At 25 you're perfectly capable of making your own fun time, take advantage of that!
Obviously your mom cannot give you that, if there is any way for you to understand that she would if she could, that would be better for you. Believe me - no parent is a bad parent by choice or just by accident. There is always an even worse parent of that parent behind the scenes... Have you seen the t-shirt that says "It's actually all my grandmother's fault" or something along those lines? It's funny yet it's true - a bad mom is usually a child of an even worse mom.

You're the one who is noticing the problems, so you be the one who will stop the vicious circle. Be loving first towards yourself, and that way you'll be happier, and also - that's the only way you'll learn to give that happiness to your own child some day. Your mom doesn't know how to love you, because she never learned to love herself. Believe me that if you had her childhood, you'd almost certainly have the same problem...

As for not being addicted to gambling - great, and remember that just like drugs, gambling can all to easily become an addiction; or it certainly will, given an opportunity. Since there is nothing good that comes out of even "trying just once", better not to ever try it (millions before you "tried just once" only to become addicted). So, start loving yourself by promising never to go gambling. There are so many more fun things to do then just gambling. I mean, gambling is really for loosers; you can't really win (there's a better chance of getting killed by lightning), so what does that make one? A looser!

Why not rent some favorite comedy, or take a trip to some nice place in some other state (check out places that are amazing to see for anyone like Niagara Falls or Yosemite Valley or the famous "brickyard" - Indianapolis race track, or Death Valley, or Golden Gate bridge, or the famous San diego zoo... so many things, so much to do, that life's almost too short for it all! There's no time to waste on stupid things. Or you can just walk to your local music store or bookstore and browse a little, who knows what you'll find. Or just try taking a walk in a nice park, for no reason, but to see how it is. Do it without thinking. Leave worries and anger outside of park, and promise yourself that those will be a few minutes when you'll just enjoy your surroundings...

Hugs and kisses

me

ps. ...and choose friends wisely - only those who never put you down and really appreciate you need apply :-)

I like the following advice, but I can also see an issue within yourself, of feeling put down by your mother, and she treating you like as child.

One way of getting to know yourself and your mother, and for that matter anyone else is to study Transactional Analysis (TA). It shows you how people communicate with one another and how we tend to react to other people. Basically it all comes down to a good self-image and self-confidence to be able to handle other people. Please study:

Summary of the self-help psychotherapy course at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#PSYCHO...

in its entirety. It looks at biological as well as "pychological" factors that helps a person to achieve their full potentials. After eliminating biological handicaps, it concentrates on the self-image as being at the core of one's personality affecting most departments of life, social interactions with others and includes an assertiveness training program, articles on communication leading to significant relationships and values clarification. It gives an insight into oneself as well as of other people, providing one with the tools to establish satisfying relationships.