Book excerpt: Notwithstanding state-run lotteries, and some academicians predictions, illegal numbers gambling continues to thrive. Collating data from police reports, government documents, interviews, and other sources, Liddick (affiliation unspecified) reviews the relevant literature; constructs a sociopolitical history of this key organized crime enterprise; and analyzes such factors as the structure of the gambling market, the law enforcement response, and the impact of numbers gambling on communities. Appends a narrative detailing such operations in New York City, 1960-1969, with tables on Cosa Nostra "family bank" affiliations and territories. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR