The phrase "amount to playing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is equivalent to or results in playing, often in a context where the action is being compared to playing.
Example: "His constant distractions during the meeting amount to playing rather than participating."
Alternatives: "equate to playing" or "result in playing".
Rajoy, nevertheless, seemed dismissive during a party convention this year, calling Podemos "frivolous, incompetent populists"; he said a vote for the party would amount to "playing Russian roulette".
On ABC's "Good Morning America" Wednesday, Axelrod said that increasing negativity from both Democrats and Republicans over various aspects of the package and the threats that they'd work to block it would amount to playing "Russian roulette with the lives of the American people".
When I look in hindsight, I think my gender had a huge amount to play in how Zipcar played out and went forward.
"The guys are in great shape physically, there is a huge amount to play for and there will be no lack of motivation.
As a matter of fact, it costs an increasing amount to play the game when you look at the fees that are paid to investment managers and hedge funds.
So Australia's players - and their new coach Darren Lehmann - have still got a huge amount to play for.
So too the St. Petersburg paradox, in which it is supposedly absurd that one should be prepared to pay any finite amount to play a game with infinite expectation.
Bo Jackson, Raider running back and Kansas City Royals outfielder, earns the same amount to play football.
After deciding which amount to play for, the prize money is displayed on a seven-space gameboard, with the appropriate number of spaces away from the bank depending upon the contestant's decision.
Rewarding the mediocre and the conventional, while overlooking the scrupulous and the innovative, amounts to playing the short game.
The use (or abuse) of milk by retailers as a loss leader amounts to playing with our food.
