When did playing cards first appear in Europe?

Playing cards first appeared in Europe in the 1370s. They were likely introduced to the continent through Italy or Spain as imports or possessions of merchants traveling from the Mamlūk dynasty in Egypt.1

Initially, these cards were hand-painted luxury items reserved for the upper classes. Their accessibility increased significantly in the 15th century following the development of wood-block printing and later the use of stencils, which lowered production costs. As card games became more widespread, they were frequently associated with gambling, leading to various prohibitions by both church and civic authorities. Governments eventually recognized the potential for revenue, often imposing taxes on card manufacturing or establishing state monopolies.1