Addiction is a very powerful thing. It doesn't matter what a person is addicted to; regardless of what it is, a person needs to be mindful of it. They also need to recognize the symptoms so they can take steps to address it. The most powerful thing about addiction is denial which causes a person to not only ignore it, but prove to themselves and everyone how fine they are.
The symptoms of addiction are a lack of control and lack of discipline. If a person is an alcoholic this will mean that they will always have the urge to drink. In turn they will always be drinking. They will be drinking at ridiculous times of the day such as 9 in the morning and find that they can't go long periods of the day without drinking. They need to drink to get through the day.
An addiction to betting is no different. A person will find they always have an urge to bet. They will find it hard to watch a sporting event without having some money on it. They will sense that something is missing unless they have had a bet. Things are going to be particularly stressful on the weekend when the majority of sport is played.
The danger of the addiction shouldn't be determined by how well a person's betting does. The fact that someone is a winner and is very wealthy as a result of it shouldn't justify it. Obviously it is more serious if someone has lost significant sums of money. Society seems to take a view that the ends justify the means, but this isn't a healthy approach.
For instance an addict might find they are making crazy bets just to turn things around. They have unfathomable amounts of money riding on an event. This makes things very stressful and will take a toll on them. Their blood pressure will surely take a beating.
Similarly an addict will bet on things they don't know anything about. It could be a game of soccer in Hungary, a cricket match in Sri Lanka or a game of Australian football. It doesn't matter what it is as long as the thrill and buzz is felt. This is when you know you have issues.
Like any addiction you have to keep upping the ante just to feel that same thrill. With higher stakes come the ability to fall harder. This is when you should be concerned. This is when you should be worried that things have gone too far. If your family and friends are worried about you, then you should listen to them instead of fighting them.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with betting and having a punt here and there. As long as you are always in control - as long as you are doing it because you want to and not because you have to. That is the difference between a person who is having some fun and a person who finds themselves in a precarious position.