1 [no obj] : to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions : to bet money or other valuable things
▪ I like to gamble. ▪ He's been drinking and gambling heavily. ▪ gambling at cards — often + on ▪ She likes to gamble on football games. 2 [+ obj] a : to risk losing (an amount of money) in a game or bet
▪ He would often gamble hundreds of dollars on a hand of poker.
b : to risk losing (something valuable or important) in order to do or achieve something
▪ She gambled [=risked] everything she owned to start the business. — often + on ▪ The company is gambling [=betting, risking] everything on this strategy. 3 : to do something that could have the good result that you want or a bad result that you cannot control [no obj] ▪ The mayor is gambling with the city's future. ▪ people who lost money gambling in the stock market — often + on ▪ Many people are willing to gamble on the new treatment. [=are willing to try the new treatment because they hope it will help them] [+ obj] ▪ The mayor is gambling that the new policies will help rather than hurt the city.