Folks, right now we have as dearth of innovation.

In years gone by, there was loansharks and bookies - the mainstay of this thing of ours.  A little fellow named Gaius once controlled about a fifth of this world's economy - I don't think there's been a richer guy before or since.

He didn't have the biggest gun, but he had the most cash and was therefore a powerful man.  Owing him money could get you killed - or keep you alive.  Going back further, there were lots of small time loansharks too.

Where have they gone?

Sporadically, we have also had bookies, guys you could place sports bets with.  Real odds and real outcomes.

Where have they gone?

Why isn't there the innovation of yesteryear?

For the record, Godfather Solid once had well over two fifths of this worlds money in his pocket.

Godfather Sammy Garcini also had about a third of the worlds economy.

We see bookies all around. I believe Don Joao_Paiva has a book setup here

I doubt Garcini had that much cash, some guys have a lot of wealth in credits stashed, but actual raw cash - owning a lot of that suggests massive power.

It is always a pleasure when you grace us with your presence, Kuku. I am currently overseeing a bookmaking operation, run by my captain, Don Joao_Paiva. You should drop by sometime, I'd be happy to take your money from you!

As for loan sharks, I have a negative feeling on this issue. It is my belief that borrowing money is best down within the family and city. This avoids any unnecessary issues or conflicts. 

It is very possible that Godfather Garcini had that much 'raw' cash. At the time he was the controlling Godfather of Chicago, a city of over 400 people, he was also considered 'richer than god'. A very powerful man indeed. 

Don Rourke is correct if the family journals are correct.

Godfather Garcini celebrated his birthday and his many Captains and districts sent up monetary tribute up to the leader of the large Chicago.

I'm sure his kin could answer it for him, if he had wanted to do so.

I'm willing to step-up for bookmaking, or sports bet if anyone is interested. I have the capital to operate such enterprises.

Great Grandaddy Garcini certainly did have that much cash, I think his books topped out at around 1.04 billion just in cash, I don't have a record of his credit financials.

You are right Mint, although it wasn't exactly his captains that sent that money up, they definitely contributed to this money over time, but how he came to have over a billion dollars was down to a couple of individuals. It was a young man by the name of Signet, a Capo in one of the other districts who sent 400 million dollars to Sammy for his birthday celebrations. On top of this, Philadelphia/New York had also recently sent him 400 million as compensation for the death of Typhon. These sums paired with the money Chicago had within it's leadership already totaled it up to over a billion. I think at the point it was just under half of the worlds economy.

As for where they've all gone, I think the many recent wars are to blame for that. It's hard for someone to have that much money when there have been several wars and takedowns recently, and the community isn't exactly flourishing right now.

Innovation is music to my ears. It is a necessity to make this world interesting, challenging  and powerful.

I have to agree with Dakurlzz when he says the community is not exactly flourishing right now.  It would be more productive to see grudges dropped-scores settled once and for all and this would surely give bookies the opportunity to set up shop.  And all else an opportunity to actually enjoy the day to day living.  In other words, let wars be actual fucking wars.

Isn't there an argument *against* there being too much money in the community?  Do we really want unassailable leaders?

How's the progress coming along?

Oh! Bookmaking - count me in.