Games aren't a passive hobby, there's an active component of feedback. This a higher dopamine response compared to "passive" activities like watching sports or reading; arguably that's the only real difference.

They are capable of creating addictive tendencies as any other substance using the same dopamine reward would for certain individuals.

That and video games being a much younger medium and therefore a waste of time / for babies / the devil's siren call as society loves to berate them.

I see you've never watched a group of people scream at the television when someone fumbles the ball.

I have been in many a pub during a match, cheering on my team with others. So i can see you have never really considered others as having rich lives, we're all just a 1d background character to you, the star of the show...

Agency, is perhaps the better way or reason to describe games being more "addictive", the feedback loop of take action, get result, repeat. You'll be more invested in something you can shape.

I can cheer on my team, revel in the drama unfolding, but i have no say in how it goes.

A book can feed my imagination, lead me to consider new viewpoints or ideas, but i cannot change the fate of the characters.

Honestly, if more people wasted time on video games instead of sports gambling, I think the world would be a better place.

But yeah: video games are nerd stuff that you are allowed to make fun of. Gambling and sports betting is a bro thing and therefore cool, but seriously is as big a waste of time and probably a bigger waste of money.

I don't know anyone who watches 5.5 hours of football 7 days a week for 2 years.