If someone has already accepted their gambling addiction and managed to stop gambling, it is synonymous with willpower.
But the paradox is that if you have the strength and conviction to stop gambling, anyone could come to the conclusion: "Why not just control it and that's it, without needing to quit gambling completely?".
Which brings us to this questions:
Is it harder to control gambling or limit it without falling into excess than to stop gambling forever?
Why is the effective strategy not moderation but absolute abstinence?
It's harder for a once addicted gambler to control their gambling habits so it's good if they quit at first, taking some time off is the best first step as an addict, give it some time and do other things, there will be enough time to think if you can handle or control gambling or not.
The first win step is quitting, thousands of gamblers can't even quit in peace, they hate gambling for a day and after two days they start to feel like gambling again, if any addicted gambler can make up his or her mind then they already won.
What should come next is decision about how to control gambling or stay a quit forever, the truth is gambling ain't for everyone, many people don't know this until they fall victim to the addiction part of gambling before they realize.