Gambling just seem like a two edged sword, you're winning and don't want to stop and you're loosing and chasing to recover them. It sure have a way of controlling the mindset of the individual but then this is a more reason it's hard to let go of gambling,overtime people have made the decisions to but they find themselves wanting more and doing more of it.
I also agree with the analogy you said about gambling, but all gamblers can definitely stop when their capital has run out even though it may only be for a moment before they return to the same thing, gambling. This means that all gamblers can actually control themselves when they want to gamble because gambling does not have to be done every day and there is no need to be forced to do it again after losing. But what I see is not everyone is able to apply this when they have lost because maybe their addiction and emotions have been so inflamed towards gambling.