51/49 odds against you — Casinos, “the house always wins”—

Gambling = game

To joke, to play

Gamenian:to entertain or enjoy oneself; to display happiness or joy

ga+mann (*men— to think, have in mind).

men, mens… mental.

from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game”, literally “participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”); or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”).

The etymology of the word “gambling” traces back to the Middle English word “gamen,” meaning “game” or “play”. The term evolved from “gamen” to “gamel” (to play games), and then to the verb “gamel-en,” which means to participate in games, particularly those involving stakes or bets. Over time, the “l” was dropped, leading to the form “gamen,” which further evolved into “gambling.”

This transition reflects the change in context from playing games in general to specifically participating in activities that involve wagering or betting, thus emphasizing the risk and chance elements rather than merely the act of playing. The term “gambling” eventually came to represent activities where stakes or something of value are risked on an uncertain outcome, with the intent of winning additional resources or money.