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Playing Cards And Dice

Volume 183: debated on Thursday 6 February 1908

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I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount estimated to be received during the current financial year in respect of the tax upon playing cards, and the licensing of dice manufacturers and the stamping of dice; and whether, having regard to the fact that playing cards and dice are used mainly for gambling purposes, he will consider the desirableness of repealing the tax and licensing duties upon them.

The duty derived from playing cards in 1906–7 amounted to £32,672. It will probably be about the same for 1907–8. The tax on dice was repealed in 1862. I do not think that the fact that playing cards may be—and no doubt in some cases are—used for gambling purposes constitutes a reason for exempting them from taxation.

Is it not the fact that although the tax on dice has been repealed, a licence is still necessary for dice manufacturers, and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the imposition of a tax on playing cards implies State regulation of gambling?