Gambling is for anyone who enjoys the thrill that it offers, regardless the gender, people who still believe that gambling is only for men and not for both genders are outdated and should try getting updated.
Most of the casinos I've visited, I always see women gambling with men, and they do so well, especially in card games.
I remember a casino I used to visit every weekend to play, the best poker player in that casino was a woman.
Lol, your friend's comparison between cooking and gambling is totally wrong, cooking is an essential skill both for women and men, while gambling is simply a form of entertainment.