This is the simple truth, if you think about your financial status, you can hardly go wrong because at that point you will be gambling with what you can afford to lose. But if your mind is fixed on the potential win, you will not think straight because you will have the justification to do anything to achieve it. Most addicted gamblers started by looking at what they can achieve through gambling, forgetting that gambling is supposed to be mainly for passive income and not a source of income.
As a general rule, you should always have a designated budget allocated primarily for your gambling habits. If you go beyond that budget, then that should be the sign for you to stop. Not only does this act practice being financially responsible but it also keeps you grounded to reality.
With that being said, a gambler should always be mindful about their current finances every time they gamble. Instead of seeing this habit as a means of winning or profiting, you should always view this as a means of entertainment for yourself.
It is better not to put your attention too much on the potential win but everything depends on planning. Even if you think about the potential win but you plan well, you can still discipline yourself to gamble what you can afford to lose knowing that desperation will not help you achieve the target. Without putting mind on the target, there will no be much motivation to gamble after losses happen. So the target is a good motivation but it should not make us go beyond out budget to gamble.
Like what most have mentioned, having a proper plan and executing it faithfully should keep you away from being addicted easily. Lots of gamblers get overwhelmed by the profit they receive that sometimes cloud their judgement resulting in a loss in the long-run.