Gamble on occasion for recreation (8)
I believe the answer is:
playtime
'recreation' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'gamble on occasion' is the wordplay.
'gamble' becomes 'play' (playing is a kind of gambling).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'occasion' becomes 'time' (I've seen this before).
'play'+'time'='PLAYTIME'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for playtime that I've seen before include "Schoolchildren's break" , "Break in school day" , "Curtain up" , "Period for pleasure" , "Recreation period" .)