A person who plays games of chance for money or bets on uncertain outcomes. Someone who takes risks in hopes of gaining an advantage or profit.
From 'gamble' plus agent suffix '-er.' 'Gamble' comes from obsolete 'gamel' meaning 'to play games,' from Old English 'gamen' meaning 'game, joy, fun.' The risk-taking meaning developed in the 18th century as betting became associated with gaming.
Gamblers have shaped human civilization in unexpected ways - the mathematical theory of probability was literally invented to help gamblers, leading to advances in statistics, insurance, and finance. The word captures both the allure and danger of risk-taking that defines much of human progress.
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