Corner bookie makes his living the old-fashioned way: One loser at a time

[BCampbell]

Sometimes a cigarillo is just a cigarillo. But not when that cigarillo is being smoked by a bookie to mask his identity. For Fielding, a smoke screen is all that stands between him, identification and prosecution


IN THE NEON glow of Manhattan's Times Square, a black sedan glides through the streets. At the wheel sits Floyd Fielding*, armed with his essentials: cigarillo, Uni-ball pen clipped to his T-shirt, four cellphones at the ready. On this Tuesday night in November, he'll make eight stops from Battery Park to the Upper West Side. He does not speed or text while moving. He drives cautiously -- not only because of the pre-holiday crowds but because Fielding, by the nature of his business, is a cautious man.....Continue Reading

[wisky]

Great read ! AMERICASBOOKIE or 1VICE should have been in the article !

2 crappy books Betonline and Bodog get some free publicity.

[gulfcoastplayer]

Yeah,, thanks for sharing. That was an interesting read. The daily grind makes it sound less than glamorous. I guess it would really suck when it came down to having to rough up a friend to collect.

[BIGJBALLERS]

Sounds like of Griffin!

[NES]

decent read. Whats with the excessive use of the word cigarillo? Jesus Christ we get it, dude smokes little cigars. Can we move on to the part where he breaks the stiffs knees already?

[BIGJBALLERS]

Just looked over it again your right does use the word cigarilli a lot

[NES]

right? looks like the author thought we may have missed it the first 3 times he said it in the first couple lines of the story.

[frankie]

great great article.When people ask me"how did a guy like you wind up as a bookie?",i use the line from Roadhouse"just lucky I guess".

[BIGJBALLERS]

right? looks like the author thought we may have missed it the first 3 times he said it in the first couple lines of the story.

Totally NES!

[jb777]

Using violence and texting clients their home address etc is a full proof way to go to prison for a long time. This guy's an idiot.

[frankie]

You wanna make an omelet you have to break some eggs sometimes.

[BCampbell]

Using violence and texting clients their home address etc is a full proof way to go to prison for a long time. This guy's an idiot.

agreed, this guy is obviously an idiot

[gulfcoastplayer]

Unfortunately, violence is probably necessary in a business that is still illegal. Can't exactly go to the Better Business Bureau.

[BCampbell]

agreed, it may be necessary but threats are better made face to face so they are less likely to end up entered into evidence by the court system

[jb777]

Unfortunately, violence is probably necessary in a business that is still illegal. Can't exactly go to the Better Business Bureau.

Violence is never necessary if you know what you're doing.