game of chance
B2Formal, Semi-formal, Technical (in legal or gambling contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A game in which the outcome is determined primarily by random factors (like dice rolls, roulette wheel spins, or card draws) rather than by skill, strategy, or knowledge.
Can metaphorically refer to any situation or enterprise where success depends largely on luck and unpredictable variables rather than on controllable effort or expertise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is often used in legal and regulatory contexts to distinguish such games from 'games of skill' (e.g., chess, poker). It carries an inherent association with gambling, even when used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling follows respective regional norms (e.g., in related text: 'licence' vs. 'license').
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties, strongly associated with casinos, betting, and gambling regulation.
Frequency
Frequency is comparable, with slightly higher usage in American English due to the prominence of Las Vegas and Atlantic City in cultural discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/This] is a game of chance.They played a game of chance.Life is often described as a game of chance.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Life's a game of chance.”
- “Don't treat your career like a game of chance.”
- “It's all a game of chance.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe high-risk investments or markets where outcomes are highly unpredictable.
Academic
Used in probability theory, statistics, game theory, and socio-legal studies on gambling.
Everyday
Used when discussing lotteries, casino visits, or metaphorical references to unpredictable life events.
Technical
Precise legal and regulatory term defining a specific category of gambling activity.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are gaming at chance.
- To game on chance is unwise.
American English
- They are gambling on games of chance.
- You can't game a pure game of chance.
adverb
British English
- He played game-of-chance foolishly.
- The decision was made game-of-chance.
American English
- She invested game-of-chance heavily.
- He lived game-of-chance.
adjective
British English
- The roulette wheel is a game-of-chance event.
- He made a game-of-chance investment.
American English
- It was a game-of-chance proposition.
- He has a game-of-chance mentality.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Roulette is a game of chance.
- I won the lottery, which is a game of chance.
- The outcome of the draw is a pure game of chance, unlike chess.
- Many people enjoy simple games of chance like bingo.
- Legally, a game of chance is distinguished from a game of skill for licensing purposes.
- Starting a new business in that volatile market is akin to a game of chance.
- The statute precisely defines a 'game of chance' as one where skill does not materially affect the outcome.
- His philosophical treatise argued that human existence is fundamentally a grand game of chance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHANCE rhymes with DANCE. Imagine DICE dancing randomly on a table – a GAME OF CHANCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME OF CHANCE (emphasizing unpredictability and luck).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as "игра случая," which sounds unnatural. Use "азартная игра" for gambling contexts or "лотерея" for a lottery-style event. The metaphorical use is less common in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'game of a chance'. Correct: 'game of chance'. Incorrect: 'chance game'. Correct: 'game of chance'.
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, what is the primary factor distinguishing a 'game of chance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its literal sense, yes, it refers to a gambling activity. However, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe any unpredictable situation.
A lottery is a specific type of game of chance where participants buy tickets for a draw with a prize. 'Game of chance' is the broader category that includes lotteries, roulette, slot machines, etc.
This is a legal grey area. Poker involves significant skill and strategy, but chance (card distribution) plays a major role. In many jurisdictions, it is classified as a 'game of skill' for this reason, unlike pure games of chance like roulette.
It is used metaphorically to criticise or describe high-risk ventures where outcomes seem random and uncontrollable, e.g., 'Investing in that startup feels like a game of chance.'