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.
The moment anyone becomes addicted they see it as a means of getting out of poverty and some might get lucky but out of 10 is only 2 get that kind of luck and now that the economy of the country is not even suitable and that is why you see that the number of people gambling have increased recently because majority are looking for a way out of poverty and if you are looking for a way out I don't think that gambling should be the way out of perverty it does not work thay way, you gamble for the fun of it and the money you get from it so their is no way you can over do things when it comes to gambling because the amount you might spend might be more than what you will get so, we that love gambling are only doing it for fun, but when you lose that money to be won they you will know the true color of gambling.
I came across this question that explains why it is so naive and foolish to think that gambling can be a source of wealth:
People go to Las Vegas all the time to gamble their money in the hope of winning the jackpot, and in fact, many people do. So how do casinos still make money if so many people are winning the jackpots?
The answer is that even though people are winning the jackpots, the casinos are still profitable in the long run because they collect more money from the people who don’t win. This is where the expression “The house always wins” comes in.
The truth is that casinos are just very rich statisticians. They know that in the long run, they will be the ones making money, not the gamblers.