I recall, in the 1950's, a popular cigar store on Missouri Avenue in downtown East St. Louis. Perhaps, I was in the store a dozen times during my teen years. The store was near a city bus stop I used after high school basketball practice. I went in the store for a bottled soda to drink during my bus ride home.
The cigar store was always packed with men and smoke; never saw a woman in that cigar store. Once I used the bathroom and walking by the back room, I saw several card tables where guys were playing poker; lots of money on the tables. There was a couple of illegal slot machines against one wall and everybody in East St. Louis knew that the cigar store was an illegal betting joint and headquarters for the numbers racket.
I remember local people bemoaning the fact that the illegal business operation was ignored by the local law enforcement. The speculation was the police were paid-off to 'walk-on-by.'
Finally, the illegal operations did bite the dust...the State of Illinois shut them down; the State now 'runs' the gambling business...casinos, numbers game (lottery), etc. Of course some State officials are still 'skimming.' Now the State is moving into the drug business (marijuana); perhaps one day the government will operate brothels; interesting how morals changed over time...hey, business is business!
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