The most widespread, pervasive racket operated then, as now, by the general membership was without a doubt, gambling. Years ago there were many games of chance; horse bookmaking, sports bookmaking, policy numbers, lotteries of various stripes, Treasury Balance lotteries, card games, dice games, slot machines, bingo, punchboards, pinballs, casinos with roulette and poker and blackjack, etc.

Today 99.9% of gambling is sports bookmaking. Period! And a few half-assed card games. Video slot-machines have largely been eradicated also. You only find them every blue moon in a private social club, but even thats a rarity.

#2; Shylocking, or loan-sharking, This was always the second most populated racket. Nowadays, I actually think it exceeds gambling in popularity with the fellas. Easy to operate and it will never die out. NEVER.

Aside from that. Drugs. But thats a dirty fucking business where you deal with a lot of hardens and druggies, rats, etc. And you get a wheelbarrow of time for it. So in the end; gaming and loans are still the top two. Period!