“The Gambler” is the title track to Kenny Rogers’ 1978 album. The song was written by Don Schlitz (who had recorded it previously, and had charted at #65 on the country charts with it) and was one of five consecutive songs by Rogers to hit #1 on the Billboard country music charts at the time. On the pop chart, the song made #16 in early 1979. It is also the theme song used for Rogers long running movie and TV serial of the same name, in which he stars as a fictional professional poker player called Brady Hawkes. It was used in Episode 2 of BBC] series, Blackpool. [source]

This is obviously a song that’s been around for a while, but as a recovering grunge guy, I am just now hearing it.  Wow!  Awesome.