Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a card player; 19C use refers to a professional card gambler.

1512		Hickscorner Avii: Braulers lyers getters and chyders Walkers by nyght with grete murderers [...] and Joly carders Oppressers of people with many swerers.
1543		T. Becon An inuectyue agenst the moost wicked [and] detestable vyce of swearing n.p.: [contents] Dysers and Carders.
1562		H. Latimer 27 Sermons 85: [T]here is no mā that hath an yl conscience that doth pray in spirit: he yt is a whoremōger or a swearer, a carder or a dronkard or suche like.
1571		Iniunctions giuen by the most reuerende father in Christ, Edmonde n.p.: Whether they, or any of them[are] giuen to Dronkennesse, Idlenesse, or be haunters of Tauernes, Alehouses, or suspected places, or be hunters, haukers, dicers, carders, Tablers, Swerers, or otherwise suspected of any notorious crime.
1580		T. Lupton Siuqila too good, to be true 94: Sivqila. [T]here is not one Dicer nor yet Carder in all our Country.
1601		W. West The second part of Symboleography n.p.: [I]t neither nameth any [...] extorcioner, bankrupt, rogue, vagabond, vsurer, heretike, scismatike, dicer, bowler, carder, nor such like, being against the Law.
1615		B.H. The glasse of mans folly 48: Some say, My sonne is no Dicer nor Carder: but thou permitst him to a proparatiue by such like play.
1629		J. Gaule Distractions 389: An Informer, Promoter, Petty-fogger, a Pillager, Poller, Toller, a Monopolizer, Market-monger, Corne-hoorder, Huckster, Broker, Regratour, a Mountebanke, Catchpole, Cutpurse, Carder, Cheater; and many such more.
1634		Articles to be inquired of vvithin the Arch-deaconry of Chichester n.p.: [I]s [your parson] [...] a dicer, carder, tabler, swearer, or giuen to base or seruile labour.
1826		C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 9: Cheltenham carders. [note] Cards, cards, cards, nothing but cards from ‘rosy morn to dewy eve’ at the town of Cheltenham.
1848		Ladies’ Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII:37 316/1: Carder, a professed gambler.