Running Numbers? (1 Viewer)

[Nigel P]

I have heard this phrase mentioned in many films, he used to run numbers. I just don't know what it means. Can anybody help me out?

 

[Brian Perry]

I believe it refers to a lottery type of game that was run by the mafia or by someone from the neighborhood.

 

[Joe Szott]

These days it can mean anyone who uses stats or probabilities to make money, usually through some kind of gambling. Like saying the Casinos in Vegas have 'run the numbers' and the new game gives a 4.362% house edge.

Or someone playing Blackjack or poker counting cards, they 'run the numbers' in their head to figure out if they should draw another card or stand.

 

[Tommy Ceez]

Bookie

 

[Bob Graz]

It used to be common, 30 or so years ago for people to "play the numbers". Usually there would be someone in the workplace or neighborhood who would collect your money and the number you wanted to play. This person who collected the money and betting slips for the bookie was known as the numbers runner. Basically the go between, between the people betting on numbers and the bookie. How did you win? In this case the winning number was the last 3 digits of the daily handle of a particular horse race.

 

[John_Bonner]

Where I grew up it meant just what Bob described above.

 

[Hunter P]

The full term to numbers is numbers racket (i.e. a scam or con.) A lot of numbers runners were put out of business by your government sanctioned state lotteries. Same game, different name.

 

[Nigel P]

Thanks alot for your replies. I guessed that it had something to do with gambling but never knew for sure.

 

[Jon_Are]

A lot of numbers runners were put out of business by your government sanctioned state lotteries.

Actually, the sanctioned lotteries aided the neighborhood numbers games. In the 'hood, they simply pay off on the numbers that are drawn on the state game - but with higher payoffs than the state's.

Jon