You know what, I believe it is one of the factor. Because whenever I visit some casinos, I often see old people playing slot machines. I am thinking to myself if they are really consistent to play that thing until they win or perhaps they just really killing their time on it. I guess their motive has that both but the factor of loneliness is more likely.
Some people take gamble as an entertainment field that can release stress from work, but mostly got addicted with gamble as they have huge of loses that affect their self-conscious to act aggressively on playing. Thus, gamble can be addicted if we can't control our emotions over loses that will lead to dissatisfaction and anxiety.