Playing cards arrived in Europe in the fourteenth century, and the aristocracy took to them right away. There were regional variations in the card designs and suits, wteen+patti+goldith the French and German suits having the greatest influence. People from all social classes started playing card games as a common past time, and they were frequently used for gambling and fortune-telling. Over time, card games underwent modifications to accommodate diverse cultures & tastes, as well as the creation of new ones.