There is no reason to be too afraid of becoming addicted to gambling, the only thing you need to do is to set a budget for your gambling activities and then you respect it and never go above it, and as long as you do this then the chances of becoming addicted to gambling are zero, however if you notice that you are gambling more money than what you have assigned at your budget in a consistent basis then you know that you need to stop as at that point you will be experimenting the first signs of gambling addiction.
Anything that is done excessively, will have a bad impact. likewise with gambling. I think, if a person gambles only according to his portion. then, he will be free from things that lead to addiction. Addiction can infect anyone, including people who are very experienced. the point is self-mastery, and what matters is what you do the gambling session for. if to get additional results, or side job. then obviously, someone will gradually become an addict. I think gambling is part of the fun in today's era, with modern methods of entertainment. without having to go to a land casino, we can access it even if only at home. Unfortunately, most people are too complacent and without realizing that this activity is very risky.
Addiction can hit anytime. Even if the gambler plays what he can afford to lose if he left his self unchecked, he will eventually succumb to the temptation and possibly become addicted to gambling. So the best thing to do to avoid gambling is to have ourselves in check. We must reflect on our actions if we are still in control or the urge to gamble overwhelm us.
As in the case of the Op, who titled his first try at gambling. this is where most of the problems occur. Gambling is fun, also very entertaining. the first time someone tries, there will be a second time and so on. starting from the smallest bet, to betting a large amount. Unfortunately, it is rarely accompanied by understanding and responsibility. if someone has it, he will automatically have good self-control. when is it time to indulge in a gambling session, and when is it time to call it quits.
There is always this first time and I believe for most of us, our first time is a gain making us to try gambling again. Or if lost we try to chase our losses. It is always an interesting thing to have a first hand experience of gambling and the fun and interests that we got from that first try is always the factor why we keep on coming back.