It has everything to do with it. There's an incredibly large difference between matching your skills against another person (or bookie) and coming away victorious.. and betting on whether or not a coin lands on heads or tails. Slots, roulette, etc. That's gambling (and there is a time, place, and attitude for it to be acceptable). Poker, sports betting, etc. are skill based and those who profit from them profit for a reason.. and it's not luck. It all boils down to (imo) using skills to earn money vs betting on a coin toss. When research, effort, practice, and dedication come into play.. it's sport or work.. and not gambling. I don't really see anything wrong with gambling to begin with, though. Never seen a good argument against it.