> Why is it any different than betting on the stock market?

We could honestly say gambling and investments were similar - if they typically had similar outcomes.

In late 1990s, I set up two customers (in retirement) with PCs and internet. One was a day trader and the other did online casinos. After a year they were both about as good as their contemporaries.

The day trader made more money than he lost but I don't know how much.

The gambler hid his habit from his wife. He lost their entire retirement savings, maxed out their credit cards, got more cards and maxed those out - and took out 2 mortgages on their formerly paid-for house. It ended their marriage.

These truly aren't similar outcomes.