Going forward, I will drastically reduce my gambling during festive periods because I have tried for several years and it never works.
Gambling is a form of entertainment. If you go to the beach during the holidays, travel to a country for tourism, or spend time with your family and watch TV, watch movies, talk, dance. All of these things are forms of entertainment too. So there is no problem with people gambling during the holidays, as long as they always play in moderation.
Though, I don't know about you, but if someone tells me their have tried to reduce their gambling activity during holidays and they have not been able to do so, then sadly I would consider such a person to have a problem of self-control (which is the root to develop addiction to gambling in the first place).
Actually, whether it is during the holidays or not it is irrelevant, a responsible gambler and someone under control of their money and habits is supposed to stop at any time of the year if they believe to be in their best interest to do so.
Let us keep in mind we are talking about attempts of severals years, to no avail... It is a red flag on ones habits and one needs to do to change them for good.