The result is the same, but the path differs. I doubt addiction appears out of nowhere. First some kind of reason for an activity is needed. Real casino - chanc

The result is the same, but the path differs. I doubt addiction appears out of nowhere. First some kind of reason for an activity is needed. Real casino - chance to win, big fish casino - social status within the club. In both cases the addiction seems to be self-reinforcing: A chance to win all the lost money back vs. not wanting to lose the status that was so expensive to reach. Individuals are intelligent, but groups of people create peer pressure, and individuals become capable of the most stupid behavior imaginable. Just wasting money isn't even the most extreme form.