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. |
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Page 57
... next para- graph : " At Night ( 5 Jan. ) Mr Sharpless , High Constable of Holborn Division , with several of his petty Constables , 1 Croupiers . searched a notorious Gaming House behind Gray's Inn Walks , GAMBLING IN ENGLAND 57.
... next para- graph : " At Night ( 5 Jan. ) Mr Sharpless , High Constable of Holborn Division , with several of his petty Constables , 1 Croupiers . searched a notorious Gaming House behind Gray's Inn Walks , GAMBLING IN ENGLAND 57.
Page 81
... croupiers , yet the Bank holders find that double that number are necessary to watch all the little tricks and arti- fices of some of the fashionable punters . But Mrs G ——— beats all her associates in the art of doubling , or cocking a ...
... croupiers , yet the Bank holders find that double that number are necessary to watch all the little tricks and arti- fices of some of the fashionable punters . But Mrs G ——— beats all her associates in the art of doubling , or cocking a ...
Page 126
... croupiers , or persons engaged at the table in calling the main and chance , regulating the stakes , and pay- ing and receiving money , as the events decisive of gain and loss occur . Over the table is suspended a three light lamp ...
... croupiers , or persons engaged at the table in calling the main and chance , regulating the stakes , and pay- ing and receiving money , as the events decisive of gain and loss occur . Over the table is suspended a three light lamp ...
Page 130
... croupiers , Page , Darking , and Bacon , with their suave manners , sleek appearance , stiff white neck cloths , and the almost miraculous quickness and dexterity with which they swept away the money of the unfortunate punters when the ...
... croupiers , Page , Darking , and Bacon , with their suave manners , sleek appearance , stiff white neck cloths , and the almost miraculous quickness and dexterity with which they swept away the money of the unfortunate punters when the ...
Page 208
... croupiers rake off much more than they are entitled to ; while , on the other hand , they can never , under any circumstances , be called upon to pay more than the loss attaching to the event . " Doncaster is now , I believe , very much ...
... croupiers rake off much more than they are entitled to ; while , on the other hand , they can never , under any circumstances , be called upon to pay more than the loss attaching to the event . " Doncaster is now , I believe , very much ...
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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