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Synonyms

gambling

American  
[gam-bling] / ˈgæm blɪŋ /

noun

  1. the activity or practice of playing at a game of chance for money or other stakes.

  2. the act or practice of risking the loss of something important by taking a chance or acting recklessly.

    If you don't back up your data, that's gambling.


Etymology

Origin of gambling

gamble + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Americans have always been of two minds about gambling, writes Mr. Funt.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prediction markets, which Robinhood added to its platform in March 2025, are gaining increasing interest on Wall Street as they threaten to upend the gambling industry.

From The Wall Street Journal

Markets are increasingly defined by gambling products that turn investing into short-term games.

From Barron's

Others have taken exception to him taking part in an advert for a major gambling company and monetising what was meant to be a charitable gesture.

From BBC

And there could be some tax benefits to using prediction markets over traditional sportsbooks, although tax and legal experts are still debating whether sports-related event contracts on prediction sites count as are gambling or investments.

From MarketWatch