Ever since Old Ma won the lottery and had his prize money stolen, Yang Jian had some understanding of the lottery system.
It was indeed as Fang Zhicheng had said, people from these southern provinces were truly fond of buying lottery tickets, showing much more enthusiasm for private lotteries than official ones.
This was because the probability of winning five million in an official lottery was one in tens of millions, and the probability of winning the second or third prize was also one in millions.
However, the probability of winning in the private lottery was one in forty-nine, a probability tens or even hundreds of times greater than buying an official lottery ticket, with a forty-fold return on winnings.
Thus, under this immense temptation, people flocked to buy tickets. While calling it a nationwide lottery might be an exaggeration, the number of people buying tickets in the tens of millions was definitely real. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
"Brother Cheng, the reason I fell out with Master Fo was because Old Ma bought a lottery ticket. I don't quite understand the profit model of lottery operators. If Old Ma won, why didn't they pay out? Is it also risky to operate a lottery?"
Yang Jian was not interested in Fang Zhicheng's proposal for now. He was on the run, and it was best to stay away from these grey businesses. Moreover, he had no capital. However, since they were chatting, he was curious and wanted to understand the ins and outs of it.
"There are two models for operating lottery houses. One is to take the bets yourself, like being the house in a casino, where you bear all the wins and losses. The profit is large, but so is the risk.
The other is to act as an agent for someone else, responsible only for collecting money, writing down the bets, and reporting them to the higher-level operator. The lottery house only takes a commission. This model is very stable, and as long as you're not targeted by the police, there's no risk.
The reason Old Ma's winnings were withheld was likely due to the first model. The amount won in that instance was too large, exceeding the operator's ability to pay, or they were arrogant and unwilling to pay the prize money, choosing instead to flee or relocate.
Another situation is when an agent's ticket writer secretly pockets the money, withholding it from the higher-level operator. If a bet wins, they won't be able to pay and have to flee.
There are also cases where the higher-level operator sends the prize money down, but the writer intercepts it and flees. This situation is relatively rare."
Fang Zhicheng patiently explained the schemes of selling lottery tickets.
Yang Jian understood the general idea and continued to ask, "Brother Cheng, you also operate a lottery house, right? Which model do you use?"
"I used to be an agent, and the higher-level lottery operator was my boss. However, after reclaiming the territory of Liuqiao Village and the bus station, I plan to operate my own lottery house. This way, the profit is much greater."
"Didn't you say that operating your own house is also very risky? You might not be able to pay out the winnings?"
"The greater the risk, the greater the profit. To be your own operator, you need substantial capital. You'll have the ability to pay out any large winnings, and once you build a reputation, more people will come to bet."
"So, have you monopolized the lottery houses in the Liu family village area?"
"Yes. Previously, Cheng Guang set up three lottery houses in Liu family village. After I drove him away, I arranged for my own people to take over. Currently, they are acting as agents for my boss. If you're willing to get involved in this, I'll give you one of the best operating points. You can be an agent or operate it yourself."
Yang Jian shook his head, "Let's talk about this later. Master Fo is currently bribing the police and looking for me everywhere."
Fang Zhicheng slapped his forehead, "Look at me, I forgot about that. Alright, I'll arrange a place for you today. You can lay low there for a few days. Don't worry, we have people in the police station too, and I can guarantee your safety."
"Thank you, Brother Cheng."
"No need to thank me. By the way, Xiao Yang, what trouble did you get into back home? It's not a murder case, is it? Are you wanted?"
Fang Zhicheng was an old hand and knew that Yang Jian was on the run, otherwise, he wouldn't be so wary of police checks.
This question was awkward, and Yang Jian was reluctant to answer.
Fang Zhicheng immediately understood, "Don't worry, brother, I won't harm you. I have several brothers hiding here. Even if it's a murder case, it doesn't matter. The flow of outsiders here is huge, and the police's management of transient populations is not yet perfect. We have many ways to avoid risks. If you don't want to say, I won't ask."
"It's fine, Brother Cheng, I didn't commit a murder. I'm wanted for running a casino."
Since things had come to this point, Yang Jian didn't want to conceal too much. He had to reveal some information, otherwise, it would be difficult to build trust between them.
"Wow, wanted for running a casino? That means your casino was very big. Otherwise, ordinary gambling cases wouldn't issue a wanted notice. Tell me quickly, how big was your casino?"
Fang Zhicheng suddenly became extremely interested in Yang Jian's experience. He had initially thought he was just a hot-headed guy with high combat power who had gotten into trouble fighting back home. He never expected him to be a casino operator.
Anyone who could operate a casino was a formidable figure locally, capable of dealing with both the underworld and the authorities, and would have plenty of subordinates. This indicated that the young man in front of him, Xiao Yang, was a definite local big shot.
"The casino wasn't small. Let me put it this way, the daily cash flow in the casino was no less than ten million."
Since the words were out, Yang Jian wasn't afraid of Fang Zhicheng betraying him. Moreover, he hadn't revealed his hometown or address, and even Old Ma and his son didn't know where he came from.
"Clatter."
Fang Zhicheng's hand trembled, and the teacup fell onto the table, "Damn it, you actually ran such a big casino? No wonder you don't care about Master Fo. He even wanted to hire you as a bodyguard for fifty thousand yuan. It's ridiculous. Your daily income is probably more than fifty thousand yuan, right?"
"No, no. During peak times, it was over two hundred thousand a day. I split half the profits with my subordinates."
"Bro, brother, you are a true dragon, to swim into my shallow pond. It's my great fortune. From now on, you lead me. You decide how the grey industries in this area are managed."
Fang Zhicheng suddenly became apprehensive facing Yang Jian. This young man, only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was definitely more capable than his boss, Zheng Jingfa.
And Master Fo was still hunting him, which was a suicidal move. It now seemed that his intention to deal with Master Fo was not just talk.
Yang Jian felt a bit awkward, "Brother Cheng, I'm a stray dog now, how can I be a true dragon? I'm seeking your protection, how could I dare to lead you, nor dare to interfere with your business. I'm already very grateful that you can give me a place to stay."
"No, no, no, brother, please don't say that. By helping me reclaim the lost territory, you've done me a great favor. How about this, I'll take you to a place to live later, and you can rest for a few days. Regarding your intention to deal with Master Fo, I need to discuss it with Boss Zheng. With his support, it will be easier for you to handle things."
Fang Zhicheng had originally planned to keep Yang Jian by his side. Now that he knew he was such a formidable figure, he realized he couldn't control this great god and decided to report to his boss first.
"Okay, I'll follow Brother Cheng's arrangements."
Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. Fang Zhicheng was a straightforward person, and he could probably be trusted. Yang Jian's guard against him lessened considerably.