On October 12 1985, Madonna’s Gambler debuted at #20 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was included on the Vision Quest soundtrack (along with Crazy For You) and released by Geffen Records. Madonna’s record company, Sire Records, prevented Gambler from being released as a single in the USA.
After two weeks on the chart, Gambler peaked at #4. It also reached #3 in Italy and #10 in Australia.
With Gambler‘s success, Madonna became the first female artist to rack up 8 UK top-ten singles in one calendar year.
Gambler was Madonna’s highest charting single in the UK that was entirely self-written. In the U.S. Lucky Star earned this distinction, reaching #4 on the Hot 100.
Today In Madonna History 
I also love I’m a Gambler which is Madonna’s most energetic early performance! Her lyric “You can’t stop me now!” became a prescient and prophetic self-fulfilling prophecy for Madonna which led friend and author Mary Gabriel to title M’s life story A Rebel Life.