Lotto Glossary

Additional Number - Powerball is a good example of a lottery game that features an additional number. This additional number allows lottery players to win additional prizes if they choose this option. The additional number feature usually costs an extra fee.

Adjacent Numbers - Adjacent numbers are those numbers next to each other. For example, 15 and 16 are adjacent numbers.

Agent - A retail outlet for lottery tickets.

Alerts - These days lotto players can have instant emails or messages sent to their computer or cell phone when their chosen lottery results are posted or other lottery related happenings.

ANN - is an abbreviation for Announced Numbers or 'Announcers.' These are numbers that help lottery players predict which numbers are more likely to be the winning numbers in a future drawing.

Announcers - are numbers which tend to predict those that will be pulled at a subsequent lottery drawing. Many lottery players rely on these predictors when making their number selections.

Annuity - It is like a mortgage. Lotteries sometimes use annuities to create higher jackpots than they have the cash for. An annuity backed jackpot winner collects the money in installments over several years, typically over 20 or 25 years.

Antipode Draw - is a lotto drawing that contains extreme numbers. They are normally numbers that appear at either end of the number spectrum, such as a drawing with the following numbers: 1–2–3–46–47–48.

Any Order - Any order is a betting style that is the same thing as a box bet. This bet style allows players to match the winning lotto numbers in any order.

Auto Play - Auto Play is the ability to setup Lottery games for a defined period and have the system execute the purchase of the tickets automatically prior to the draw. This allows customers to never miss out on their favorite lottery games. Auto Play can be set for up to 12 months, and is automatically deducted from the customer account.

Australian Lottery - Australia has some of the easiest lotteries in the world to win. Lottery operators are licensed at a state or territory level, and include both state government-owned and private sector companies.

AW - an abbreviation for Abbreviated Wheel, which is a cheaper alternative to a 'Full Wheel/FW'. A player purchases the minimum amount of tickets for combinations that will lead to multiple prizes when a certain amount of winning numbers are selected.

Bearer Instrument – Any item (including paper lottery tickets) that gives the person holding it the right of ownership. Regardless of who buys a paper lottery ticket, the person who has it in their possession can claim any prize it wins, so look after your tickets at all times!

Bet - A bet is the transaction that takes place when a lottery player chooses numbers or a quick pick in exchange for the chance to win the lottery.

Betting Slip - A betting slip is the paper form that a lottery player fills out in order to receive their printed ticket.

Big - also known as 'The Big,' it represents a 'Lottery Category' that sorts games from the biggest jackpot down to the smallest. Players who choose the first jackpot will participate in the lottery game with the highest jackpot.

Billing Details - is a receipt or statement outlining the details of your betting  transaction. It will outline your lottery purchase with items such as the lottery game entered into, the amount of tickets, and the ticket price.

Block - betting slips contain blocks or boxes of numbers that need to be filled in so that a lottery ticket can be issued. Each paper form has numerous blocks of numbers.

Bonus / Bonus Money - additional sums of money that are credited to a player’s account and which can be used for future ticket purchases. It is a credit that will reduce the amount of money a player will pay on a future purchase.

Bonus Ball - A seventh ball drawn in the UK National Lottery. Matching 5 numbers and the 'Bonus Ball' wins the second highest prize.

Bonus Match 5 - Bonus Match 5 is an exciting numbers game presented by the Maryland Lottery. Every evening, the Lottery will select five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 39. A Bonus Ball will then be drawn from the remaining 34 numbers. The Bonus Ball provides you with extra chances to win. You select 5 numbers on the playslip/board you want to play. You win Bonus Match 5 by matching 5, 4, or 3 of the original 5 winning numbers selected. Or, if you match the Bonus Ball, you only need to match 4, 3, or 2 of your original numbers to win.

Bonus Number - After the regular numbers are drawn, an additional number is drawn from those remaining. This is a Bonus Number and is used by lottery players to win additional prizes.

Box - A box is a reference to a wager on a particular group or combination of numbers.

Box Bet or Boxed - A way of betting a three or four digit number that will pay off if those three or four numbers are drawn in any order. For example 245, 452, 425 would win if the selected number is 542.

Boxed - A way of betting a three or four digit number that pays off if those digits are drawn in any order.

Boxing - A system used to play more digits than you could normally play in a three or four digit numbers game.

