Casino History - Slots Poker Roulette 3/11

Summary

In the 1820s and 1830s, Vicksburg, Mississippi, thrived as a gambling hub, with 'gambling hells' deeply integrated into the community. Anti-gambling citizens eventually united to expel professional gamblers, leading to a violent purge. Forced out, these gamblers migrated to the Mississippi and Ohio riverboats, where they initially faced opposition but later corrupted the system by bribing captains. They operated in teams, using marked cards and accomplices to defraud unsuspecting passengers, turning the riverboats into floating dens of deceit.

Takeaways

• 🃏 In the 1820s and 1830s, gambling was central to the culture of cities like Vicksburg, Mississippi.
• 🏙️ Vicksburg was known as a lively town due to its thriving river trade and gambling industry.
• 👤 The presence of gambling 'hells' caused moralists to push back against the perceived incivility of the frontier.
• 📢 In 1835, Vicksburg residents attempted to rid their city of gamblers by issuing warnings and threats.
• 🏴‍☠️ Some gamblers resisted the expulsion, leading to a confrontation with a vigilante force.
• 🔫 After a brief conflict, the gamblers were forcibly removed and executed in the town square.
• 🚢 Following the purge, gamblers sought refuge on riverboats traveling along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
• 🚢 Riverboats, initially designed for trade, became a new gambling hotspot as gamblers adapted to their environment.
• 💸 Gamblers on riverboats often operated in teams, using elaborate schemes and signals to deceive other players.
• 🎲 Cheating was rampant on riverboats, with marked cards and mechanical devices used to manipulate games.
• 🚫 Riverboat captains were initially against gambling but were eventually bribed to allow it on board.

Q & A

What was Vicksburg, Mississippi known for during the 1820s and 1830s?

Vicksburg, Mississippi, was known as one of the liveliest places in the southwest during the 1820s and 1830s, with entire cities built around gambling, making it a hub for gambling halls or 'hells' as referred to by moralists.

Why were anti-gamblers in Vicksburg concerned?

Anti-gamblers in Vicksburg were concerned because the presence of gambling halls had made their way into respectable parts of the community, bringing consternation and the stigma of frontier incivility.

What action did the townspeople of Vicksburg take against gamblers in 1835?

In 1835, the townspeople of Vicksburg devised a plan to expel all gamblers, posting warnings demanding professional gamblers to leave the city within 24 hours.

How did most gamblers respond to the expulsion notice in Vicksburg?

Most gamblers complied with the expulsion notice, leaving Vicksburg in fear, as observed by a witness who noted that the majority of the gang dispersed without making any opposition.

What happened to the gamblers who refused to leave Vicksburg?

A few gamblers who barricaded themselves inside one of the local gambling halls were targeted by a vigilante force. After an exchange of gunfire, the gamblers were dragged outside and hanged in the city square.

Where did gamblers go after being expelled from Vicksburg?

After being expelled from Vicksburg, gamblers headed to the well-established riverboat system along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers where they found loose money and eager amateur gamblers.

How did the riverboat network initially view gamblers?

Initially, the riverboat captains were against gambling and would put gamblers off the boats when they caught them gambling, often stranding them on islands.

What changed the riverboat captains' stance on gambling?

Gamblers eventually found a way to make the right people happy by paying off the riverboat captains, which allowed them to run their own gambling games as long as they were paying the captain.

What was the typical setup of a riverboat for gambling purposes?

Riverboats were layered with deck space and had billowing smokestacks. In the cargo hold, deck hands and slaves would gamble, while white gamblers played in luxurious main salons upstairs.

How did professional gamblers operate on riverboats?

Professional gamblers on riverboats often worked in teams, using hand signals and body gestures to communicate with each other. They would pretend not to know each other and enlist accomplices such as bartenders and boat personnel to help in their schemes.

What kind of cheating methods were used by gamblers on riverboats?

Gamblers used a variety of cheating methods including marked and shaved cards to the dealer's advantage, and sometimes employed crude mechanisms that could produce the desired card with the flick of a lever.