As mentioned in this topic, younger generation are also influenced by gambling to the exntent wherein reliance do now exist in their life. It became a culture- as it sounded to me. There's no right or wrong culture for sure but if it is based with greed, I can say that it is just a manifestation of wrongdoings. It is no longer solely to playing or act of gambling but their reliance to the prize from doing so which puts more weigh into such activity, and on the latter, makes them more affected of the outcome.
You are right with the smokers example you gave and how they quickly make friends but you have to know that smokers are not braggers. Gamblers are braggers. That is where the difference is. It is very hard for those who brag alot to remain in peace when they meet with those who also brag. This is what happens most times when gamblers meet.
I doubt with bragging. Gamblers are also sharing commonalities which makes them good friends, try to observe in a casino. They are all going along at first and things are just changing to worse once it is money which is in the 'middle'. Once there are people losing huge amounts, the tension will change. Far different with the comparison on vices wherein there's no such thing involved; only killing time. So I'm guessing this is quite irrelevant.