professional gambler; gamester
Refers to a person who makes a living through gambling, often with a connotation of being a habitual or skilled gambler. Can carry a slightly old-fashioned or underworld nuance.
When he was young, he made a living as a professional gambler.
That man is nothing but a gamester.
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; avoids the less common kanji 博奕.
Full kanji form using 博奕 (gambling); less common but still seen.
Alternate kanji form using 博打 (gambling).
Irregular okurigana usage; dropping the final ち is nonstandard.
Irregular okurigana usage; dropping the final ち is nonstandard.
Compound of ばくち (gambling) and 打ち (hitting, doing), literally 'one who engages in gambling'. The word ばくち itself is of uncertain origin, possibly from 博 (gambling) + 打ち (hitting), or from a gambling term.