'anti-gambling' originates from Greek and Middle English/French elements: 'anti-' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against'; 'gambling' derives from the verb 'gamble', ultimately attested in Middle English 'gambelen' (and influenced by Old French 'gambler').

'anti-' was used as a productive prefix in Modern English to form compounds (e.g. 'anti-social'); 'gamble' evolved from Middle English 'gambelen' (and related forms) into modern English 'gamble', and combining them produced the compound 'anti-gambling' (later also written without a hyphen as 'antigambling').

Initially, the parts meant 'against' ('anti-') and 'playing games of chance' ('gambling'); over time the compound has retained the straightforward meaning 'against gambling' and is used to describe opposition to gambling or measures that restrict it.