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When gambling was introduced as a form of entertainment in the 18th century, only groups of elite aristocratic men had the sanction to socialize and play games. Exclusive clubs called "Gentleman's Club” were crucial areas of society, becoming the center for important political and cultural events. Men had become accustomed to male-only spaces since they had been brought up the same way, with boys boarding schools, participating in sports, and socializing with men for businesses; women were never in their circles. They spent most of their time in clubs, some even used the clubs’ addresses as their personal addresses and got mails delivered at the clubs.

While in the current modern era, gambling has grown from landbased casinos to mobile slot games that are highly accessible for all, regardless of gender, however, things were not the same in the 18th century. Women were banned from the Gentleman's Clubs and indulging in gambling would bring dishonour to them. These were not just simple patterns of a patriarchal society, influential men argued against the admission of women in spaces that involved late-night gambling. George Hanger (1751 - 1824), a popular British author in those times had written in an article:

“Can any woman expect to give her husband a vigorous and healthy offspring, whose mind night after night, is thus distracted, and whose body is relaxed by anxiety and the fatigue of late hours?”.

Women found other ways of gambling. Few aristocratic women formed secret gambling dens. Lady Buckinghamshire and Lady Archer were two ladies who have been recorded as prominent names in women’s gambling fields. The common game of choice was Faro, a game similar to Poker. It involved a 52-card deck, betting chips, and a dealer’s box. From this game, the term “Faro ladies” was coined. Politically, this name meant more than a simple card game, it represented women who had the audacity to go against the societal rules, discuss politics, and enjoy the thrill of gambling. These gambling homes offered women an opportunity to earn money. Lady Buckinghamshire was known to earn large amounts of money through gambling. It has been recorded that she used to sleep with a blunderbuss and a pair of pistols by her bedside to protect the “Faro Bank” she had accumulated. Lady Archer was popular for her use of make-up, with even the Morning Post mentioning it. The notice had stated:

“Jan 8 1789. It is said that the dealers in Carmine and dead white, as well as the perfumers in general, have it in contemplation to present an address to Lady Archer, in gratitude for her not having DIED according to a late alarming report”.

Naturally, society was not pleased with women gambling. They were harshly criticized across all major newspapers in the 1790s for living “double lives”, that is, as respectable, law-abiding citizens in the morning, and as uncivilized gambling women in the night.

Elite men were enraged by these developments. Gambling was considered to be a men-only game, and women had dared to occupy their spaces. James Gillray, a popular caricaturist and printmaker of that time had created portraits of Lady Buckinghamshire and Lady Archer, in which they were shown with large mounds of money by their side and playing Faro with other women. A certain satirical print of Gillroy had the following description attached to it:

“To those earthly Divinities who charmed twenty years ago, this Honorable method of banishing mortifying reflections is dedicated. O woman! O woman! Everlasting is your power over us, for in youth you charm away our hearts, and in your after years, you charm away our purses”.

On the print, the players can be easily recognised, Lady Archer sits on the extreme left with a mass of gold and loose cash in front of her. All the men have an expression of disagreement on their faces. Lady Buckinghamshire has doubled her stake and sits with an expression on her face. The print was titled, “Modern Hospitality, or a Friendly Party in High Life”.

Gillroy has portrayed these ladies many times. On another portrait labeled, “Dividing the Spoil, St James’s, 1796”, both Lady Archer and Lady Buckinghamshire are seen arguing over bank notes, gold, a sword, and an order. Another lady, possibly Lady Mount Edgecumbe, is going through a bill, and a fourth lady is seen smiling at the pile of notes and gold laid out in front of her.

Although the ladies were earning huge amounts of wealth, the disagreement and hatred against them were also on the rise. Finally, the magistrate ordered an investigation and after being caught with hard evidence of Faro playing at Lady Buckinghamshire’s residence, the ladies were charged a 50 pound fine for participating. This fine would amount to £7,926 according to the current values. Additionally, Mr Martindale was charged with being the proprietor of the table and charged £200, which is approximately £32000 according to the current values.

The report stated, “The evidence went to prove that the defendants had gaming parties at their different houses in rotation: and, that when they met at Lady B’s, the witness used to wait upon them in the gambling room, and that they played at E.O., Rouge et Noir, & c., from about eleven or twelve till three or four o’clock in the morning. After hearing counsel, the magistrate convicted Henry Martindale in the penalty of £200, and each of the ladies in £50. The information against Mr. Concannon was quashed, on account of his being summoned by a wrong Christian name”.

Following the verdict, The Morning Post issued an article that stated, “Society has reason to rejoice in the complete downfall of the Faro Dames, who were so long the disgrace of human nature. Their die is cast and their old tricks no longer avail.”

Gillroy created a print on this event as well, and titled it “Discipline a’ la Kenyon”. The print showed Lady Buckinghamshire tied to the end of a cart which had a placard, “Faro’s Daughter Beware”. The justice and other ladies have also been portrayed.

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