played games of chance for money, or took a risky action hoping for a favorable outcome.
From Middle English 'gamble,' possibly from 'game' combined with 'gamble' or from Old Norse origins. The word evolved from literal game-playing to the metaphorical sense of taking risks.
The brain's response to gambling is neurologically similar to drug addiction—the anticipation of reward floods the brain with dopamine, which is why casinos are designed to maximize that uncertainty and anticipation.
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