Case Name: Albert G. Harding, plaintiff, vs. Alexander S. Walker, defendant
Court: Superior Court of the Territory of Arkansas
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1828-04
Citations: 1 Ark. Terr. Rep. 53
Docket Number: 
Parties: Albert G. Harding, plaintiff, vs. Alexander S. Walker, defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the United States Superior Court for the Territory of Arkansas, from 1820 to 1836
Volume: 1
Pages: 53–54

Head Matter:
Albert G. Harding, plaintiff, vs. Alexander S. Walker, defendant.
1. Gaming contracts arc contrary to good morals, and void.
2. All wagers are not void; but all gaming contracts are.
April, 1828.
— Case, before Benjamin Johnson, Thomas P. Eskridge, and William Trimble, judges.

Opinion:
Opinion oe the Court. — This is an action on the case, brought by the plaintiff to recover of the defendant the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, won at a game of cards, called " seven up." To the declaration, the defendant demurs, and insists that there is no cause of action set forth. He admits that the game mentioned is not one of those prohibited by statute, but claims that there is not a good consideration at common law set forth.
The demurrer must be sustained on two grounds; first, because the contract is without a good or valuable consideration. It is settled that the law will not raise an assumpsit without a consideration, or support an action on a nudum pactum. See 1 Bibb, 182; 6 Johnson, 194; Comyn, p. 9.
Second, because it is a gaming contract, and against good morals. In the case of Bunn v. Ricker, 4 Johns. 432, a distinction is taken between wagers and gaming contracts. Wagers against public policy or good morals are void as gaming contracts. It is clearly to be inferred from the opinion of the court and the cases referred to, that all wagers are not void, but that all gaming contracts are. In the case of Good v. Elliot, Grose, justice, says that wagers are not void as gaming contracts. Lord Mansfield, in the case, Da Costa v. Jones, says, whether it would not have been better policy to have treated all wagers as gam ing contracts, and to have held them void, is too late to discuss. Thus all declare that some wagers are to be supported, but deny the validity of all gaming contracts. This is a gaming contract, and therefore void.
Demurrer sustained, and judgment for the defendant.