Gambling Games
These games are intended as an opportunity for people of all ages to risk, lose or make their fortune. Richer characters may enjoy being casual about losing or gaining large sums of money; poorer characters may wish to be more cautious.
An IC reminder sheet of these games will be available at the ball and an NPC will be available at the start of the ball to assist in learning rules.
Bets
There will be a record book present noting bets between current members of the ton, and allowing the record of new bets.
Example bets:
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Mx. Y made a bet to the value of £100 with Mr X that they would be the first to bed someone in an air balloon over 1000ft in the air.
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Lord Z made a bet to the value of £50 with the Duke of N that he would be the first to dance with Mr A at the next ball.
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Marquez of S made a bet to dance the next set with the Honourable Miss if she could produce the note they spoke of at the last ball, or else she must admit she lied to the whole company.
Debts created by gambling can be paid immediately in cash, or by a promissory note.
Faro
Requires 1 small and 1 large deck of cards.
1 suit of the large cards is spread onto the table. Bets are played by placing coins or chips onto a chosen card.
The dealer shuffles the small deck to the satisfaction of the players.
Each round, the dealer turns over two cards. The first is the losing card, the second the winning card. All bets on the losing card are claimed by the dealer, all winning bets are doubled.
If the same card is pulled twice, the card bets are paid triple. Winning players often delighted call “Faro” at this point. The large card of this value is turned face down, and if drawn again both cards count as losing cards.
After each round player may adjust their bets. Play continues until the deck is exhausted.
Hazard
Requires 2 dice.
The player names a number between 5-9. This is “the main”.
The player rolls two dice
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Throws their main -> win & stake is tripled (“nicking the main”)
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Throws 2 or 3 -> lose (“throwing crabs”)
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Any other value -> this becomes “the chance” and the game continues.
The player continues rolling until they roll either the main or the chance
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Main -> lose
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Chance -> win & stake is doubled
Other players may make side bets as to whether the next throw will be higher or lower than the main (win doubles stake), or if the next throw will be the chance or main (win quadruples stake)
Lottery Tickets
Requires 2 small packs of cards with distinct backs
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All players place the agreed stake in the pot. Appoint a dealer.
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Deal each player one card from the first deck. These cards are the "prize" cards. Each player simultaneously places their card face up on the table and puts any amount from the pot onto the card that they can grab.
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Deal each player two cards from the second deck - these are their "lottery cards". If their card matches one of the prize cards, they win all the money on it. Any money not won is returned to the pot, and new prize cards and lottery cards are dealt until the pot is exhausted.
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 any one in particular.
Pride and Prejudice
Speculation
Requires 1 small deck of cards
All players place the agreed stake into the pot. Appoint a dealer.
Deal each player, including the dealer, 3 cards facedown into a pile. Players must not look at their cards. All other cards are discarded.
Play starts with the dealer. They turn up one of their cards - the suit becomes the trump suit for the game. The winning card will be the highest card of that suit (Aces low). If it is a king, the dealer immediately wins the pot.
Any player may offer to buy this first card off the dealer, for any price. Alternatively, the dealer may attempt to buy any number of facedown cards from other players. All fees are kept by the recipient.
Play then passes to the left, with each player turning up a card and then buying face down card and selling face up cards. This continues until all cards are face up - the person in possession of the highest trump card then wins the pot.