1. #1
    SBR Tony
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    Anyone remember the old-fashioned numbers racket

    use to be one of the biggest form of Gambling back in the day

    almost everyone played it, at least the people I knew

    anywhere from the Mailman to the butcher, even your next door neighbor

    for those too younger, it usually was the local racetrack handle, last 3 numbers

  2. #2
    RangeFinder
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    Was that back in the day of rotary phones?

  3. #3
    Roscoe_Word
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    I didn't play it, but my friends would always stop the car to go see the guy. The payouts for 3 numbers were much better than the state's lottery vig as I remember.

    Was fortunate to grow up in a good environment. There was a poolroom, and the bar used to pass out dog racing forms..you could bet right there.

  4. #4
    jjgold
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    still goes on

    last 3 digits Aqueduct , Belmont, Saratoga triple last race

  5. #5
    A4K
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    Quote Originally Posted by jjgold View Post
    still goes on

    last 3 digits Aqueduct , Belmont, Saratoga triple last race
    Really? Wow, that's amazing. I remember the numbers game in the early 80's as a kid.

  6. #6
    str
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    use to be one of the biggest form of Gambling back in the day

    almost everyone played it, at least the people I knew

    anywhere from the Mailman to the butcher, even your next door neighbor

    for those too younger, it usually was the local racetrack handle, last 3 numbers
    Lol. Yes, I remember.

    Two blocks from the US Capital around the corner from my high school.
    A news paper store that sold 7-11 type stuff before 7-11 was around.

    Thanks for the flashback.

  7. #7
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by RangeFinder View Post
    Was that back in the day of rotary phones?
    Yes, and beepers were called pagers

  8. #8
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by jjgold View Post
    still goes on

    last 3 digits Aqueduct , Belmont, Saratoga triple last race
    JJ, you talking about the handle of the Triple ?

  9. #9
    funnyb25
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    Yes, and beepers were called pagers
    And cell phones were called beepers. Upgrade to a cell phone as of yet?

  10. #10
    Roscoe_Word
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    Quote Originally Posted by funnyb25 View Post
    And cell phones were called beepers. Upgrade to a cell phone as of yet?
    Yep. It wasn't "call" the guy....it was "beep" the guy

  11. #11
    VeggieDog
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    Do you get to pick your own numbers, or are they given to you randomly, quick pick style?

  12. #12
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by VeggieDog View Post
    Do you get to pick your own numbers, or are they given to you randomly, quick pick style?
    You pick your own, straight. box or combo

  13. #13
    Roscoe_Word
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    You pick your own, straight. box or combo
    Do you remember what the straight 3 would pay? I'm thinking it was something like $680 for a dollar, but I can't remember.

  14. #14
    mrpapageorgio
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    My dad used to play a numbers game years ago until the runner he knew passed away. It was basically a cross between bingo and keno, where you picked 10 numbers and the winning numbers were based off of the state lotto draw. Game would continue until someone's 10 numbers hit (usually took around 5-6 lotto draws before it would) and the winner would take the pot. One of his coworkers once hit a $30k pot. Two days later, the runner showed up with a McDonald's bag full of cash.

    Don't know if the game is still going, but I wouldn't mind playing something like that if I knew of one.

  15. #15
    Roscoe_Word
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrpapageorgio View Post
    My dad used to play a numbers game years ago until the runner he knew passed away. It was basically a cross between bingo and keno, where you picked 10 numbers and the winning numbers were based off of the state lotto draw. Game would continue until someone's 10 numbers hit (usually took around 5-6 lotto draws before it would) and the winner would take the pot. One of his coworkers once hit a $30k pot. Two days later, the runner showed up with a McDonald's bag full of cash.
    good story.

  16. #16
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roscoe_Word View Post
    Do you remember what the straight 3 would pay? I'm thinking it was something like $680 for a dollar, but I can't remember.
    I believe it was 600-1

  17. #17
    Roscoe_Word
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    I believe it was 600-1
    Yep.

  18. #18
    str
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    I believe it was 600-1
    Yep.

    My time frame was before cell phones or pagers.

    600-1 was the payout in DC.

  19. #19
    Dilo
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    Seems like a fun game. I’d rather play this over the lottery. Better odds.

  20. #20
    Optional
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    Great thread.

    Looks Like Tony has outed himself as the new oldest mod around here

  21. #21
    funnyb25
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  22. #22
    JayTris07
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    I can go to any bodega here in the Bronx and play numbers along with the Dominican numbers. Much prefer playing this than the legal State lottery numbers.

  23. #23
    unusialsusp5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dilo View Post
    Seems like a fun game. I’d rather play this over the lottery. Better odds.
    doesn't tony @ 5dimes or caribsports offer 900-1 on a 3 digit on any states draw you want. i know it's tough to get paid but that seems a better value.

  24. #24
    jjgold
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBR Tony View Post
    JJ, you talking about the handle of the Triple ?
    it depends some use just the trifecta numbers

    handling too tough to find now

  25. #25
    VeggieDog
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  26. #26
    unusialsusp5
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    Quote Originally Posted by jjgold View Post
    it depends some use just the trifecta numbers

    handling too tough to find now
    highly unlikely they use the trifecta numbers. there would be no duplicate numbers in the sequence if they did that such as 778 or 446 you get the idea. they need 1000 different combo's.

  27. #27
    JayTris07
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    Quote Originally Posted by unusialsusp5 View Post
    highly unlikely they use the trifecta numbers. there would be no duplicate numbers in the sequence if they did that such as 778 or 446 you get the idea. they need 1000 different combo's.


    I think it is the last three digits from the total handle for the day.

  28. #28
    Roscoe_Word
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    I had a friend (have, although I don't see him very much anymore) who, in the day, couldn't pass up a birthdate or license plate # without goin to see the guy.
    Last edited by Roscoe_Word; 02-02-18 at 05:49 PM. Reason: forgot some words

  29. #29
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roscoe_Word View Post
    I had (have, although I don't see him very much anymore) who, in the day, couldn't pass up a birthdate or license plate # without goin to see the guy.
    This

  30. #30
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by Optional View Post
    Great thread.

    Looks Like Tony has outed himself as the new oldest mod around here
    As long as she's hanging around me, age is just a number

  31. #31
    SBR Tony
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    Quote Originally Posted by jjgold View Post
    it depends some use just the trifecta numbers

    handling too tough to find now
    that wouldn't work for reasons already posted. plus what happens if you have a field larger than 9 horses ?

    Quote Originally Posted by unusialsusp5 View Post
    highly unlikely they use the trifecta numbers. there would be no duplicate numbers in the sequence if they did that such as 778 or 446 you get the idea. they need 1000 different combo's.
    correct, and what I said above is another reason, but Yours is the right answer

    Quote Originally Posted by JayTris07 View Post
    I think it is the last three digits from the total handle for the day.
    Yes

  32. #32
    unusialsusp5
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    or a field of horses 7 or less. people who play the 0 couldn't ever win. obviously it's the handle like it always was and still is. end of discussion.

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