Gambling was not legal in early Dodge City, but it was prevalent.
Lawmen themselves were often gamblers. Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday were all professional gamblers.
As long as the games were “square”--not scams--gambling was tolerated. Gambling was considered respectable. Card games were among popular gambling pursuits in the western frontier.
Even dignitaries gambled in Dodge City. Kansas ex-governor Thomas Carney, came to Dodge City in 1877 as a hide and bone buyer for a St. Louis firm. He thought he found an easy mark in three businessmen and engaged them in a friendly game of poker. His opponents were Charlie Norton, Charlie Ronan and Robert Gilmore who were three of Dodge City’s most notorious gamblers. They "fleeced" the poor governor.
One of these three men, Charlie Ronan, taught billiards to world champion billiard player, Jacob Schaefer, Sr., at Beatty & Kelley’s in the 1870s.
Read more: Gambling in Dodge City [Retrieved 1/2/2016]
Photo of Jake Schaefer Jr. sitting on a pool table. He was the son of fellow billiards pro Jacob Schaefer Sr. (1855–1910), who was known as "The Wizard" by reason of his exploits with the cue. Both Jake, Jr., and Hoppe were tutored by the elder Schaefer, whose last match before his death was a successful defense of his title against Hoppe.
Lawmen themselves were often gamblers. Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday were all professional gamblers.
As long as the games were “square”--not scams--gambling was tolerated. Gambling was considered respectable. Card games were among popular gambling pursuits in the western frontier.
Even dignitaries gambled in Dodge City. Kansas ex-governor Thomas Carney, came to Dodge City in 1877 as a hide and bone buyer for a St. Louis firm. He thought he found an easy mark in three businessmen and engaged them in a friendly game of poker. His opponents were Charlie Norton, Charlie Ronan and Robert Gilmore who were three of Dodge City’s most notorious gamblers. They "fleeced" the poor governor.
One of these three men, Charlie Ronan, taught billiards to world champion billiard player, Jacob Schaefer, Sr., at Beatty & Kelley’s in the 1870s.
Read more: Gambling in Dodge City [Retrieved 1/2/2016]
Photo of Jake Schaefer Jr. sitting on a pool table. He was the son of fellow billiards pro Jacob Schaefer Sr. (1855–1910), who was known as "The Wizard" by reason of his exploits with the cue. Both Jake, Jr., and Hoppe were tutored by the elder Schaefer, whose last match before his death was a successful defense of his title against Hoppe.