Breakopen - An instant-win ticket on which the player tears open a flap to see if the ticket is a winner. Also called 'Pulltabs'. Breakopens are often sold by charities and occasionally by state lotteries.

California Super Lotto - is the state lottery of California, which oversees all of the variety of lottery games it offers to players. The lottery was established in 1984.

Cash Cow - this is the winning prize of a lottery game. Those players who have matched all winning numbers announced during the lottery draw, will receive the declared jackpot.

Cash Lotto - A lotto game awarded as a lump-sum cash payment. Cash lotto games typically have a smaller top prize than large jackpot games, more favorable odds of winning the top prize, and require players to select fewer numbers out of a smaller field. Examples include Florida's 'Fantasy 5' and Indiana's 'Lucky 5'.

Cash Option - A large jackpot that the winner elects to receive as a lump sum cash payment rather than an 'Annuity' (see above) over several years.

Cash Payoff - A lottery prize that will be paid out all at one time, rather than over several years.

Category (Lottery Category) - players can select to play a lottery game depending on how it ranks in a particular category. This option allows players to choose a game according to its ranking for a certain jackpot amount or by its cost–benefit ratio.

Category Subscription - players may enroll into a selected lottery category for future daily or weekly drawings with their pre–selected lottery numbers. A lottery category allows players to play lotteries that meet a certain set of criteria or ranking, see ‘Category.’

Cold Numbers - Cold numbers are those numbers that have the fewest wins during a particular period of time. Cold numbers will vary in different periods of time.

Combo - A way of betting a three digit number that covers all possible combinations of sequences.

Coming Soon - this phrase is used when winning numbers have yet to be displayed. It is removed and updated accordingly, when the winning numbers have been drawn and published.

Commission - The fee paid to retail outlets for selling lottery tickets. Commissions in North America typically range between 5 percent and 6 percent of the price of the ticket. However, agents like Overseas Subscribers Agents, Platinum Players International, Irish & UK Subscription Services and Tickets and Results.com charge no commissions for lottery winnings.

Confirmation Number - a number that is assigned to your betting transaction that details your betting transaction with information such as the date and time processed and the actual bet that has been placed.

Confirmed - This is the status that is shown when a bet is placed and approved. This means that the payment has been received and that the bet has been properly added to the drawing.

Continuous Design - Some lottery tickets come in a set that forms a picture while they are connected.

CVV Number - this a 3 to 4 digit number found on the back of your credit card. This number is needed during the checkout process in order to verify that you are indeed the legal holder of the card.

Daily Game - This can refer to any game where winners are determined once a day, but usually refers to a numbers game such as the 'Daily 3' or 'Daily 4' games played in many states.

Deadline – The date by which all lottery claims for a particular lottery draw must be made. If you miss the claims deadline you lose any rights to your prize.

Deleted - this refers to a bet that has been refused due to an incomplete payment transaction. It means that your bet was not entered into the lottery drawing.

Discounts - this represents the savings actually earned during promotional periods or sales for various lotteries. These discounts reduce the monies actually paid out to participate in these lottery drawings.

Division - In each Lotto game, there are several levels of prizes. Each level is called a 'division'. The more winning numbers in any one game, the bigger the prize you win. If all 6 winning numbers match your selected numbers in any one standard game (or equivalent), you win a Division 1 prize, the highest division. The divisions for each Lotto game are slightly different so please go to Play Now and find out the exact divisions of all games by clicking on the game descriptions.

DN - this is an abbreviation for a ‘Designated Number,' which is used in a lottery wheel. It is the number that is used to create the combinations that a player will purchase by means of lottery tickets.

Double or Doubles - A 3 or 4 digit number that contains two numbers of the same digit. Example; 122. The attraction of doubles is that their payoff in 'Box Bet' and 'Combo' bets is doubled.

Double-Double - A four-digit number made up of two doubles. Example; 1221.

Draw - The lottery results.

Drawing - A drawing is when the winning lottery numbers are chosen.

El Gordo Draw - means the 'Fat One' in Spanish. It is a lottery based out of Spain that has a 5 digit number sequence, along with a bonus ball.

Elapse Times - This indicates how many drawings have taken place since each number was last drawn. The longer  the Elapse Time, the more outstanding the number.

Euro Millions Lottery - this a lottery with multiple European countries as its participants. Drawings are held on Wednesday and Fridays. It began in 2004.

