the statute law has not everywhere and always prohibited the practice. "Even the Act for the
more
c.
effectual 12 Geo. II. c. 28 prevented excessive and deceitful
preventing of excessive, and "gaming" which forbade gaming by way of lottery,
cards, dice, lots,
amusements ", expressly exempted from the operation of that or any former Acts against gaming, all games played within
any of His Majesty's
royal palaces, where His Majesty,
his heirs and successors,
reside" (4 Geo. II). The 18 Geo. II. c. 19 again in 1745 contained general immunity to "backgammon and other games played
with the backgammon tables"; (4 Geo. II) Roulette (or Roly-poly) and other games punishable by the next Act, in ordinary
cases are
indulged to the inmates of royal
palaces (by S. 6.) exactly as in the first mentioned instance. By the 3 Stet. c. 5. and 5 Vict. c. 5. all penalties inflicted on
horse-racing and betting by the 18 Geo. II. c. 19., 18 Geo. II. c. 34., and other Acts, are for
the
future
repealed, and by
2. all quoits, tennis, bowl, are "Act relieved from their pre-existing
illegal character, and (10 Geo. II. c. 15.) billiards
are
legalized upon certain
conditions. The
very
latest Act
on these subjects contains another exemption clause (1 Geo. II) in favour of stakes in deposits to be found to the 'winner of any
race or lawful sport,
'game, as
any
exercise, or to the horse engaged in any
race.