i dont think there's a answer to this question. A few gamblers doesnt have limits.
like the guy from your post who lost wife and children(LOL).
i'm playing with some risk management, trying to avoid to lose more than i can afford, but it's hard to keep it.... every time i have a few losses in a row, my mind wants to raise bets to recover my losses(and that's how you lose everything).
In gambling lose is major problem, on one could say that he has no lose in gambling, every gambler get lose, but talk is that few gamblers get lose more and few gamblers get lose in a less amount.
And as you tell, you could afford your lose, so it is best way to play gambling. If we afford our lose, than definitely gambling not bad for us. I also manage my lose in gambling, that's why i am still happy to being a gambler.