Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
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Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
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Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#2Criminal has a podcast episode about this. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-108-the-numbers-2-15-2019...
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#3I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a pretty well tamper-resistant game.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#4I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a prett…
From my own experiences in NY, it was normally the first three numbers of the winning horses at a particular race at a particular track. It varied depending on whose numbers game you were talking about. I had an uncle who was involved with it. He was a money collector, among other things. Yes, it was run by the mob. No, I was not a participant. Yes, these where Italian immigrants.
As far as "illegal" goes, yes numbers games were and are illegal. Nobody cared because the cops got paid off. It's a big part of what made NY what it is. It was so successful that most every state now has a lottery system. The odds of winning in state lotteries are, well, you already know what they are. State lotteries are total rip off designed to fleece the public. State lotteries exist because the pols realized they could make bazillions of dollars running numbers on a large scale and they could chase the competition away, too. So, in a sense, numbers games became legal, but controlled by the usual suspects.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#5Growing up in a rural area, I always wondered what 'the numbers racket' shown on tv meant.
I seriously doubt the NAACP was funded by it, though. The enterprising types who establish such ventures don't seem big on sharing.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#6I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a prett…
The source of the randomness is one tampering detail. Who published the size of the payout?
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#7I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a prett…
The source of the randomness is one tampering detail. Who published the size of the payout?
Wouldn't the payout ratio have been known in advance, when the bet was being placed? From what I understand, the "bankers" would set that ratio in advance and pay out of their pockets if necessary.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#8I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a prett…
From my own experiences in NY, it was normally the first three numbers of the winning horses at a particular race at a particular track. It varied depending on whose numbers game you were talking about. I had an uncle who was involved with it. He was a money collector, among other things. Yes, it was run by the mob. No, I was not a participant. Yes, these where Italian immigrants. As far as "illegal" goes, yes number…
Many people call the lottery a "Stupidity Tax". My dad calls it a "Desperation Tax", which I tend to agree with. I don't think states should have them.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#9My grandmother grew up in Detroit in the 1920's/30's and speaks fondly of the neighborhood numbers man, as if he was an upstanding member of the Italian-American community.
Re: Running an Underground Lottery in Detroit
#10I had to look this up, because the article doesn't really explain it very well (maybe it's common knowledge, but not to me): it seems the numbers "drawn" were usually taken from a publicly verifiable source of randomness. In many cases that was apparently the last three digits of the number of bettors who participated at major race tracks that day, and that number was widely published. In that regard it seems a prett…
I used to work at a lottery Corp here in Canada. Years ago when speaking with the compliance officer we discussed one of the local draws (the lottery itself is national).
The big "bingo machine" used has balls in it that are mixed then one falls out.
The balls were locked in a safe between uses. In a locked room. In a building with security and many cameras. Each door had a door swipe with each user having specific security clearance.
What I found amusing was the balls were cleaned and weighed (yes I made a joke) before every use.
That doesn't even get into the machine itself. I've worked on slot machines so I am sure the bingo machine thing would have security seals on all the EEPROMs. And the EEPROMs would be verified often if not before each draw.
Now imagine the rules and procedures of an underground lottery.