gambling

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

Examples of gambling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, in Florida, a brawl broke out between the crews of Lil Tjay and Offset, supposedly over a gambling debt, which ended with Offset hospitalized with a bullet wound and Tjay doing a surreal post-jail interview that felt like a Real Housewives confessional. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026

The Chicago Bulls and the entire NBA are still reeling in the aftermath of a league-redefining gambling scandal. —Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Since 2024, both Loyola Maryland and Coppin State men’s basketball have been involved in gambling scandals involving players. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026

Instead, individual states are responsible for their own gambling commissions to set the rules. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gambling

• anti-gambling

Rhymes for gambling

• ambling
• scrambling
• shambling