Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s1.74

c9.s1.74

*Gambling.*—Kauṭalya like Yājñavalkya recommends centralization of gambling.² Betting and challenging are also included in this category.³ There was an officer in charge who supplied dice for hire. Other receipts under this head were a share of 5 per cent on what was won by every respective winner, fees for license and fees for supplying water and accommodation. Besides these there were fines levied upon false players, deceitful winners and the use of artifice in games.⁴ That the state centralized this play is evident from Āpastamba Dharma Sūtra where it is said that in a portion of the assembly house only could the players play at this game.⁵ According to Haradatta this was confined to the first three castes who took fixed contracts, daily, monthly, or yearly. These swelled the exchequer.⁶