The way stocks are meant to work, it isn't gambling. It is an investment in a company in order to help them grow and gain a return from that.

The way people use it now, it is gambling.

As a futures trader, I can confirm that trading futures is gambling. Like poker, if you know what you're doing, you can make a living. Most people can't make a living playing poker, and 95% of traders are not profitable.

it's educated gambling where the house has significantly less of an edge (or at least appears to)