My parents raised me and taught me that gambling is too bad for everyone though he has money to gamble and he's supporting himself and as well his hobby which is gambling.
Who knows if this can be changed in the future, we are now living in the generation where bad becomes good and vice versa.
On the contrary, my father was a gambler and my mom, well, she plays occasionally but to have some fun. But both of them have raised our beautifully, although the influence of gambling didn't put significant dent on our family relationship and as far as I know I'm the only one who 'inherited' my fathers' gambling habit. Its being seen as negatively though by a lot of society simply because its bring more harm inside a family, (addicted father reflecting on the kids) so it only makes sense the its being frown by the community. But I was very lucky that even though my parents sort of a gamblers, we have been raised and finished our education.
Your father is responsible and different from the usual addicted gamblers since he took off his family and raised you well as kids to adults so good job and thumbs up for your dad.