Darts Was Almost Banned in the UK Before Landmark Court Ruling

The incredible rise of darts very nearly did not happen, with the sport almost banned in the UK before a landmark court ruling happened.

Darts has never been as big and popular as it is currently, with two-time world champion Luke Littler leading the revolution and bringing new eyes to the sport.

The 18-year-old sensation and the attention he received was pivotal to a record £5 million prize money pot for the recent World Darts Championship, where Littler took £1 million after retaining his crown.

'The Nuke' has also just signed a record-breaking £20 million deal with Target Darts, who he has been with since the age of 12.

The buzz surrounding darts is so strong that next year's tournament at Alexandra Palace will move into a different, larger room so that more fans can pile in for the action.

The UK scene is at the forefront of darts and has been for a long time. But there was a time where darts was almost banned on these shores.

Back in 1908, Jim Garside, landlord of the Adelphi Inn in Leeds, was prosecuted for allowing darts to be played in his pub.

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This was because at the time, darts was deemed to be a "games of chance" and those were illegal in establishments like public houses.

Local magistrates were of the view that darts was merely a gambling game where luck was everything, rather relying on skill and accuracy.

Littler is the No.1 ranked darts player in the world. Image: Getty

Garside was not going down without a fight and in defending himself in court, he enlisted the help of the best player he knew.

Enter William 'Bigfoot' Annakin, a local darts champion. With a dartboard set up, Annakin essentially played against the magistrates and was asked to hit certain numbers.

According to darts501.com, he threw three darts in the 20 section and the court chiefs were invited to replicate his throws.

However, not being darts players, they were unable to do so and the case was knocked on the head - with the rest history. Darts grew to be a staple of pub culture and without the case, it may never have grown to be a professional sport.

Darts was banned in three UK cities

Eventually, as per the PDPA section on the origin of darts, clamour for official rules led to the establishment of the National Darts Association (NDA).

Darts was also banned in some UK cities in the 1930s. Image: Getty

The first ever News of the World Individual Darts Championship took place in London in the 1927/28 season, with 1,010 players signing up and expanded with further sign-ups through the 1930s.

There were further bans on the sport though, with it prohibited in Huddersfield on health grounds, Liverpool not allowed to play as the feeling was that it encouraged "drunkeness" the grounds and Glasgow as magistrates felt it would encourage young people to go to pubs.

The bans were lifted after the Second World War, where servicemen and women spread the love of the game.