If I were to look at the textual context of this movie I would aim to look at the world of sports betting.
I would observe the Directors and see what their motivations are. Maybe look into their past and see why they chose the setting and casting of people they did.
I have the hunch that based off this movie and some external research that there were was an issue in New York City within the jewish community of gambling. Or at least, at some point in the directors lives there was an incident within the jewish community of sports gambling.
Christian's English Blog 