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bolita

bolita

1 9.9
An illegal lottery where people secretly bet to win money
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : bolita
  • Authorities are cracking down on illegal bolita operations in the city.

Examples

  • The police arrested several people for organizing a bolita ring in the neighborhood.

  • Many residents secretly placed bets in the local bolita game hoping to win big.

  • Many people in the neighborhood play bolita every weekend.

  • Did you win any money from the bolita last night?

  • Many people in the neighborhood participate in the bolita game every weekend.

  • He won a large prize from the bolita and celebrated with his friends.

  • Playing bolita is a popular pastime for many families in this community.

Synonyms

lotto
vsbolita
49 4.4

A game where players mark numbers on a card and hope to win money

is related but is illegal and run informally by local operators
numbers game
vsbolita
  • NSFW
1 9.0

An illegal lottery where people bet on numbers to win money

is the same type but noted for popularity in Hispanic communities
numbers
vsbolita
  • NSFW
9.8

An illegal daily game in cities where people bet money to guess the winning digits

is similar but more associated with Hispanic communities
quiniela
vsbolita
  • US
9.9

A game like a lottery where you pick numbers to win money

is the same idea but tends to be illegal and run locally

Surface Forms

bolita singular
bolitas plural

Etymology

Bolita also names an illegal lottery game and comes from the same Spanish parts bola 'ball' and -ita 'little'. The game used small numbered balls to pick winners, so the name bolita came to mean the gambling game itself.