The Complete Guide to Rummy: Background, Regulations, Advantages, Variations, & More The card game rummy has been a favorite among players for centuries, dating back to the early 180slots list0s. The precise origins of Rummy are still somewhat unknown, but it is generally accepted that it developed from a number of earlier card games, such as the Chinese game "Kong," which involved combining cards to form runs and sets. Throughout the 1900s, the game became more and more popular in the US, especially after Elwood T. Gin Rummy was introduced in 1910.