Reverse Dictionary: GAMBLE

ADJECTIVES
► BAGGED of a race or game of chance: prearranged, with predetermined results, ‘in the bag’ → 1942 Amer. sl.
► DUSTED injured; beaten in a gambling game → 1970 US sl. (Bk.)
► FLASH relating to gamblers and followers of boxing and racing → colloq.
► ODDS-ON in gambling: having better than an even chance to win → 20C sl.
► SIDEWAYS of a sum of money being gambled: split each way (to win or place) → 1960 UK racing sl.
► TAPPED-OUT out of money, having nothing to use for further betting → 1950s sl.

INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► ALL-IN in gambling: betting all of one’s chips → sl.
► ALL JOKES, NO TOKES there is a lot of banter at the gambling table, but not much tipping of the dealer → sl.
► ALL OUT in gambling: betting up to the house limit → sl.
► ALL THE WAY IN ONE PLAY in gambling: a bet of all of one’s chips → sl.
► BANCO a call in gambling games such as chemin de fer and baccarat by a player or bystander who wishes to bet against the entire bank → 18C
► FAIR GO, SPINNER! in the gambling game two-up, used as a call signifying that the coins are to be tossed → 1945 Aust. sl.
► HE PLAYS AS FAIR AS IF HE’D PICKED YOUR POCKET said of a dishonest gambler → 19C
► HE WOULD BET ON TWO FLIES WALKING UP THE WALL said of a compulsive gambler → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk)
► OBE of a bettor in debt: Owes Bookies Everywhere → 1989 Aust. sl.
► ON THE EDGE in gambling: out of funds, broke → 1963 US sl.
► OVER THE HUMP while gambling, having won enough to be gambling now with the house’s money → 1950 US sl.

NOUNS
► ACCOMMODATION ARREST a pre-arranged consensual raid of an illegal gambling operation, designed to give the appearance of strict enforcement of laws → 1961 US sl.
► ACTION 1. betting, gambling → 1885 US sl.
2. the amount that a gambler is willing to bet → 1991 US sl.
► AFRICANS gambling tokens worth $100 → sl.
► AMMUNITION 1. gambling tokens → sl.
2. a gambler’s bankroll → 1983 US sl.
► APRON in gambling: the cloth band worn by dealers around their waist → sl.
► ARMY ODDS in gambling: the correct odds, as opposed to the adjusted casino odds which favour the house → sl.
► ASS BETTING gambling without the means of paying back one’s losses → 2000s US prison sl.
► AX ► AXE in a gambling operation: the house’s cut of the bets → 1974 US sl.
► BACK an illegal gambling operation → 1973 US sl.
► BANANAS yellow $20 gambling tokens used in baccarat → sl.
► BARBER POLE a bet made up of tokens of different value and colour → sl.
► BINGLE a poker or gambling chip, usually worth 10 cents or 25 cents → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BONE in private poker games or other private gambling: a white betting chip → 1866 US sl.
► BUTLER’S BOX a box into which the players in a gambling game put part of their winnings, and which is handed to the butler; also, the money contained in this box → 1591 obs.
► CHEAT SHEET in casino gambling: a listing of the payoffs for a particular ticket → 1982 US sl.
► CHECK a gambling token → 1974 US sl.
► COLLECT a win at gambling → 1966 Aust. sl.
► DEADFALL a gambling establishment of bad repute → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► DEADWOOD non-playing observers of gambling → 1974 US sl.
► DUCK-SHOVING fighting for status, rank, position, esp. in political terms; in gambling: manipulating, using sleight of hand → 1910s Aust. & NZ sl.
► EDGE in gambling: a statistical advantage, usually expressed as a percentage → 1977 US sl.
► FAST AND LOOSE a gambling and cheating game, often practiced by thimbleriggers, in which a garter is folded and held out to the punter who bets that by pricking with a pin they can hit the place where the material is folded; almost inevitably they fail and lose their money → L16 sl.
► FAST LIFE the worlds of gambling, drug-dealing, prostitution, etc. → 1894 US sl.
► FLUTTER a gamble → c1870 colloq.
► GAFF WHEEL a gambling wheel controlled by the foot of the operator → 20C US sl.
