gambling
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gambling
A game in which the outcome depends mostly or entirely on chance and in which people play for money or other valuables.
Lotto ist in Deutschland das beliebteste Glücksspiel.
The lottery is the most popular form of gambling in Germany.
The word is made up of 'das Glück' (luck) and 'das Spiel' (game). So it literally describes a game whose result depends on luck.
Beim Poker braucht man nicht nur Glück, sondern auch Strategie.
In poker, you need not only luck but also strategy.
In connection with 'Glücksspiel' (gambling), the adjectives 'legal' and 'illegal' are often used. Typical verbs are 'an einem Glücksspiel teilnehmen' (to take part in gambling) or 'Glücksspiel betreiben' (to operate gambling).
Die Polizei hat einen Ring für illegales Glücksspiel ausgehoben.
The police busted a ring for illegal gambling.
A common idiom is 'sein Glück im Spiel versuchen' (to try one's luck at a game). It means that someone takes part in gambling in the hope of winning.
Im Urlaub in Las Vegas wollte er auch mal sein Glück im Spiel versuchen.
On vacation in Las Vegas, he wanted to try his luck at gambling for once.
contest / prize draw
With both, winning can depend on chance. A Gewinnspiel is an event or promotion in which one can win a prize, sometimes by completing a task; Glücksspiel involves staking money or other valuables, with the outcome depending mainly on chance. Without a stake, Gewinnspiel is usually the appropriate term; with a stake, use Glücksspiel.
Beim Glücksspiel im Casino setzt Mia zwanzig Euro auf eine zufällige Zahl.
While gambling at the casino, Mia stakes twenty euros on a random number.
An dem kostenlosen Gewinnspiel des Supermarkts nimmt Mia mit der richtigen Antwort teil.
Mia enters the supermarket's free prize draw with the correct answer.
