What is the difference between gambling and gaming? Gambling and gaming are two different things. Gaming is when you participate in legal, state sanctioned wagering. Gambling is when you place bets or wager at locations or online platforms that are not permitted in the State, which remains a criminal activity.
Gaming and gambling are very similar activities; the gambling industry even uses these terms interchangeably. The main difference between the terms is that for gaming the outcome is achieved by skill, not chance, whereas for gambling, the opposite is true.