► GAFF 1. a meeting of gamblers for the purpose of play → 1812 UK sl. obs.
2. a cheating device in gambling, orig. a small hook set in a ring used by a card-sharp → E19 sl.
► GAFFLE in street gambling: a protocol under which the winner shares his winnings with other players → 1997 US sl.
► GAMESTRY the practice of gaming → 1599 obs.
► GAMING the act or habit of playing at games of change for stakes; gambling → c1510 obs.
► H-17 in casino blackjack gambling: a rule that the dealer must draw a card if he has a 17 made with an ace counting 11 points (H= hit) → 1996 US sl.
► HAZARDRY the playing at hazard; dicing, gambling → 1297 obs.
► LAKING-DO a gambling affair → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► LAYOUT the table, dice, cards, etc. required for setting up a gambling club, whether legitimate or as a prop for a confidence trick → M19 sl.
► MARTINGALE a system in gambling which consists in doubling the stake when losing in the hope of eventually recouping oneself → 1815
► NATURAL in gambling: a winning combination in various gambling games, esp. in craps → 1912 Amer. sl.
► NICK JOINT a dishonest gambling operation → 1978 US sl.
► NUMBERS DROP a place where bets on an illegal lottery are turned in or made → 1957 US sl.
► OFFICE any secret signal used by gambling cheats to communicate among themselves → 1950 US sl.
► OLD ARMY GAME, THE any ruthlessly played or unfair gambling game, esp. poker, or the shell game; any swindle  → 1890 US sl.
► OLD GENT in gambling: a card that is slightly longer than the rest of the pack and thus identifiable by cheats → 19C sl.
► OLD GENTLEMAN in gambling: a card that is slightly longer than the rest of the pack and thus identifiable by cheats → 19C sl.
► OLD LADY in gambling: a card that is slightly wider than the rest of the pack and thus identifiable by cheats → E19 sl.
► PAPER AND PLASTIC in gambling: a combination of cash and betting chips → 1996 US sl.
► PUFF a decoy in a gambling-house → 1731 sl.
► PULLING TIME in an illegal numbers gambling lottery: the time of day when the winning number is drawn or selected → 1949 US sl.
► RAKE-OFF chips or money that a gambling house takes as its percentage from the money bet in a gambling game → 20C Amer. sl.
► SAWDUST JOINT an unassuming, barebones gambling operation → 1963 US sl.
► SCHOOLING a criminal gambling party → M19 sl.
► SILVER HELL a low-class gambling saloon → 1835 sl. obs.
► SKIN GAME in gambling: a rigged game that honest players always lose → 1962 US sl.
► SKINNING GAME any form of corrupt, crooked gambling, e.g. poker, faro, and the establishment where it takes place → M19 sl.
► SUMMER GAME playing merely for amusement or benefit of another person, but with his money → 1890 US gambling sl.
► SWINDLE a betting or gambling; a game of chance on which money is staked; also, a ticket for a lottery, sweepstake, etc. → 1868
► TAKE-OFF in a gambling operation: the amount of the bet money taken by a house → 1950 US sl.
► TAP CITY the state of being unable to raise a stake for further betting → 1920s sl.
► TIGER a gambling establishment; the game of faro → 1838 Amer. dial.
► TWO-UP a gambling game in which bets are made on whether two pennies come up heads or tails when tossed in the air → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► UNDERTAKER’S JOB a horse or greyhound which is deliberately, for the sake of the odds, not meant to win, whatever legitimate gamblers may presume → 1970s gambling sl.
► VELVET profit, esp. an easy and unexpected profit; gambler’s winnings; money in general → 1901 sl.
► Z-GAME the game with the lowest betting limits in a gambling operation or cardroom → 1988 US sl.

NOUNS – GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT (also see CASINO)
► CARPET JOINT a carpeted and well-furnished or well-equipped gambling casino → 1961 Amer. sl.
► COPPER-HELLS small gambling houses → 1884
► DEADFALL a low drinking or gaming-place → 1897 US (Bk.)
► DIME STORE a small casino or gambling establishment with low-stakes games → 1953 US sl.
► GAFF a crooked casino or similar place designed to fleece innocent victims → 1930s US criminals’ sl.
