like that are strong reasons why many people put their hopes in betting on sports in order to get rewards that they can use to meet their needs or other things in the midst of a difficult economy.
some people even consider investing to be more risky compared to gambling
Who does that? There is no way investment can be a lot more risky compared to gambling. Have you considered the differences? Gambling has no guarantee for success and when you lose in a bet you lose completely the amount used in staking. When investing you can watch your investment and if you invest in the right asset after gaining knowledge in it you are more likely to be successful in your investment. In investment, you can gain huge knowledge that will work for you when you apply it. I don't think it is possible in gambling. There is no level of knowledge in gambling that can guarantee you success.