Gambling can be only referred as a short cut to poverty when the gambler becomes addicted to it. Gambling addiction is very deadly and would render whoever that's addicted to it poor and financial lack which is why gamblers are always advised to gamble responsibly and to take control of their gambling engagements. So if you know you gamble responsibly, I don't think you should have any fear of becoming poor because of your gambling activities.
I will make gambling as fun and not consider it as usual activity. If someone has the ability to manage in what he have done, I think it shouldn't problem if he can handle it well. We often to see people who don't understand how to manage it so that bankrupt and blame them if they cheat, and drain their money away. So, what gamblers have done now is how do they play is, it depends also on his educational qualifications and social skills, if both of these are lower it will also affect with the way they play.