► GAME HOUSE a building or establishment where gambling games are played → 1577
► HONKY-TONK a cheap, usually disreputable, saloon and gambling place → 1894 US sl.
► JUICE JOINT a crooked gambling operation → 1950 US sl.
► OFFICE any man’s ordinary haunt, as a tavern, ale-house, gaming-house, etc→ .a1700 sl. obs.
► SAWDUST JOINT a down-market restaurant or bar, or gambling saloon → 20C sl.
► SAWDUST PARLOR a down-market restaurant or bar, or gambling saloon → 20C sl.
► SAWDUST PLACE a down-market restaurant or bar, or gambling saloon → 20C sl.
► SAWDUST SALOON a down-market bar, or gambling saloon → 20C sl.
► SILVER HELL a low-class gambling saloon → 1835 sl. obs.
► SPIELER a gambling club → 1931
► TABLING-DEN a low-class gambling-house → 1886 obs.
► TABLING-HOUSE a house of resort for playing ‘tables’ or other games; a gambling-house → 1577 obs.
► TAKE JOINT a dishonest cabaret; a crooked gambling-den → 1933 US criminals’ sl.

NOUNS – PERSON
► ACTION PLAYER a gambler who bets heavily and, often,  unwisely → 1998 sl. (Bk.)
► ADVENTURER one who plays at games of chance, or adventures his money in such games; a gamester → 1474 obs.
► AMBIDEXTER in gambling: a house player → 16C gambling sl.
► BACKER one who finances a criminal enterprise, esp. a gambling operation → 1992 gambling sl. (Bk.)
► BAD RACK a gambler who does not pay his debts to a casino → 1998 sl. (Bk.)
► BAGGAGE one who watches a gambling game and advises the players but does not participate → 1989 US sl.
► BALD-COOT an old man who has lost all his money gambling → a1823 sl.
► BALL TEAM a group of gambling cheats who work in casinos → 1987 US sl.
► BANKER 1. one who keeps the ‘bank’ in a gambling house; the dealer, in some games of chance → 1826
2. a casino or gambling house owner or operator who may become involved in crime by using gangsters to protect him from other gangsters or to help collect gambling debts; a financier of a drug-importing ring; the one least likely ever to be arrested or jailed → 1988 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► BASEBALL TEAM a group of gambling cheats who work in casinos → 1987 US sl.
► BATTLER a gambler who tries to make a living by gambling; a habitual punter who is always struggling; also, a struggling horse owner-trainer → 1895 Aust. sl.
► BEARER-UP a gambling cheat; a swindler; a decoy-duck at cards who induces strangers to play with sharpers by persuasion or by seeing him win → 1873 UK sl.
► BEEFER a gambler who complains when he loses → 1992 gambling sl. (Bk.)
► BETTING MAN one who makes bets; a professional gambler → 1819
► BIG ROLLER one who spends extravagantly; one who gambles for high stakes; a ‘high roller’ → 1973 US sl.
► BIG SPENDER a fool, esp. as a bettor or gambler; one who talks a good game and exudes self-confidence but always loses bets, card games, etc.; often sarcastic → 1995 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BIG-TIMER a professional gambler → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BILK a person who bilks or cheats; a crooked gambler; a cheat; a swindler; often applied to persons who cheat cabmen of their fares, or prostitutes of their earnings → 1790 UK criminals’ sl.
► BIRD DOG a small-time bettor who frequents the company of professional gamblers to learn which way they are betting on sporting events in order to bet the same way → 1975 Amer. gambling sl. (Bk.)
► BLACKLEG a professional gambler or layer of odds → 1776 
► BUCKER a gambler → 1898 Amer. dial.
► BUTTON a decoy or accomplice, esp. one who lures others into gambling or who poses as a customer to encourage other buyers → 1851 UK criminals’ sl. obs.
► BUTTONER a person who lures others into gambling or a confidence trick → 1839 criminals’ sl. obs.
► CARD MECHANIC in gambling: a person, as a crooked gambler, who is skilled at manipulating playing cards; a cardsharp → 1906 US sl.
► CHALK EATER a gambler who prefers betting on short-priced favourites → 1930s US gambling sl.
► CHIPPY in gambling: an inexperienced player → 1961 Amer. sl.
