The Complete Guide to Rummy: Background, Rules, Techniques, and More The card game rummy has been a player favorite for centuries, dating back to the early 1800s. Although its exact origins are a little unclear, it is generally accepted that Rummy originated from the Chinese carindia wala gamed game "Kong," which involved combining cards to form runs and sets. When the game arrived in the US in the early 1900s, it saw substantial changes. Known as Gin Rummy, the American variation of Rummy became extremely popular during the Great Depression because it offered families and friends an inexpensive way to pass the time. As a result of numerous adaptations over time, there are now many different Rummy variations to suit a range of tastes and ability levels. Rummy adopted local customs and cultural influences as it expanded throughout the world.