The Untouchables (1959)

Episode Overview

In October 1932, Chicago was suffering under the heavy weight of the Great Depression, with rampant unemployment and widespread hardship. For many, the only glimmer of hope to escape their dire circumstances came from the lottery or punch-boards. Sensing an opportunity, the mob introduced a numbers game, where participants chose a number between 0 and 999, facing odds of 1 in 1,000 for a chance to win. The enticing 600-to-1 payout drew in countless players, while the many who lost, their money funneled into the mob's pockets, remained overlooked and unacknowledged.