Assuming the only cost is money.

A $5 bet can take the whole evening.

Following a bet can be part of the enjoyment. A game you wouldn’t otherwise care about suddenly matters.

It can also mean refreshing your phone at dinner, half-listening to someone, or staying up for a result when you need to be awake early. The size of the stake doesn’t tell you how much attention it takes.

You might notice that watching without a bet has become boring, or that a losing ticket ruins a game you would otherwise have enjoyed.

Those changes matter even if the money is affordable or you’re winning overall. Deciding gambling is taking more of your time than you want is enough reason to change what you’re doing.