The Complete Guide to Rummy: From History to Current Impact Rummy, a popular card game played by millions worldwide, has a long & complicated history that dates back to the early 1800sbest online slots casino. Rummy's precise beginnings are a little unclear, but it is generally accepted that it developed from a number of earlier card games, especially those that required matching and melding cards. While some historians believe that the Mexican game "Conquian" is a major forerunner of Rummy, others point to the Chinese game "Kong," which originated in the 19th century.