The Allure of Rummy: A Complete Examination Rummy's history dates to the early 1800s, and it is thought to have its roots in the Chinese card game "Kong," which inrummy 2volved combining cards into sets & runs. The game spread throughout many cultures as it developed, adjusting to regional tastes and customs. Rummy arrived in the United States by the late 1800s and quickly became very popular there. The game became a mainstay in American homes and was frequently played in social situations.