Word: vigorish
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...everything from nags to numbers, pinochle to pinball machines.* Everybody wants a piece of the action, including the politicians. In 1964, New Hampshire became the first state in this century to legalize a lottery, followed this year by New York. But even the most unscrupulous bookies, whose average "vigorish" (profit margin) is 10%, would blush at New York's 70% lottery rake-off. The fact that state lottery tickets are sold in the marbled halls of New York financial institutions is too much for some people. Texas' Wright Patman, chairman of the House Banking Committee, sponsored a bill...
...McLaughlin-McLean contretemps-a falling-out romantically attributed to a slur on one mug's moll-they theorize that other motives have since arisen. Many of the victims made their living as loan sharks. This is big, if disorganized, business in Boston's lower crust. The "vigorish," or profit, is estimated at $1,000,000 a week. With that kind of take, the competition for trade is bound to be keen. As might be expected, the surplus of bodies has been accompanied by a dearth of witnesses and evidence. Just five of the 43 killings have been solved...