The concept of the numbers racket has been around for a long time and has had different names throughout history. Synonyms for numbers rackets include "policy", "bolita", "the numbers game", "the Italian lottery", and "the street lottery". In essence, these are illegal methods of betting on a variety of numbers that represent various outcomes, such as winning a lottery, horse race, or sporting event. The numbers racket has been prevalent in many parts of the world, and its popularity has been driven by the thrill of gambling and the potential to win a substantial amount of money. Despite the many names it may be called, the numbers racket remains illegal in most jurisdictions.