Wager about more fractious hands causing confusion (12)
I believe the answer is:
bewilderment
'confusion' is the definition.
(I know that bewilderment is a type of confusion)
'wager about more fractious hands' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'more' could be 'm' and 'm' is found in the answer.
'about' could be 're' (regarding) and 're' is found within the leftover letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'causing' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bewilderment that I've seen before include "Perplexity, confusion" , "Not knowing what to do" , "utter confusion!" .)