Also referred to as 'the rackets' - am I right?
2006-08-03 21:15:33 · 7 answers · asked by Privatize 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
There are two meanings:
"Running the numbers" or "running numbers" would be to take a mathematical or engineering problem and imputing numerical values into the variables then doing the math to come up with an answer or solution.
The second meaning has to do with the number runners that worked for organized crime in the 20's and 30's. During this time the Mafia and other gangs controlled a lottery like game which was called the numbers.
The people who worked for the numbers racket were called number runners. They collected the bets from the gamblers and delivered the payoff when the gamblers won. Sometimes, these number runners were said to be "running numbers."
Frankie59 is correct that the winning numbers were often determined by the final digits of the winning payoff results of horse races. It is also true that when you compare the numbers game which was an illegal lottery to today's legal state controlled lottery, it did offer higher payoffs.
But, the numbers runners were not bookies. A bookie is a person who takes illegal bets on horse racing or sporting events. Contrairy to what the Wikipedia says, these two professions were not combined because the numbers game and sports betting were usually controlled by different people. Also the bookies took bigger bets and looked down on the number runners who survived by taking many small bets; hence the terms "numbers runner" and "book maker" refer to different people.
Answer Man
2006-08-03 21:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by Answer Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is gambling illegally originally using winning horse numbers at a local track to determine winning number. Mostly knocked out now by state lotteries although still exists paying 60 percent instead of 50 percent the lottery payout and surprise surprise the traditional numbers payout was 50 percent. (one dollar got you $5000 on old system $6000 on some new systems.
2006-08-03 21:52:35 · answer #2 · answered by frankie59 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The winning numbers were the last whole number + 2 decimal points in the Dow Jones average, or so I was told a LONG time ago when I lived in NY. It makes sense, no one could guess and it changes daily M-F Penny
2016-03-16 13:30:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To the best of my knowledge it's taking illegal bets on a lottery. Instead of placing them with the lottery they are placed with a bookie.
2006-08-03 21:21:56 · answer #4 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Running numbers is the jargon term for doing multiple mathematical calculations to find the best option
2006-08-03 21:18:58 · answer #5 · answered by kaloptic 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Underground, illegal, operating w/o a permit and unregulated lottery/casino/sports book/bingo...
2006-08-03 21:38:50 · answer #6 · answered by askthetoughquestions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol
2006-08-03 21:21:31 · answer #7 · answered by Hawtman1092 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