Usually referring to someone who lives life in the fast lane, going to clubs spends a lot of money, has a lot of friends of the opposite sex etc. In the US can take on a more sinister form and mean someone involved in the underworld as well.
Its more a term used to describe people who 'Play' with people. So for example a man who uses women for what he can get and pretends to be interested in a long term relationship but isnt, or women for that matter. I guess to be more succint its somebody who 'uses' people for their own personal means. Somebody who plays the role of your friend/lover for their benefit.
This is a common thing where I live (rough area of north london) weve got a lot of players here!! and player haters aswell.
player is a mixture of what badbob and sft wrote....and it means somone who two times their girlfriend/boyfriend
Yes it was tongue in cheek and having read sft42's answer again its not too far of the mark. However it depends where fiona611 has been hearing the term, if she's been going to casinos then its one if its through R&B/Rap music its quite another.
A player is someone who is "in the game" and therefore able to influence things in whatever area you are refering to. So a player in the film industry is someone who has influence over matters imho.
The way i have heard it used agrees with Moog. I believe it comes from casinos, where you cna watch the action or actually gamble the implication being that the person referred to can influence the situation, rather than being an onlooker with the subtext that the person has what it takes to take risks