Exact Order - (Also, Straight) Numbers drawn in the same order as played.

Exotic Numbers - Unusual or uncommon set of numbers.

Fixed Payouts - Fixed lottery prizes for each dollar played.

Florida Lotto - is Florida's state jackpot lottery game. It began in 1984 and is a 6 digit number game. Players can earn prizes with as little as 3 matching numbers.

Forward draws - These are future lotteries draws in which you can purchase advance entries. You can sign up for subscriptions to make sure that you don't miss a draw of your favorite lotto.

Four-digit or 4-Digit Game - A numbers game played with four digits between 0 and 9. Numbers may be repeated.

France Lotto - this is a 7 digit number game which includes a bonus ball, with drawings occurring on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This lotto was created in 1976.

Free Lotto - this is a free of charge lottery game that allows players to win monetary prizes. These games are normally played by groups made up of multiple individual players. Winnings are paid out in virtual prizes.

FW - an abbreviation for Full Wheel. Players purchase numerous tickets in order to get all combinations of a set of numbers. It significantly increases the chances of a player winning either the jackpot or multiple secondary prizes.

Gambling - is a legalized form of betting on an uncertain outcome of a game. Locations offering gambling or lottery games must obtain a license from the state they are operating in.

Gaming - this represents all the types of games that have been legalized for betting. Lotteries, football pools, casino gaming, and gaming machines, among others are examples.

German Lottery 6/49 - is more than 50 years old and is run by Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock. It is one of the richest European lottery games and pays out up to EUR 2.8 Billion to lottery winners each year.

Gold - this is a type of exclusive or VIP membership level that is reached on a player’s account after a predetermined amount of points or cash paid has been reached.

Gopher 5 - Minnesota's own cash lotto game. You pick five numbers between 1 and 42. You win by matching three, four or five numbers. And if you match all five, you win a jackpot that starts at $100,000 and grows until someone wins it. The jackpot is paid off with one big check.

Group - individuals that play in a group and participate in group lottery games by pooling their money together to spread out the cost of game tickets. Any prizes which are earned, are then divided equally. Examples of group plays are El Gordo Group, Euro Millions Group, Japan Jumbo Draw Group, Powerplay and The Billionaire Series.

Group Member - this is an individual player that plays within a group. A group member is entitled to their fair share if their group wins a lottery game.

Hanging Ghost - this is a number that is expected to be chosen during a lottery draw. If it is not selected, then it is expected to be picked for a future drawing.

Handle - The sum of all money wagered at a video lottery terminal. See also 'Net Machine Income' below.

Hit Frequency - The number of times each number has been drawn during a particular period of time - the higher the hit frequency, the hotter the number.

Hopper - A rotating container where the lottery balls labelled one through 49 are placed that continually mixes the balls.

Hot Lotto - Hot Lotto is Minnesota's hottest new jackpot game. Jackpots start at $1 million and continue to grow until someone wins. To play Hot Lotto, you simply pick five numbers from 1 to 39. Then you select one more number from 1 to 19, which is the HOT ball.

Hot Numbers - Hot numbers are those numbers drawn the most frequently during a particular period of time. The hot numbers will vary in different time periods.

Hot or Overdrawn - A digit that over a period of time is drawn more often than the norm. While some play these numbers because they are 'Hot', they can only reach normality by not being drawn.

Instant Game - A lottery ticket that requires the player to remove a latex coating to determine if the ticket is a winner. Also called 'Scratch-off Game' or 'Scratcher'.

Jackpot - The top prize for a lotto or lottery game. Jackpots are usually 'Parimutuels' (see below). If not won in the next drawing, they 'roll over' to the next drawing and increase in size/amount.

Japan Jumbo Draw - is widely known as The Richest Asian Lottery Draw.This Japanese Lottery takes place 4 times every year with truly massive prizes to be won by everyone around the world who plays in the game. Lottery tickets for the Japan Jumbo Draw are sold by the Mizuho Bankexclusively and for each draw, there are a limited number of tickets that go on sale.

Keno - A lotto game in which several numbers (typically 20) are drawn from a large field of numbers (typically 80). Players select a set of numbers from the main field (usually a minimum of 3 numbers up to a maximum of 10 numbers) and are awarded prizes based on how many of their numbers match those in the drawn set. For all about Keno click here.