► C-NOTE CHARLIE in a casino: a gambler who insists on betting wit $100 notes, not betting chips → 1949 US sl.
► CUB a tyro gamester → L17 sl.
► DEAD FISH a gambler who places small bets to prolong the inevitable → 1963 US sl.
► DEAD NAIL a gambler who cheats and/ or refuses to pay his losses → 1818 sl.
► DEADHEAD a non-playing observer of gambling → 1974 US sl.
► DESPERADO a gambler who bets heavily but cannot pay off when he loses → 1950s sl.
► DEUCE a useless gambler; a worthless person → L19 sl.
► DIPSY a gambling cheat → 1950 US sl.
► DOG in gambling: an underdog → 1975 US sl.
► DUDLEY a beginner gambler → 2003 US sl.
► EAGLE a gambler, presumably a cheat, who wins; the winning gamester → 1735 criminals’ sl. obs.
► ELBOW-SHAKER a gamester or sharper → 1725
► FACE in racecourse gambling: a bettor who is believed to have useful information regarding the likely outcome of a race → 2001 UK bookmakers’ usage
► FAULKENER ► FAULKNER one who lures an innocent player into a crooked gambling game → L17 UK criminals’ sl.
► GAFFER 1. one who tosses up coins in a gambling game based on guessing heads or tails → 1823 sl.
2. a person who operates mechanically controlled gambling devices, such as roulette wheels and slot machines → 1988  (Bk.)
► GAITER a racecourse gambler → 1835 UK criminals’ sl.
► GALTER ► GALTERS a racehorse swindler; a gambler → 1848 UK criminals’ sl. obs.
► GAM ► GAMB a gambler → 1875 US sl.
► GAMBLER a person who plays games for stakes, as cards, dice, etc., or bets on the outcome of particular events, e.g. the result of a race or other sporting contest; a person who gambles for money or other stakes, esp. habitually → 1784
► GAMBOLEER a gambler → 1905 US sl.
► GAMBOLIER a gambler → 1858 US sl.
► GAMENER a person who takes part in a game, pastime, or sport; a person who plays games for stakes, a gambler → 1509 obs.
► GAMER a person who takes part in a game, pastime, or sport; an athlete; a person who plays games for stakes, a gambler → a1450
► GAMESTER a person who plays games of chance for money or other stakes; a gambler → 1549
► GAMESTRESS a female gamester or gambler → 1651
► GAMLER a gambler → 1893 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► GAMMER a gambler → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► GAMMIE a gambler → 1966 US sl.
► GAMNER a gamester, a player, a gambler → 1509 obs.
► GEME-MAN a gambler → 1888 obs. (Bk.)
► GEORGE 1. a gambler who tips the dealer or places bets in the dealer’s name → 1974 US sl.
2. in American casinos: a skilled and lucky gambler → 1985 US sl.
► HANDCUFF ARTIST someone who gambles only when sure he will win → 1997 pool players’ usage (Bk.)
► HARD ROCK 1. in gambling: a difficult player to beat → 1961 criminals’ sl.
2. a gambler who refuses to lend money → 1961 criminals’ sl.
► HARD-NOSE a cautious gambler who neither wins not loses large amounts → 1972 US sl.
► HASARDOUR ► HAZARDER a gambler, gamester; a dice-player → c1390 obs.
► HEAD a professional gambler → 1890 sl.
► HEAVY a gambler, esp. a big-money card player → 1938 US gambling sl.
► HEAVY MAN an armed watcher in a gambling house → 1962 US sl.
► HEAVY ROLLER one who spends extravagantly; one who gambles for high stakes → 1873 US sl.
► HEEL a small-time gambler → 1992 gambling sl. (Bk.)
► HEELER the backer of a gambler → 1891 Amer. (Bk.)
► HELL-BIRD a professional gambler → 1833 UK sl.
► HELLITE the proprietor or a frequenter of a ‘hell’ or gaming-house; a professional gambler → 1824
► HELL-KEEPER a keeper of a gambling den → 1823
► HIGH JINKS a gambler who drinks with his victim in order to render the latter more malleable → 1785 sl.
► HIGH-ROLLER a person who gambles large sums or spends freely → 1873  sl., orig. US
► HIGH SPOT a (very) heavy gambler → 1925 US sl. obs.
