Frontier gambler facts for kids

The frontier gambler was a well-known character in the American Old West during the 1800s. These gamblers, both men and women, came from many different backgrounds and nationalities. For a long time, gambling was seen as a respected job. However, as more people moved West and towns grew, opinions changed. Gambling started to be seen in a negative light, leading to laws against it in many places. Even today, the frontier gambler remains a fascinating symbol of the Old West, showing its adventurous spirit and love for taking risks.

History of Frontier Gamblers

Gambling was extremely popular in the American West from about 1850 to 1910. It was the main form of entertainment, and almost everyone tried it at some point. Cowboys, miners, lumberjacks, business people, and even lawmen all played games of chance. They played for fun and to win money.

When a new town or camp started, one of the first buildings would often be a gambling hall. As towns grew, these halls became bigger and fancier. They were usually the largest and most decorated buildings. Many gambling halls also had a bar, a stage for shows, and hotel rooms. These places were very important for the local economy. Towns that welcomed gambling were often called "wide-awake" or "wide-open."

Most people in the West thought of gambling as a respectable job. Professional gamblers were often respected members of their communities. For example, Bat Masterson wrote in 1907 that gambling was "the principal and best paying industry of the town... and it was also reckoned among its most respectable."

Professional gamblers would rent a table in a gambling house and use their own money to run the games. Because of this, many settled down in one place. To be successful, a gambler needed a reputation for being fair and honest. These honest gamblers were called 'sports'. They usually didn't drink, cheat, or swear. They paid their rent and fees, and tried to act like respectable business owners.

Where Gambling Was Popular

The California Gold Rush in 1849 brought many gamblers to the West. San Francisco quickly became a major gambling center. Famous gambling houses there included the Parker House and the El Dorado Gambling Saloon. Portsmouth Square was known for having many gambling houses close by.

Gambling was also popular in mining camps across California and the Southwest. The route to California through Panama was even called the "Gambler's Route." Dealers were everywhere, and some stories say that many trips to the gold fields ended before they even began because people lost all their money gambling. Mining towns like Deadwood, Silver City, and Tombstone were famous for their many gambling halls, just as much as for their rich mineral deposits.

Cattle towns in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska also became gambling hubs. Thanks to the railroads and the cattle business, many people worked in these towns and had money to bet. Towns like Abilene, Dodge City, Wichita, and Kansas City were very friendly to gaming. However, this also meant they sometimes had a reputation for being places where rules were less strict.

Women Gamblers in the Old West

It wasn't just men who played games of chance. Women also placed bets, and it was normal to see them at the gambling tables. Many women gambled, dealt cards, or even ran their own gambling houses. This job gave them a chance to earn their own money and gain social standing.

One famous woman gambler was Eleanore Dumont. She ran several gambling houses in Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. Another well-known figure was Alice Ives, who started gambling after her husband died. She was popularly known as Poker Alice and had a gambling career that lasted almost forty years. Kitty LeRoy was another strong personality in Deadwood. She was known for her exciting style and great gambling skills. She was also known for being tough and not afraid to stand up for herself.

Diverse Backgrounds of Gamblers

Frontier gamblers came from many different countries and backgrounds. Especially during the California Gold Rush, people from all over the world came looking for gold. These included Mexicans, Chinese, Australians, and Peruvians, and they all enjoyed games of chance.

When Anglo settlers moved into areas of the Southwest where Mexican populations already lived, they found gambling was already popular there. Most towns had at least one or two gambling houses. One very popular game, Monte, came from Mexico and was later changed into Three Card Monte. Chinese immigrants also loved to gamble and brought games like Fan Tan and different types of lottery to North America. Chinatown in San Francisco had many gambling houses and was a popular spot for those who wanted to play.

Popular Games of Chance

Gamblers in the Old West liked fast-paced games where they could win money quickly. Faro was the most popular game of the time, known as the "King of all games." Other popular games included Monte, Vingt-et-Un (which is like twenty-one), roulette, and chuck-a-luck. Poker wasn't very popular at first because it was slower, but it became more common over time.

Not all games used cards. Dice games like craps were common, as were games with a spinning wheel, like roulette or hazard. People didn't just bet in saloons or at gaming tables. Westerners were known for enjoying betting on almost anything. Horse racing was a very popular way to wager, and foot races and boxing matches also offered chances to bet. Competitions between animals were also popular, such as cockfighting or dogfights.

Gamblers in Movies and Stories

In popular culture, the frontier gambler is often shown as a tall, thin man with a mustache. He is usually well-dressed in a tailored suit, often black. He is often shown as a gentleman with good manners, concerned about his honor. This gambler is usually calm and cool under pressure.

Gambling and gamblers appear in many Western books, movies, and TV shows. This shows how common gambling was in Western society. It also shows how strongly the West is still connected to gambling, just like it's connected to cowboys or lawmen. Gambling is often used in stories as a way to move the plot forward. For example, scenes with high-stakes card games or gunfights over those games are very common.

The frequent appearance of gambling in Western stories also highlights the risk-taking and chance involved in moving to the West and living there every day. In a way, choosing to leave their old lives and go West was a huge gamble for many people. Gambling is also linked to activities that weren't always officially allowed, suggesting that the West was sometimes seen as a place with less strict rules.

Famous Gamblers and Places