Last Digit - these are numbers with the same last digit or ending in them. For example, in the following sequence, each number ends in a zero: 10–20–30

Latex - The thin layer of film on instant scratch tickets that must be scratched off to reveal the results of the lottery ticket is made from a material called latex.

LD - this is an abbreviation for 'Last Digit.' It refers to number sequences that all have the same last digit. The number zero is the same last digit for the numbers 10, 20 and 30.

Lotologist - A lotologist is a term referring to a person who studies lotteries and/or collects lottery items.

Lotology - Lotology is a term used to reference collecting lottery items like scratch cards.

Lottery - A lottery is a game of chance rather than a game of skill whereby winners are chosen by randomly choosing a set of winning numbers and corresponded to number combinations purchased by lottery players. There are usually a variety of different size cash prizes for matching different amounts of the winning numbers.

Lottery Agent - A lottery agent is where lottery tickets are purchased retail.

Lottery Category (Category) - players can choose to participate in the lottery by category, rather than by a game. The lottery is played according to a particular ranking in a scale such as by cost–benefit ratio or by a jackpot level.

Lottery Draw - it reveals the outcome of a particular lottery game. A draw occurs at a predetermined time and the process is audited by a reputable third party for compliance purposes.

Lottery Wheel - this refers to selecting a set of numbers that provides multiple number combinations. Players will buy multiple tickets in order to guarantee themselves a prize, as long as they have certain matching numbers.

Lotto 6/49 - this Canadian lottery game was created in 1982. It is a 6 digit number game which also has a bonus ball for secondary prizes.

Lotto - Lotto is a lottery game. Lotto games offer players the possibility of winning very large sums of money. Lotto players purchase a lotto ticket usually choosing some numbers and hoping to match them when the lotto results are drawn.

Lotto Pool - Also called a Lotto Club, this is a group of people who join together to purchase lottery tickets and share in the winnings. A lotto pool can be composed of several, dozens or hundreds of people.

Lucky Dip - A random selection of numbers made by computer.

Lucky Star – One of two supplementary numbers used in the Euro Millions lottery game. Both of these must be matched in addition to the five main numbers to win the jackpot.

Lump Sum Payoff - (Also, Cash Option) A large jackpot that the winner elects to receive as a lump sum cash payment rather than an 'Annuity' (see above) over several years.

Mega Ball - Mega Ball is another additional feature in a lottery game where for an extra fee players will have an additional number they can match for additional prizes.

Mega Millions Lottery - this lottery game is a multi–state lotto that is drawn on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It began in 1996, and has a 5 number sequence with a bonus ball.

Mega Number - A separate drawn number used in the Mega Millions draw,

Mega sena Lotto - is Brazil's largest lottery game which was created in 1990. This game's drawings occur Wednesdays and Saturdays, when 6 unique 2–digit balls are picked as winners.

Mint - Mint (or often abbreviated as Mt) is a lotology term referring to the condition of an instant scratch ticket that has not been scratched and still has all the latex undisturbed.

Multi-Draw - Multi Draw is an option that many lotteries are offering. Players who purchase a multi draw lotto ticket purchase lotto tickets for more than one drawing. Multi draw lotto players can choose their own numbers for each drawing or purchase quick picks which are numbers chosen by a computer.

Multi State Lottery - A multi state lottery is a lottery that is available in more than one state in the United States. These multi state lotteries usually have a much larger jackpot because of the large number of players from more than one state.

MUSL - this is an abbreviation for the 'Multi State Lottery.' Residents from different states can participate in the same lottery game. The Powerball and Mega Millions are examples of MUSL's.

My Numbers - your account allows you to save the numbers that you play most often. Players can then automatically use them in future lottery games for their convenience.

N/A , Lottery Not Available - this term appears when the jackpot value for the next lottery game has yet to be established. This will be promptly updated when it becomes available. Back to top

NASPL - this is an abbreviation for the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. This organization was founded in 1971 and represents over 52 lottery organizations.

National Lottery - A national lottery is like a multi state lottery in that it is made available to more than one state and/or services the whole of a country.

Natural Selection - A selection of numbers made by the player as opposed to a 'Quick Pick' or 'Lucky Dip' selection.

Net Machine Income - The money played at a video lottery terminal (see 'Handle' above) minus the prizes won at that terminal.

New York lottery - this lotto is the second oldest government run lottery, which was created in 1967. This lottery has various types of lottery games and the majority of funds is used primarily for education.