► HIP MCCOKE a man, esp. a gambler → 1963 S. Afr. rhyming sl. for ‘bloke’
► ICEMAN the front-man who pays or receives protection money on behalf of illegal gamblers or the authorities → 1960s sl.
► JACK-LEG a gambler who cheats → 1949 US sl. 
► MAGSMAN a card-sharp or other cheating gamester → M19 sl.
► MONKEY a gambler who complains to the police about an illegal gambling operation after losing → 1950 US sl.
► MOVER in casino gambling: a dice cheat who places his bet after a roll has started → 1962 US sl.
► MUCK-SNIPE a ruined person, esp. a gambler → c1850 Brit. sl.
► MUG PUNTER a gambler, viewed as inherently stupid → 1943 Aust. sl.
► NAIL a gambler or cheat who runs into debt without intending to pay → 1823 sl. (Bk.)
► NAILING RASCAL a gambler who cheats and/or refuses to pay his losses → E19 sl.
► NAIL NICKER in gambling: a cheat who marks cards by nicking them with his fingernails → 1997 US sl.
► NAILS a gambler who cheats and/or refuses to pay his losses → E19 sl.
► NONPRODUCER a professional gambler who cannot be counted on to lose a great deal of money while gambling in a casino → 1963 US sl.
► NUMBERS BANKER the operator of an illegal numbers racket or lottery → 1959 US sl.
► NUMEROLOGIST a person who claims to have devised a winning system for an illegal numbers gambling lottery → 1949 US sl.
► OPERATOR the controller of a gambling game → 1804 sl.
► PALOOKA a dishonest gambler or gangster → 1934 US criminals’ sl.
► PATENT GENTRY cheating gamblers → M19 US sl.
► PERCENTAGE PLAYER a  gambler who appreciates odds and percentages, absorbing losses in the belief that the odds will ultimately favour him → 1961 US sl.
► PHEASANT in a gambling, cheating scheme, a victim → 1974 US sl.
► PIGEON-FANCIER a professional gambler → 1800 sl.
► PIKER orig. a cautious or timid gambler who makes only small bets; one who plays for small stakes; hence, a person who takes no chances; a cowardly or stingy person; a shirker → 1859 colloq., orig. US, derogatory
► PUNTER a person who bets or gambles, esp. on horses; a gambler → 1860
► SADDLE the silent financial backer in a gambling game → 1992 gambling sl. (Bk.)
► SADDLE-BLANKET GAMBLER a cowboy addicted to gambling around the campfire on a saddle blanket; a small-time gambler; one who played for small stakes → 1945 US Western sl. (Bk.)
► SANDBAGGER one who is believed to win unfairly in a betting game → 1961 US sl.
► SHARP a swindler; often applied to a fraudulent card player or other gambler → 1797 colloq.
► SHARPER a person who habitually cheats, swindles, or tricks another; often applied to a fraudulent card player or other gambler → 1681 colloq.
► SHERK ► SHIRK a cheating gamester → M17 sl.
► SPIELER a gambler, a card-sharp, a professional swindler → 1859 sl., orig. US
► STEAMER a gambler who increases the size of his bets after losing → 1968 US sl.
► TABLE HOPPER a gambler who moves from table to table in a casino → 2006 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► TABLEMAN a gamester; a player of a game of chance; applied in contempt → 1608 obs.
► TAT-MAN a crooked gambler who uses a tat to cheat in a dice game (tat – a crooked die, esp. one on which only the numbers four, fiver, and six appear) → 1928 US gambling sl.
► TATMONGER a crooked gambler, esp. one who cheats at dice → 1688 gambling sl. obs.
► TATOGEY a sharper or cheat using loaded dice → 1688 gambling sl.
► TATSMAN a dice-player, or a sharper who cheats with dice → 1825 sl.
► TIGER-HUNTER a gambler → 1896 US sl.
► TINHORN a petty buy flashy gambler, or any person with those characteristics → 1857 US sl.
► TINHORN GAMBLER a petty buy flashy gambler, or any person with those characteristics → 1885 US sl.
► TUG a swindler; a fraudulent card player or other gambler → 1896 Aust. sl.
