One form of entertainment-gambling-became an obsession at Versailles. Many nobles gambled regularly and lost enormous sums of money. One princess described the scene: “Here in France as soon as people get cards; they play for frightful sums, and the players seem bereft of their senses. One shouts at the top of his voice, another strikes the table with his fist. It is horrible to watch them.” However, Louis did not think so. He was pleased by an activity that kept the Versailles nobles busy and out of politics