The Persistent Appeal of Rummy: An Extensive Analysis Rummy's history dates to the early 1800s, & it is thought to have its roots in the Chinese card game "Kong," which involved combining cards into sets & runs. This early variation of card gamludo cash withdrawales prepared the way for the eventual development of the contemporary game of rummy. A number of changes had been made to the game by the time it arrived in the US, taking inspiration from different cultures. Rummy was first mentioned in writing in America in the 1900s, when it was frequently referred to as "Rum," a term that is still used informally today. With families looking for inexpensive at-home entertainment options during the Great Depression, the game quickly became popular.