From my experience of hearing about 'number-running' or 'numbers' it seems to be some sort of illegal gambling activity. Malcolm X was involved in it before he went to prison and converted, as well as a few other criminally minded people. There is also reference to it in the film 'Dead Presidents'
2006-10-09 08:11:10 · 4 answers · asked by londonboy 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
It was the daily number before gambling became legalized. The underworld would take the winners of three specified races at a certain race track, and that would be the winning number.
2006-10-09 08:19:41 · answer #1 · answered by jinenglish68 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Numbers Running USED to mean exactly what the previous answer stated, but now days, most people use the term more loosely, and it basically means taking bets as a non-professional bookie. It can be on sporting events, (which is the most common) or even the results of an election.
2006-10-09 08:21:37 · answer #2 · answered by BarBQer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe that back pre lottery days the number was the last three digits of the dow jones average for that day. people would bet on what those would be. i think this was mostly a mafia related thing and the runners would take the bets and make the payoffs.
2006-10-09 08:15:17 · answer #3 · answered by SKYDOGSLIM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Number running is still done today but it is illegal only because uncle same doesn't get his cut. It's underground lottery basically
2006-10-09 21:13:15 · answer #4 · answered by Nepolean Dynamite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