[JackThree]

addiction is generally a coping mechanism that is used to avoid/ignore something negative, fear/pain/whatever

so solving the addiction problem doesn't have much to do with what they are addicted to but more with what they are trying to avoid by escaping into it(which could very well be perpetuated by "telling them how stupid they are very condescendingly") if that's what they're escaping from

but it's also wise to try to move a gambling addiction to something else(world of warcraft?) to keep it from being so self-detrimental.

anyway hope this helps

good luck