The History of Gambling in EnglandDifference between Gaming and Gambling-Universality and Antiquity of Gambling-Isis and Osiris-Games and Dice of the Egyptians-China and India-The Jews-Among the Greeks and Romans-Among Mahometans-Early Dicing-Dicing in England in the 13th and 14th Centuries-In the 17th Century-Celebrated Gamblers-Bourchier-Swiss Anecdote-Dicing in the 18th Century. Gaming is derived from the Saxon word Gamen, meaning joy, pleasure, sports, or gaming-and is so interpreted by Bailey, in his Dictionary of 1736; whilst Johnson gives Gamble-to play extravagantly for money, and this distinction is to be borne in mind in the perusal of this book; although the older term was in use until the invention of the later-as we see in Cotton's Compleat Gamester (1674), in which he gives the following excellent definition of the word: -"Gaming is an enchanting witchery, gotten between Idleness and Avarice: an itching disease, that makes some scratch the head, whilst others, as if they were bitten by a Tarantula, are laughing themselves to death; or, lastly, it is a paralytical distemper, which, seizing the arm, the man cannot chuse but shake his elbow. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 30
Page 2
... chance assumes a more important character ; and my object is to draw attention to the fact , that the money motive increases , as chance predominates over skill . It is taken up as a quicker road to wealth than by pursuing honest ...
... chance assumes a more important character ; and my object is to draw attention to the fact , that the money motive increases , as chance predominates over skill . It is taken up as a quicker road to wealth than by pursuing honest ...
Page 5
... chance . Num . xxvi . 52 and 55 , 56 , " And the Lord spake unto Moses , saying . Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot : according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit . According to the lot shall ...
... chance . Num . xxvi . 52 and 55 , 56 , " And the Lord spake unto Moses , saying . Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot : according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit . According to the lot shall ...
Page 9
... chance of dice- throwing was coupled with a certain amount of skill in moving the men . Their outline is always the same : there are three horizontal lines at an equal distance , each line containing twelve signs - thirty - six in all ...
... chance of dice- throwing was coupled with a certain amount of skill in moving the men . Their outline is always the same : there are three horizontal lines at an equal distance , each line containing twelve signs - thirty - six in all ...
Page 10
... chance or hazard , as dice , cards , & c . " And , again , on p . 94. " O true believers , surely wine , and lots , and images , and divining arrows are an abomination of the work of Satan ; therefore avoid them , that ye may prosper ...
... chance or hazard , as dice , cards , & c . " And , again , on p . 94. " O true believers , surely wine , and lots , and images , and divining arrows are an abomination of the work of Satan ; therefore avoid them , that ye may prosper ...
Page 16
... chance ( ten to one , or more ) , he is sure to win . If you are sensible hereof , and refuse his proposition , they will take it so ill , that , if you have not an especiall care , they will pick your pocket , nim your gold or silver ...
... chance ( ten to one , or more ) , he is sure to win . If you are sensible hereof , and refuse his proposition , they will take it so ill , that , if you have not an especiall care , they will pick your pocket , nim your gold or silver ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afterwards appeared betting Buckinghamshire Buckley Square called Captain Cards chance cheating Club Coffee House Committee course Court Covent Garden Crockford cross and pile croupiers d'Eon dice dinner Doncaster Duke England Faro bank fortune gambler gambling houses gamester gaming house gaming-house gave gentleman George give Groom Porter guineas hand hath hazard honour horse racing hundred pounds Insurance John John Outlawe Justice keeper King Knave lady late letter London Lord Lordship lose loser lost Lots lottery luck Ludus Latrunculorum Mayor morning never Newmarket night paid Parliament parties person plaintiff play players present prize proprietors Queen Railway Railway Mania reign says servants shillings speculation sport St James's Street stakes Stock story subscribed SUNDAY HOUSES tells Thornton thousand guineas thousand pounds ticket tion town Turf wager whilst White's White's Club witness