If you want to bring a group of people together, playing card decks are an excellent way to do it. That’s why Bridge Base Online exists, and why the number of active bridge tables are on the increase every time you might check.

Playing cards are so integral to our lives that, at least for some reading this, being without them is almost unimaginable.

Well, I’d like you to take a moment to imagine the idea.

Can you picture the thought of playing cards being banned? Historically, it’s happened, and some jurisdictions of the world still see playing cards as a banned object.

Historical playing card bans

If we had access to a time machine for illustrative purposes, it would be easier to describe how playing cards have been viewed throughout history. But since we don’t, let’s not.

Playing cards haven’t always been viewed in favourable terms by governments and royalty. While the sight of a deck won’t get you banished or locked up in most modern cities, the same wasn’t true before the introduction of playing card taxes.

Superstition led to the belief that playing cards are occult in nature.

Church-and-state of the time figured that playing cards were a sign of debauchery, gambling, and general financial and moral ruin. Cards had a strong association with tarot and divination, which didn’t help its case.

Found with playing cards at the wrong point in history?

Well, you would have been in big trouble.

Consequences of violating the rules could have meant heavy fines, imprisonment, and probably additional rumours that you were consorting with the devil’s side of things.

The overall stance on playing cards would take decades to change. Royals and presidents would eventually have to admit that playing cards are great, and would eventually tax them for profit instead.

Do you have legal access to playing cards right now? Consider yourself lucky… Things weren’t always the same!