Traditionally someone that defines themselves as a gambler could be seen as a bit reckless, but that's probably because they've defined themselves around a losing proposition for 99% of people. Someone that gambles occasionally in their free time might never mention it, as it's just one of many activities they partake in - tennis, video games, gardening, etc. Some people think it is cool to be defined as a gambler, but unless you are a profitable poker player making an income from it, there are very few other avenues for you to have long term success. It's not even a hobby like collecting coins or stamps, where you find it interesting and some of the value might be retained and maybe grow over time. It's not really a label that most people find respect in because of these reasons.
I’ve been playing for many years, with different frequency. I used to play much more often, now I do it way less. But I’ve never considered myself any kind of significant player, and I’ve never told anyone about it. Maybe the people closest to me know that sometimes I might place a bet or two, but they all understand that for me it’s just another hobby, because by nature I’m a passionate person.
And since I have more than one hobby, and all of them require my time, from time to time I switch from one to another. Some of my hobbies bring me much bigger profit, so I naturally dedicate more time to them as well. I believe this is the right position in life, if no one knows that you play, then no one will ever judge you for it.