► WAGERING KIDDY a young gambler → 1890 criminals’ sl. obs.
► WALLIE ► WALLY a town ‘sport’ or gambler → 1927 Amer. hobo sl. obs.
► WHALE a gambler who places large bets → 1995 US sl.
► WOOD in a casino or other gambling establishment: a person who watches without playing → 1950 US sl.
► WORKMAN a professional gambler → c1800 gambling usage
► YOKEL-HUNTER one who cheats rural folk at gambling or with a sleight of hand → 1910 criminals’ sl. obs.
► ZERO a gambler who is a chronic loser → 1996 US sl.

VERBS
► ACE-DEUCE in gambling: to sustain heavy losses → sl.
► BADE to make lots of money, usually in gambling → 1990s W. Indies sl.
► BANG UP in gambling: to close a game or table → sl.
► BIRL THE BAWBEE to make the money fly, to gamble or spend in drink → 1776 Sc.
► BUCK THE GAME to enter upon any hazard with a purpose to win → 1859  Amer. dial.
► BUCK THE TIGER 1. to gamble, to play cards → 1851 US sl.
2. to play against a gambling establishment, esp. at faro → 1857 Amer. dial.
► BURY in casino gambling: to place a card in the middle of a deck or in the discard pile → 1991 US sl.
► BUTTON to entice another to gamble → 1857 criminals’ sl.
► CALL SOMEONE’S HAND in gambling: to challenge openly; to call someone’s bluff → 1857 Amer. colloq.
► CAP to act as a confederate in a gambling game → E19 sl.
► CRACK THE NUT in gambling: to make enough money to meet the day’s expenses → 1961 US sl.
► DECORATE THE MAHOGANY to put money on the table; hence, to pay out money or to gamble → 1912 Amer. dial.
► FADE in gambling: to bet against another gambler (usually the shooter in craps); also, to match another’s wager in full or in part → 1890 US sl.
► FAIRBANK in a gambling cheating scheme: to let a victim win at first, increasing his confidence before cheating him → 1961 US sl.
► FANCY of a gambler: to select as worthy of a bet, usually of a horse or dog → 1920s sl.
► FIGHT THE TIGER to play against a gambling establishment, esp. at faro; to gamble, to play at cards → 1837 Amer. dial.
► FLUTTER to gamble → c1870 sl.
► FLY THE MAGS to gamble by tossing up halfpence → 1819 sl.
► GAFF 1. to gamble with cards, dice, etc. → 1812 sl.
2. to make a game crooked or dishonest, typically to tamper with a fruit machine or roulette wheel → 1934 US gambling sl.
► GAME to gamble → 1897 Eng. dial.
► GO OVERBOARD to refuse or fail to pay a gambling debt → 1947 US sl.
► KICK in gambling: to raise a bet → 1963 US sl.
► LOSE ONE’S VOYAGE of a pirate: to gamble away one’s share of a privateer’s plunder → 1680 US
► MAKE A RAISE in gambling: to fund a peer who has lost all his money → M19 US gambling sl.
► MARTINGALE in gambling: to double stakes constantly until luck repays all ..1823
► NICK to win at gambling, orig. at dice or cards, esp. by cheating → 1560 sl.
► PIKE to gamble, esp. in a small way; to play cautiously and for small amounts → 1889 Amer. dial.
► RACK UP in a casino or gambling establishment: to have your chips placed in a chip rack to be cashed in → 1982 US sl.
► RAKE DOWN to win money at gambling, esp. cards → M19 sl., orig. US
► SHUT OUT to prevent from gambling, or playing, usually by refusing to take a person’s bet → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SKIN to separate someone from all his money in a gambling game → Brit. sl.
► STEAM in gambling: to bet increasingly larger amounts of money in a losing effort to recoup recurring losses → 1985 US sl.
► TAP OUT to lose all one’s money, esp. in a gambling game → 1940s US gambling sl.
► TOUCH THE MOPUSSES to win money at gambling → L18 sl.
► WACK OUT ► WHACK OUT in gambling: to lose all one’s money → 1950s US gambling sl.
► WONG in casino blackjack, to play several hands at a table where the count of cards played favours the player, and then to move on to another table → 1991 US sl.