People who return to gambling after previously quitting may not necessarily be addicted to gambling, but they may return simply for entertainment. This is especially true if they stopped gambling to focus on their work, making it highly likely they'll gamble again only in their free time.
Given this situation, we can conclude that the person is not an addict. If we're talking about a gambling addict, it's impossible to stop gambling for a year. Usually, let alone a year, even a week is difficult for someone addicted to stop gambling.
When I was heavily addicted to gambling, even one day without gambling was simply an unbearable test for me. I wanted to be in the game so much that all my thoughts were only about it. I could not find a place for myself anywhere. Yes, it is painful and looks strange to others. When people do not understand the craving, it seems bizarre to them. I was exactly such an oddball. But I did not care how others looked at me. I did not attach any importance to it. It is sad that the realization did not come into my life for so long.
Those that have never been addicted won't really understand how it feels battling with addiction of any kind, and the best way to handle addiction is self exclusion, self exclusion in a way that, the addict himself will be the one to push for detachment from gambling in the end, and not those around him, since ops mentioned the victim is his friend, he can talk him into hating his addiction first as a means of withdrawal from gambling slowly.