Calling it gambling, however, is dishonest, and is popular among those who want to use that characterization to serve the purpose of denying people the opportunity to invest. For instance, despite working in startups for 20 years, regulations prevent me from being an angel investor (though it seems its common in california to simply ignore those regulations) ... because people like you think that I shouldn't be allowed to decide where to invest my money. Yet I could go to Las Vegas and blow $100k in a weekend.

So, no, it's not gambling. It's investing. And shame on you for saying otherwise.

Gambling is defined as "an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success." That's exactly what people do when they buy a stock or invest in a start-up. They just go to sites like E-trade and Schwab to do it rather than PokerStars. Unless you know of some risk-free stock where chance is not a factor (I'm all ears).

A gambling game where the house historically doesn't win (if you don't try to day trade). And historically, your money doubles in ~7 years.

> Sure, there are plenty of people who hit that jackpot too

Yes, many people hit that jackpot.

> let's not lump that together with the idea that 9-5 salary is a way to get rich.

There are many well off upper middle class that own multiple homes this way and retire at a reasonable if not early age, with a net worth that will leave substantial amounts to their kids.