As for gambling addiction, though I am [luckily] not one of them myself, so I can't know precisely how they are, I'll argue that it is not that simple. It's a serious thing that there are organizational bodies that tries to help and facilitate "detoxification". Some people probably can get over those situation themselves as they have strong will, but some needs third parties intervention to get over the situation, so I think saying it's as simple as having a mental decision to stop has a tendency of oversimplicating the issue.
I am not making fun of gambling addicts. I am not trying to be mean towards them. Saying it's a mental weakness isn't unfair or hurtful. That's the reality of the situation. Let me give you another example. If you are a full-grown man who can't lift something that is 10 or 15kg from the floor, then you are physically weak. I have never met a heathy man in my life that can't do that. To me that's a physical weakness. A weakness that is curable with training.
