It doesn't mean the Gambling addicts increased, the internet enabled the Gambling more accessible for wider audience
increase in popularity also doesn’t mean it’s all thanks to addicts a lot of us here gamble does it mean we are all gambling addicts? no of course not but it doesn’t take away the fact that many people find it enjoyable to gamble
maybe you could also account that more people find gambling as a mean of income which has always been discouraged but some people manage to do it through well planned strategies which is why more people are influenced to do the same thing