Phoenix, didn't bother to read your whole post but a gentlemens wager can just be for bragging rights or a bet of honor/prestige. That definition is correct but it can also be understood to mean that the bet is on your honor. In other words its assuming both people are infact gentleman so they will pay the bet to not dishonor themselves. This is common at places like golf courses where many people might not be carrying around thousands of dollars or have a ATM readily available so being able to put the cash in "escrow" is literally impossible. It's the exact same thing as a gentlemens agreement, some type of agreement made on a hand shake not a contract. The meaning is essentially that the person is putting up their name as collateral, if you welch your name is not worth a damn. Actually I know people who have been kicked out of private golf clubs for stuff like this because they are considered gentlemens clubs and if you prove you are not a gentleman then they don't want ya.