gambling

1 of 2

noun

gam·​bling ˈgam-b(ə-)liŋ 

: the practice or activity of betting : the practice of risking money or other stakes in a game or bet

illegal gambling

compulsive gambling

Then, within the past 18 months, after the explosion in Internet gambling … and the cable TV debut of the World Poker Tour, the game took off again.

—Walter Kirn

—often used before another noun

a gambling game

gambling regulations

a gambling empire

gambling

2 of 2

present participle of gamble entry 1

Examples of gambling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Prediction markets have been racing to win over the sports-betting and gambling industries’ customers, executing aggressive ad campaigns to expand their influence. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Since the Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports wagering in 2018, sportsbooks have expanded into dozens of markets, turning professional sports into a lucrative business for gambling operators, advertisers and media companies. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2026

Wilbon clarified that his issues don’t involved gambling or alcoholism. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

The federal agency provides safe harbor from state gambling laws—a sharp contrast to how the CFTC handled things under Joe Biden—and has taken an active role in litigation on the side of Kalshi and Polymarket. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gambling

• anti-gambling

Rhymes for gambling

• ambling
• scrambling
• shambling