No-match Numbers - A 3 or 4 digit number that contains no double digits as in the 'Double' or 'Double-Double'.

Numbers Game - This term can be used for any lottery game where winners are determined by a random draw of numbers. However, it is often used more specifically for a game where a player selects three or four digits (0 to 9) and matches them with a similar set drawn at random by the lottery people. The player can select several different types of wagers with payoffs varying accordingly. For example, players making a 'Straight' bet could win $500 on a $1 bet if their three digits match the three digits selected by the lottery people, in the same order.

Odds - The odds are the chances of a lotto player winning the lottery.

Off-line Game - A game that does not require the use of a computer terminal for purchase. Instant and passive games are examples of off-line games.

Online Game - A game where tickets are purchased through a network of computer terminals located at retail outlets. The terminals are linked to a central computer that records the wagers. Examples of online games include lotto, keno and numbers games.

Outstanding Numbers - Outstanding numbers (also overdue numbers) are those numbers that have not been drawn for a long period of time. The longer the elapse time, the more outstanding the number. (see also Hot Numbers, Cold Numbers).

Overdue - A digit that has not been drawn in more days than the norm. These numbers are favored because they can only reach normality by being drawn.

Oversize Ticket - An oversize ticket (often abbreviated as O/S) is a lottery ticket that is larger than the standard size lotto ticket. These oversize lotto tickets are generally special occasion lotto tickets offering more plays and higher payouts than normal.

OZ Superdaw - Australian lotteries pool a portion of their prize pools together to come up with “Superdraws” that take place several times a year. The draws only happen 7 or 8 times a year and coincide with special holidays in Australia. Australian Superdraw pays out the biggest jackpots - reaching up to AUD 33,000,000 - and provides the best odds of winning the lottery than any other lottery game in the Asia-Pacific region.

Pairs - A three digit number bet whose any one pair of the first two digits, last two digits, and in some cases the first and last digit appear on the drawn number.

Parimutuel or Pari-mutuel - A common method of payoffs that splits the total available money between all winners of a particular prize level.

Passive Game - A lottery game similar to a raffle where a player buys a ticket with preprinted numbers. The lottery later randomly draws numbers that are compared to the players' tickets to determine the winners.

Payout - Payout is the money or cash prize that a player wins for matching a certain combination of numbers.

Play Slip – The slip of paper you need to complete in order to buy tickets from a traditional lottery retailer. These aren’t required when you buy Lotto tickets online.

Powerball – American Powerball gives you nine ways to win. It is played in a total of 44 states throughout the United States. It is governed by MSLA and it began in 1992. Players select 5 numbers and 1 additional number.

Powerball Lottery Australia - this lottery game consists of a 5 digit base sequence as well as 1 additional number. Players can receive secondary prizes with as little as 3 matching numbers.

Power Play - An option in the Powerball Lottery game. Players have a chance to multiply their prizes (except the jackpot) by up to 5 times with the Power Play option.

Price Limit - this is a limit that you can set on your account which will not allow you to play lottery games that are more expensive than the established maximum value you have selected.

Prize - A prize is usually the cash that lottery players win when they match the winning lotto numbers.

Prize Division - this is also known as a 'Payout.' It is a table that displays all possible prize values which are dependent upon different winning number combinations.

Prize Pool - A prize pool is the total amount of money that is available to be divided among the winners in a lottery game or drawing.

Processing - this occurs when the lottery drawing results are still being processed, along with the winning betters. After processing is complete, winners' accounts are credited correspondingly.

Pulltabs or Pull Tabs - (See 'Breakopen' above). A game similar to the lottery game. Tickets sell for 25 cents or 50 cents or even more and typically offer prizes ranging from free tickets to $500. Each ticket has perforated windows which open revealing symbols similar to those found on slot machines or some lottery games.

Punch Board - Another lottery-type game. The player punches out a slot on a board for a chance to win a merchandise prize. Punch boards offering cash prizes are also common.

Quad - A four-digit number consisting of the same number. Example; 1111.

Quick Pick - A random selection of numbers made by computer.

Raffle - A competition in which people buy individually numbers tickets. Each prize in a raffle can only be won by a single (1) numbered ticket.

Random numbers - Multiple tickets purchased in the same draw are selected by the gaming system from the range of available numbers without any order.

