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Gambling in the UK has been relevant since the late 17th century. Henry VIII was known ṭo be an avid gambler, but when he got to know that the soldiers were spending most of their time gambling rather than fighting, he had to set a ban on it. But gambling continued to flourish in the background, and it resurfaced into the mainstream public life in the early 18th century.

Gentleman’s Clubs were prominent social places where elite men gathered to socialize, debate, and enjoy gambling games. White’s is considered to be one of the first Gentleman’s Clubs. Although gambling games can be accessed by anyone these days through modern, impressive gambling websites like jackpotmobilecasino and many others, things were not the same in the 18th century. Only elite men could be members of the Gentleman’s Clubs. White’s still remains to be one of the most significant highlights of London. It is a literal symbol of London’s history and culture. The club still follows traditions and accepts only high-class members. King Charles and his son, Prince William are two of the famous members of the Club.

These social spaces had become centres of entertainment and public life. The clubs had grown powerful enough to be impactful on the culture of the then British society. Proof of their influence are in the descriptions that came up in books and newspaper notices of that time. Along with the clubs, gambling too had become major sources of entertainment among the public. Jane Austen’s books and some of her personal letters talk about some of the gambling games that were prevalent in that era. Through her writings, we get to see a glimpse of the social life and culture of the Regency era.

A letter Jane Austen wrote to her sister, Cassandra, on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th October 1808 describes the games she had played with her nephews, Edward and George Austen, aged 14 and 13 respectively. The nephews had traveled to stay with their relatives after the passing of their mother, Elizabeth Bridges Austen. She writes, “We do not want for amusement; billbocatch, at which George is indefatigable, spillkins, paper ships, riddles, and conundrums, and cards with watching the ebb and flow of the river, and now and then a stroll out, keep us well employed.”

Jane mentions one game specifically in the letter, “I introduced speculation, and it was so much approved that we hardly knew where to leave off.” Speculation is a mild domestic gambling game that was popular in the eighteenth century and disappeared in the 19th century. Rules of the game had come up in an 1847 edition of Hoyle’s Games ‘a noisy round game, that several may play, using a complete pack of cards, bearing the same import as at whist, with fish or counters, on which such a value is fixed as the company may agree upon. The highest trump, in each deal, wins the pool; and whenever it happens that no trump is dealt, the company pools again, and the event is decided by the succeeding round.” In short, the objective of the game is to trade and auction off cards amongst the players.

There is a reason behind the fact that Jane Austen sticks to card games. In the eighteenth century, the Gentleman’s Clubs were exclusive to males. Women were banned from these spaces. It was much later that countable elite women got the chance to be part of the Club. White’s still follows the traditions and are exclusive only to male members. Considering these situations, Jane Austen’s exposure to gambling games was extremely limited. But with her mentions of mild domestic gambling games, it seems that gambling was a common pastime of most people in that time.

Even Pride and Prejudice, a book so great that it has immortalised Jane as a remarkable author of her time, mentions gambling as part of social events. She writes about a lottery game that was happening during a supper event that was held by Mrs Phillip. It is the part where Elizabeth listens to Wickham, as he talks about his friend Darcy, and realises that the rumour about Lydia putting efforts in catching hold of Wickham’s attention has no basis.

Through Lydia’s gambling habit, we get a glimpse of the “lottery” gambling game of that time. It is a game of pure chance and you must land a pair to win the game. Lydia was ‘extremely fond of tickets, she soon grew too interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prize to have attention for anyone.’ As they went home, ‘Lydia talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won.’ The fish she mentions here are the gaming chips or counters that were used for betting.

Lydia’s interest in gambling is represented as an indication of her selfish and irresponsible nature. She almost loses the attention of her future husband as she gets engrossed in the card game and focused on the prize that may come as a reward. The author writes, “At first there seemed danger of Lydia’s engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular.”

Social status and class were given great importance in those times, and people were divided accordingly. Jane Austen describes these social differences through her stories. In one instance, the Bingley sisters are described to wager high stakes at gambling games in order to highlight their superior social and economical statuses, unlike that of Elizabeth Bennet. It was a message mainly intended for Darcy and Miss Bingley.

Gambling must have been a popular means of entertainment in the 18th century for it to have mentions in the books of a female author of the eighteenth century. Thankfully, these books have survived until now, which makes them a window to the past, helping us learn about the culture, social life, and class differences of the bygone times.

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