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The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz

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GAMING AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPERORS

CHAPTER IV. page 4

The Emperor Claudius played like an imbecile, and Nero like a
madman. The former would send for the persons whom he had
executed the day before, to play with him; and the latter,
lavishing the treasures of the public exchequer, would stake four
hundred thousand sestertii (L20,000) on a single throw of the
dice.

Claudius played at dice on his journeys, having the interior
of his carriage so arranged as to prevent the motion from
interfering with the game.

From that period the title of courtier and gambler became
synonymous. Gaming was the means of securing preferment; it was
by gambling that Vitellius opened to himself so grand a career;
gaming made him indispensable to Claudius.[33]

[33] Claudio per aleae studium familiaris. Suet.in Vita Vitelli.

Seneca, in his Play on the death of Claudius, represents him as
in the lower regions condemned to pick up dice for ever, putting
them into a box without a bottom![34]

[34] Nam quotiens missurus erat resonante fritillo,
Utraque subducto fugiebat tessera fundo.
_Lusus de Morte Claud. Caesar_.

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