I think that if the author's daughter is a smart girl (I have no doubt that she is), then he can count on her being able to earn money by gambling and being able to fulfill her dreams with this income.
Teenagers need money for things and accessories, and gambling is a way out of a poor situation for a teenager, but only with a conscious approach.
I don't know if the daughter is good or bad but why not rephrase it that if the father is happy and satisfied then why he or the family feel that the daughter (or son) should remain away from gambling. Yes, the father may be saying, keeping in view his experience of losing money in gambling but the next generation usually would not stop gambling, simply because it's a risk thing. Gambling has become the time pass, a place to enjoy and try your luck and the young people are more addicted to it. I don't see any teenager or youngster keeping themselves away from gambling.