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

States want a role in regulating prediction markets For now, courts are crammed with litigation over whether states can regulate prediction markets — or ban them — under state gambling laws that, among other things, cover casinos and sports betting. — Marc Levy, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Kalshi brought lawsuits against two states, Nevada and New Jersey, for threatening to enforce their own gambling laws against the company. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

The line between gambling and investing is very blurry to younger generations who are inundated with favorable sports gambling marketing materials. — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Whether fans end up growing frustrated with integrity issues or not, gambling still threatens to morph devoted fandoms into dispassionate audiences. — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gambling

• anti-gambling

Rhymes for gambling

• ambling
• scrambling
• shambling