You are doing professional gamblers a huge disservice. Most professional gamblers, especially poker and blackjack players have a much keener understanding of probabilities, edge, and bet size than 95% of pure idiots on this website who know basically nothing.
I entirely agree with you.
There's a distinct difference between the average trader here (take a look at this sub-forum alone...eek) and a professional. The idea of trading, gambling, and being an actuary are all the same. Get your money in when the odds are in your favor, keep it out when they are not. Of course, there is some extra complication (especially with actuarial science!) but in general this is true. There is a reason nearly every great trader started out a gambler and many quantitative trading firms will hire people with good gambling records. Teaching a gambler trading is easy. Teaching the average person to trade is not.
Professional gamblers know things that are very useful to traders:
1. Definition of risk - "I will only risk 1% of my capital per trade". This keeps you in the game longer to handle your variance. In poker it was critical to manage this in tournaments so you could re-buy a few times before getting blown out.
2. Understanding the odds - "I have a 65% chance and I'm being laid odds to make $100 by spending $150 - I'm in". Traders and professional gamblers look at the probability of making a trade work vs. the outlay. Not just the outlay. Many quant interview questions revolve around this idea.
3. Understanding winners can be losers - Even if the odds are in your favor you can lose. This is a critical flaw of easily 98% of traders on this forum. They look for the ultimate system with 100% accuracy. This is fear. You cannot have fear trading or gambling. I played at the local poker tournaments and cash games when I was in college. Like traders, gamblers can smell fear and exploit it.I lost many bankrolls because my betting strategy gave away I was afraid.
4. It shouldn't be "exciting" - Trading for excitement is actual gambling. You're just hitting buttons without the dings and flashing lights nor the pleasure of a cute cocktail waitress keeping your glass of whisky full while you chase bad money with good. If you find yourself emotionally invested in trading - you probably should stop trading. If not, you will find yourself doubling, tripling, and quadrupling down on a trade you know "must go right soon" and then you're living out of a box. Most traders know this in the form of "blowing up ones account". If you invest in proper risk management you will never blow up an account. Period.
5. Defined entries and exits that are systematic and rigidly followed - Read a book on blackjack systems for an idea of this. I have a few in my collection. You can learn a lot from blackjack players.
To those that don't believe me I challenge you to go to a poker room with $100 and sit down at a pot limit table. You will be short stacked. Every hand you make you have to fully invest. Internalize that feeling. Then, go back with another $300-400. You'll feel better because your bad mistakes contribute less than the times you win.