Hi P,
For me gambling involves a stake that might be lost and the possibility of a win in exchange for putting that stake at risk. That wouldn’t be the case of course with the free slots. This is why buying a lotto ticket or whatever is classed as gambling – it involves that stake/possible win.
I agree with what others have said though, things like this are highly dangerous for a CG. If we think of the addiction as a monster asleep in the corner this would be the equivalent of poking it with a stick – sooner or later it’ll wake up and bite our ass!
Also, as you have seen, it tends not to be a positive move for gamblers. If we zone out on the free slots then we are as absent from family/life as we are when gambling. If we are escaping from issues on the free slots then those issues are will be just as unaddressed as they were when we were gambling. Finding a variety of positive ways to fill our time is a much better option.