gambling boss; head of a gambling house
Specifically refers to the person who runs an illegal gambling operation, providing the bank and overseeing the games. Often associated with yakuza or underground gambling dens.
He is looking for a financial backer for his new business.
The lender for that project is a local bank.
The police arrested the gambling boss of the illegal casino.
The head of the gambling house manages the bets as the banker.
Standard spelling with okurigana.
Variant without okurigana; less common but still used.
Compound of 貸し (kashi, 'lending') + 元 (moto, 'source, origin'). Literally 'lending source', referring to the person who provides the funds.