gamester

plural gamesters

1. A person who plays games.

   And now, while they are climbing the pole in another part of the field, […] the old farmer […] announces to all whom it may concern that a half-sovereign in money will be forthcoming to the old gamester who breaks most heads; […]

   1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

2. nonstandardvideo gamesOne who plays video games.

   Gamesters should know that Nintendo is considering a phone link that would allow players to compete via modem in nationwide competitions.

   1990, Popular Mechanics, volume 167, number 3, page 37

   Synonyms: gamer

3. gamblingA gambler.

   […] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; […]

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Oeconomy and Happy Life among the Houyhnhnms. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 301

4. obsoleteA prostitute; one who is on the game.

   She's impudent my Lord, / And was a common gameſter to the Campe.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 252, column 2, lines 187–188

   Synonyms: prostitute