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Showing results for gambling. Search instead for wambling.
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.

Dimon did say that betting on a prediction market is more similar to gambling than to investing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Prediction markets face more than 20 lawsuits across the country over whether their Yes/No bets on sports events should be subject to state gambling laws.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Arizona’s attorney general, meanwhile, has filed criminal charges against the companies behind Kalshi’s prediction markets for operating an illegal gambling business without a license and for election wagering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Though Rachel has restricted her own access to any sort of gambling sites, she does sometimes have the "pang" to go to the slot machine, but then remembers how far she has come.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

All three were worried that Bear Stearns might fail and be unable to make good on its gambling debts.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis