It was meant for entertainment because people are selected to participate in it with no money involved. I think your friend was right because it was really for entertainment that was brought by the game show, and even if it has some elements of gambling, it doesn't mean it was gambling. Can you say that head and tail selection to start a match is gambling when, in fact, it was just to select who gets to start first?
Well, you might be right, as the game show has now turn to gambling and it seems that people are really enjoying it to be what it is now because they don't treat it like a fun anymore, they preferred it to be a source of income of them, even though they are aware of the risks involved and also know that the chances of losing are pretty much that winning, yet, they won't relent as they have made up their minds to make money out it, despite that its still important for gamblers to always do the necessary thing, as its the only means they can experience peace.