If we take the story from the average gambler's side, they may find it difficult to become responsible gamblers because from the start they have the desire to make a lot of money so they are out of control and they feel how easy it is to earn money just by sitting and playing games (if they are lucky) so that over time they become addicted, just like the point you mentioned about passive smokers, if they have become passive smokers, it will be difficult to stop, but if they have the intention to be responsible, that desire will overcome their addiction, but gradually.
If a passive smoker does not start smoking, he will never become addicted, and he will always have the choice to change the environment to stop breathing smoke if he does not want to. The same with gambling, I do not see a reason that would prevent you from being a responsible player from the very beginning, and there is no need to say that inexperienced players are more susceptible to addiction, this is not true because I was able to approach gambling responsibly from the very beginning, control the bankroll bets and do everything to not lose more than I planned.