-snip-
Yes, it is very easy to turn trading into a gambling game and it will depend on the trader's attitude to trading. And if a trader does not adhere to a trading strategy, violates risk management, then such trading will be comparable to casino, where the result depends on luck, not knowledge.
Without skills and knowledge - trading is definitely called gambling.
Traders don't rely solely on price volatility, even though it's what can generate profits. Analysis is necessary and they need to study several indicators to determine the best time to buy. Traders who are called gamblers rely solely on luck - meaning no analysis, just buying randomly and waiting for the results. So I have to agree that traders and gamblers are fundamentally different.
Trading is hugely dependent on luck. Doesn't matter how much analysis you make, if you are not a whale or if you are not lucky, then you won't make it. I've been in situations where I've really done a very good analysis of the market but the price somehow went significantly up or significantly down and this led me to huge loss on futures market (I know that I shouldn't trade on futures, especially with increased leverage with long or short positions).
I changed my attitude and now I only trade few times in years. Trading has a very simple rule, buy low sell high. I am very patient and I wait enough to buy low, then I wait enough to sell high and when I am not 100% confident, I don't touch anything and wait for months to catch the best moment, that's how I've been very profitable in the last few years.
I would say that it isnt that totally relying on luck but sort of on which there are those moments or times that no matter how good your analysis would be but still it ends up on losing just because the market did go into the opposite side and thats what it makes totally random and unpredictable or something which isnt that very easy for someone to handle on. The risks will be that always there and it would be that up to you on how you would be gonna handling it out. It all matters about on how you would be that consistent and on how well you do make out those proper risks management on which we know that this will be that causing up for you to be able to sustain this very unpredictable and random space. Just like we do all know that on the time or moment that you do become that a profitable and consistent trader then you would definitely change up your life forever and this is where traders do really want to achieve or wanting up to hit up that goal on which of course not would be that ending up on successful on which there are still those tons of people who do messed up their lives because of failing but it doesnt mean that you would hinder yourself on taking up the chance on doing so just because you've been able to see other people or traders experience.