Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a professional card player.

1512		Hickscorner Avii: Braulers lyers getters and chyders Walkers by nyght with grete murderers [...] and Joly carders Oppressers of people with many swerers.
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.