Could stock trading benificial for the small investors, if so give idea to purchase stocks and the period?

This game always favors those in control of the stock rather than ordinary investors.
Today they decide the stock is up and tomorrow it is down.
These master gamblers are super rich while ordinary investors are loosing their money.
Is stock trading not a gambling affairs?
What exactly are we buying apart from the speculations of the stock traders?
Just lost 20 k and not sure to whom?
Should anyone still be buying these people’s speculations?