Post-Civil War Gambling

Cards and dice are the main attractions of casino gambling.

Both, also expanded in post-Civil War America.

The Western frontier maintained a legendary gambling area, while the much established cities of the East, south, and Midwest territories perceived an awakening of enthusiasm for gambling casinos.

Poker instantly the most well-known betting card game in the U.S., and the skill to bluff and maintain a cool composure during this game was deemed as an admirable quality.

John Carlisle's ability in playing Poker was so much admired by Grover Cleveland that he assigned him secretary of the treasury.

Famous gamblers appeared on the American scene. Like George Devol used his profession playing three-card Monte and Faro on Mississippi steamboats.

Wild Bill Hickock played Poker in Cheyenne, Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp operated a card club in Tombstone, Soapy Smith ran elegant gambling halls in the Yukon Territory, to name a few.

While these players assembled to gambling houses to indulge their amusement with cards and dice, society restrained approval of these activities.

George Canfield's experiences explained the ambivalence toward casino gambling that was rampant during this period. Canfield started dealing cards in a resort that belonged to a New Hampshire society leader. Apprehended during a police raid, he has in jail for six months after being rigidly prosecuted by Samuel P. Colt.

Upon his release, Canfield opened a Faro game in New York City where he always paid the police for protection. As his business flourished, so was the cost of his protection. Then he purchased a lavish gambling casino at Saratoga Springs.

He then refurbished the casino in a style that was similar to Monte Carlo, importing ornate furniture, hiring the finest European chefs, and requiring participants to dress in formal attire.

In New York City, Canfield bought a palatial gambling hall near Delmonico's restaurant and catered to the city's wealthy folks. However, both of these casinos were permitted to operate for Canfield paid 10 percent of the gambling revenue to the police.

When he restricted his profits once more for his businesses' protection, his casinos were unfortunately raided and he was busted and charged with illegal gambling. After long, legal proceddings, Canfield pleaded guilty and paid a one thousand dollar fine.

He continued to run his casinos. However, he refused to pay the police large amounts of protection fees. After his marked participations in several events with the police and grand juries, Canfield decided to close his casinos, and retired to live out peacefully.

Even though he had been wonderfully successful and was referred as the prince of gamblers for his honestly run games, Canfield said that, in the end, the hypocrisy of police authorities and city officials had taken him out of the gaming business.