It really depends on the person itself. People are influenced by their environment but the most deciding thing is the self control of the individual.
Gambling is gives you multiple opportunities to learn from your mistakes. If you don't it's a threat to your economy and mental health.
If you can, it's a good way to have fun, socialize and stay occupied.
Apart from all that, gambling will still be an attempt for gamblers to make a profit and indeed, it all depends and goes back to the intentions of each different individual but basically, no gambler wants to get a threat from gambling and therefore gambling is basically for generate profit even though you think of it as entertainment and for fun but it all depends on how you manage it, because when you can't manage it well then gambling might make a threat to your life.
Agree, it always depend and people that usually play gambling don't want threat from it. People are avoiding threats but at the same time staying at the place where a threat is possible to happen. People are still being optimistic that they can earn and be entertained on gambling, they remove the threat on their mind 'cause they're enjoying on it.
It's like the law of attraction, if you want to have some fun and don't want to gain any problems, think it as for entertainment and just enjoy it.