 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2021) |
The frontier gambler is one of the most recognizable stock characters of the 19th century American frontier. Historically, gamblers were of both sexes, came from a variety of professions, social classes, and geographical backgrounds, were of many different nationalities, and were part of a well-respected profession. As the Western United States became increasingly populated and domesticated, the public perception of gambling changed to a negative one and led nearly all of the state and territorial legislatures to pass anti-gambling laws in and effort to "clean up" their towns. The gambler continues to be a captivating figure in the imagery of the west, representing the openness of its society and invoking its association with risk-taking.