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

Mike Mulrooney, founder of Shirley’s Way, one of Kentucky’s largest charitable gambling organizations, said the nonprofit raised around $5 million in 2024 and was on track to raise $6 million in 2025. —Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025

Amid such pushback, DeWine and others now view voluntary buy-in from leagues, players’ unions and sportsbooks as a superior approach to pursuing gambling restrictions on a state-by-state basis, where the authority lies. —Julie Carr Smyth, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025

Legendary Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is scheduled to place one of Missouri’s first legal bets on sports on Monday to mark the state’s rollout of sports gambling. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025

He is prohibited from gambling and can have no contact with other defendants or alleged victims. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gambling

• anti-gambling

Rhymes for gambling

• ambling
• scrambling
• shambling