“This last consideration, that money won by gaming was looked upon as got by _Theft_, makes it reasonable to conclude that such money was to be _restored_, and that the winning gamester was _punished_ as for _Theft_: which was not, by their law, a capital crime; but answered for, in smaller cases (and, probably, in this, among the rest), by _double Restitution_: Exod. xxii. 9. “But the partiality of that people is evident, in extending the notion of Theft, only to _Gaming amongst themselves_; _i.e._, native Jews and proselytes of righteousness; for, if a Jew played, and won of a Gentile, it was no Theft in him: but it was forbidden to him on another account, as Gaming is an application of mind entirely useless to human society. For, say the Talmudists, ‘Tho’ he that games with a Gentile does not offend against the prohibition of Theft, he violates that _de rebus inanibus non incumbendo_: it does not become a man, at any time of his life, to make anything his business which does not relate to the study of wisdom or the public good.’ Now, as this was only a prohibition of their doctors, perhaps the law, or usage in such cases might take place, that the offender was to be scourged.” Among the Greeks and Romans the first gambling implement was the ἀστραγαλος, or (Lat.) _Talus_, before spoken of. In the course of time the sides were numbered, and, afterwards, they were made of ivory, onyx, &c., specimens of which may be seen in the Etruscan Saloon of the British Museum, Case N. In the Terra Cotta room is a charming group of two girls playing with Astragals, and in the Third Vase room, on Stand I., is a vase, or drinking vessel, in the shape of an Astragal (E. 804). Subsequently the Tessera, or cubical die, similar to that now used, came into vogue (samples of which may be seen in Case N. in the Etruscan Saloon), and they were made of ivory, bone, porcelain, and stone. Loaded dice have been found in Pompeii. They also had other games among the Romans, such as _Par et Impar_ (odd or even), in which almonds, beans, or anything else, were held in the hand, and guessed at—and the modern Italian game of Mora was also in vogue. But gambling was looked down upon in Rome, and the term _aleator_, or gambler, was one of reproach—and many were the edicts against it: utterly useless, of course, but it was allowed during the Saturnalia. Money lost at play could not be legally recovered by the winner, and money paid by the loser might by him be recovered from the person who had won and received the same.