[gfodor]

Some people can go to Vegas once every couple of years and forget about gambling when they fly home, too. Does this make gambling any less "inherently" addictive for those who are susceptible to it? Most people don't get addicted to pain killers, but some do. Addictive substances by their very nature are a game of probabilities dependent upon the person involved, their temperament, and the availability of what they're addicted to. (Some things obviously more addictive to more people than others.)

In 10 years time certain types of video games that leverage addictive elements to hook users will be widely understood to be just as addictive as your average slot machine. They will have comparable awareness groups, treatment programs, etc as those seen for gambling or prescription drug abuse.