1 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc:
[V] to gamble at cards / on the horses * [VN] I gambled all my winnings on the last race.
2 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk losing sth in the hope of being successful:
[VN] He's gambling his reputation on this deal. * [V] It was wrong to gamble with our children's future.
gambler noun:
He was a compulsive gambler (= found it difficult to stop).
PHRASALVERBS
gamble sth<->away to lose sth such as money, possessions, etc. by gambling:
Every weekend he drinks and gambles away his earnings.
gamble on sth / on doing sth to take a risk with sth, hoping that you will be successful:
He gambled on being able to buy a ticket at the last minute.
noun [sing.] an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success:
She knew she was taking a gamble but decided it was worth it. * They invested money in the company right at the start and the gamble paid off (= brought them success). * It was the biggest gamble of his political career.
