3

In the movie, Uncut Gems (2019), Adam Sandler walks into a restaurant and bets 24G ($24,000) dollars with a well dressed guy sitting and eating at a table.

Adam Sandler tells this guy what stats he bets on in an upcoming NBA game and this well dressed guy writes them down on a piece of paper.

Later in the movie, Adam Sandler makes lots of money from betting in a proper casino, which is legal.

I am wondering if the first bet in a restaurant is legal? Given it looks so un-official and casual.

Improve this question
6
  • 1
    Not related to your question: What is “24G dollars”?
    – Todd Wilcox
    Commented Mar 31, 2023 at 11:26
  • 1
    [haven't seen the movie, it's just a question] - Isn't that guy simply a bookie (means: illegal)? As any official office would deliver a proper receipt for the money/bet, not write it on a piece of paper.
    – OldPadawan
    Commented Mar 31, 2023 at 12:22
  • @ToddWilcox, 24,000, I used the exact expression from the movie. Updated my question, thanks
    – Yu Zhang
    Commented Mar 31, 2023 at 22:01
  • 1
    @OldPadawan, thanks, I thought ~bookie~ meant accoutant. I got it now
    – Yu Zhang
    Commented Mar 31, 2023 at 22:01
  • 1
    Are sure they didn’t say "24Gs" and not "24G dollars"? A “G” or "grand" is one thousand dollars, it is not simply one thousand. There’s no such thing as "24G miles" or "24G cookies". In other words, "24G dollars" means "24,000 dollars dollars". "24Gs" means "24,000 dollars".
    – Todd Wilcox
    Commented Apr 1, 2023 at 0:29

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

Absolutely not legal. In the original script it's made abundantly clear that 'Anthony' (AKA Tony the stereotypical Italian restaurant owner) is an unlicensed bookmaker taking illicit bets. Since he's incapable of covering four-to-one odds on a $65K bet, it's probably fair to say that this is a sideline for him, note that although he takes the bet, he goes straight over the street to Howard's usual illicit bookmaker to lay it off.

INT. BORATTA’S RESTAURANT - EARLY EVENING: HOWARD strolls into the restaurant. ANTHONY, an impeccably groomed Italian, mid 40’s, sits at a corner table quietly enjoying a steak. He looks up.

...

HOWARD: I want the Knicks money-line, wanna do that with the over on Amare’s points plus rebounds, the Thunder to cover, King’s 2nd quarter, and the under on the Blazers/Heat, but I want to buy half a point.

ANTHONY: That’s like 4 to 1...

HOWARD: Yeah.

ANTHONY: Too much trouble. You gotta spread a bet like that out over more books.

As to why someone would go to an unlicensed bookie, the attraction is that they're not paying the relevant taxes, will happily lend large sums of money without credit checks and will take bets that other, legitimate bookmaking establishments would not.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .