Hazard is played with three dice thrown from a cup. The objective for each player is to determine whether he will hold more red or more black cards in his hand. Red and black is played with two decks of cards.

These popular 19th century games were played in many saloons. In 1883, he became part owner of the Long Branch Saloon, but was soon driven out of Dodge when he fell out of favor with the new mayor. He also was a gunfighter and professional gambler. In Dodge City, Luke Short (top, right) was known as a well-dressed and handsome gentleman. Others stayed in the cattle towns making livings as buffalo hunters, saloon owners, and even lawmen. Some gambled at the end of the trail drive and returned to Texas. The cowtown gamblers were a diverse group.

However, gambling was not perceived as a moral issue until the Texas-to-Kansas cattle drives brought hundreds of cowboys to Kansas railheads beginning in the 1860s. 'We are here to live and get rich-if we can.' - Dodge City Times, 1885Īmerican Indians had been gambling on games and footraces long before whites arrived in Kansas.