Poker and sports betting have a huge difference. It is not 100% certain you will lose long term. Thus can be pleasurable to me. Certain loss simply can't be and that's why I am curious
Is betting your job or an entertainment for you? If you see it as a job, a means to make money, I feel like that's unhealthy.
When I go see a movie, even if the money is "lost", I still enjoy it. You go to the movie for the emotion it makes you feel, just like you bet for the emotion it makes you fell. It's the trill, the chance of seeing big wins.
At the end of the day, casino can be actually quite cheap if you don't bet too high and there's free drinks too usually ;).
Sure that emotion is simulated, you won't actually win money. The same is true for the emotions you feel during a movie. The fear you may feel in a horror movie isn't real, you aren't in any danger.
In both case though the emotion is really there and that's what you pay for.
That's exactly why loot boxes are essentially gambling even though you get no monetary gains from it. It plays on the sames emotions, the same thrill.
It's really fun to spend money that you feel just fell from the sky. If you employ the right strategy you will still come out ahead 40-45% of the time, and those times can be quite memorable and fun.
You will definitely take losses in the long run but if you play well within your means, they won't have any impact on your life.