For it to be gambling, it would have to involve kids actually betting money on it. Some do, but that was never the actual goal. By this logic, literally every card game ever made is gambling from the jump, because all these companies want to make money.
dimes disparuI do understand the hate for scalpers and the Pokemon card economy, but let’s be real here. The whole thing was always essentially gambling for children, encouraging mindless consumerism for heaps of plastic. The artistry behind them is nice but it’s never been some noble hobby