Let's start with the simple choice: Do you consider yourself to have a gambling problem affecting your happiness, security, relationships, finances, etc? (Yes or No)
No, I don't have such an issue. I've always known that gambling is not child's play and not a place to earn my living and financial freedom, so this has been helping me by preserving my mindset against what most people who are affected believe about it.
Now, here is something a bit different: Do you have a "gambling problem" which you can sometimes control for years? Either you make enough income to call it "adult play", so you do not have real problems, and/or you simply stop for a long time. Then - months or years later - it gets worse again and you are in trouble.
I don't have that issue, all I know is that I play well with my casino section of gambling but with a small amount of money, while with the sports betting that I risk higher with, I make sure that I play with wisdom and smartness. I have good account management, so there is nothing to regret here. This is made better possible because I don't depend on it.
(First question was above)
(Second question) Either way, when it's time to stop, how exactly do you do it? (For example) Change other habits, go new places, exercise more, stop drinking, simply "swear off" gambling... How exactly do you stop? Thank you.
To stop gambling perhaps due to addiction and some excessive losses, I think that Willpower is the answer here. This thing is psychological and you need the Willpower to say No. However, if you can't say no successfully by yourself, you might want to seek external help. But drinking, exercising, swearing and all that might not have the permanent solution you seek.