Originally Posted By: Tonytough
Originally Posted By: Moe_Tilden
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't most bookmaking and loansharking busts intertwined with extortion and threats of physical violence or worse?

And what of the knock-on effect the sale of drugs has in terms of urban crime?

Aces, you mentioned in a previous post how Merlino commissioned the sale of guns!


It's all inter-related

a bookmaker doesn't just suddenly decides he wants to be a bookmaker. He needs the funds

And that comes from drugs money.... which is reinvested in bookmaking/ loansharking

So yes whilst many say ahh who cares about a couple of sports bets or loans...consider what's funding these operations


I don't necessarily believe most bookmakers get their start up money from drug proceeds. A lot of times they will borrow off a bigger book for a point to say then loan out for more points. A lot of guys who book been doing it for decades. Don't forget shylocking and gambling books go hand in hand. Frank Calabrese had a huge shylock book and he was never into drugs. A lot of these guys got legitimate money they use too, there is no one formula on getting a book started.