Recall - When a problem or a mistake has been made on a lottery game, sometimes the game will be removed from the retailers and recalled.

Repeat - A number that contains at least one of the digits that was drawn the previous day or the previous draw.

Results – The numbers selected during an official lottery draw.

Reversals - Reversals is a term for scratch tickets that have mistakenly been printed on the back two times. One time in each direction.

RNG – RNG stands for random number generator. This is a piece of software that is designed to generate numbers that are as close to being random as is currently possible.

Rollover - An event that occurs when the lottery jackpot or a jackpot game is not won. The jackpot thus 'rolls over' to the next drawing, resulting in a bigger jackpot for that drawing.

Sample Void - A sample ticket is a lottery ticket that is given to lottery retailers so that it can be introduced to the players.

Saturday Lotto – Australian Saturday Lotto's winning numbers are drawn from a machine containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game choose 6 numbers from this range. In total, 8 balls are drawn of which the first 6 are the winning numbers. The last 2 balls are supplementary numbers. These supplementary balls are used to determine prizes in Divisions 2, 5 & 6. Saturday Lotto offers 6 divisions, or levels, of prizes. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that are drawn, the higher your prize!

Sc - Sc is an abbreviation that scratch lotto ticket collectors use in reference to a scratch ticket with the latex scratched off.

Scratchcard – Instant win games that require players to scratch silver coloured panels away from a piece of card in order to reveal if they have won or not.

Scratch-off Game - See 'Instant Game' above.

Sequential numbers - Multiple tickets purchased in the same draw are selected by the gaming system as a single numerical block.

Shift In The Draw - this represents a dramatic change in drawn numbers for a lottery game. It could mean that cold numbers have begun to appear or that high numbers have changed to low numbers.

Skip and Hit Pattern - Information about a particular number's pattern of appearances and absences during the drawing history of the lottery.

Smart - this is a 'Lottery Category' that sorts games by their cost–benefit ratios. Those with the best ratios are played. Some of the benefits include: odds, amount of the bet, and the potential tax liability.

Spiel - An add-on feature to a lotto game. For an additional fee an extra set of numbers (typically four to six numbers) is printed on the bottom of a ticket. Players win by matching one or more of these numbers to those selected in a random drawing. Spiel games are found throughout Canada but are not yet common in the USA. Examples of spiel games include Atlantic Canada's 'TAG', Quebec's 'Extra', and Ohio's 'Kicker'.

Spoiler - this is a number that a player felt that they should have picked, but never selected it. It was then drawn as a winning number in the lottery game.

Sports Lottery - Games where outcomes are determined by the results of sports events. Sports lotteries are popular lottery games in much of the world, where they are frequently called 'Toto' or 'Totocalcio' (Italy) or 'Football Pools' (UK), but have not achieved this level of popularity in North America.

Standard Game - A 'standard game' refers to each standard line of numbers you select for a lotto game. For example a standard game in Powerball contains 5 numbers and 1 Powerball. Each standard game you play offers you an equal chance of winning a prize.

Straight or Straight Bet - A bet of 3 or 4 numbers that must be drawn in the exact order. The player attempts to match both the numbers drawn and the order in which they are selected. For example, if the numbers 1, 2, 3 are selected in a three-digit game, a ticket bearing 1, 2, 3 will win but a ticket bearing 2, 1, 3 will not. (See 'Box Bet' above)

Subscription - signing up for a subscription allows you to automatically participate in a specific lottery game with your pre–selected numbers. It routinely enters a player into each future lottery.

Sum - this lottery is played in Italy which was created in 1997. It is a 6 digit lottery game that costs 1 Euro per lottery ticket.

Super Combo - A system entry increases your chances of winning by selecting more numbers than a standard game entry. A Super Combo entry lets you enter more number combinations than a standard game entry, but does not cover all possible number combinations of a selected set of numbers like a Systems entry.

SuperEnalotto – Italian Superenalotto is a modified version of the glorious Enalotto of the 1950s. Re-launched in 1997, the formula’s simplicity and number of record-breaking wins has made the lottery so popular that Italians reportedly spend over 27 Billion a year on lottery play.

Supplementary Number - A supplementary number or bonus number is drawn after the 6 winning numbers. In the case of 6/45 Lotto, 2 supplementary numbers are drawn immediately after the first 6 winning numbers and in the case of 6/38 Lotto, 1 supplementary number is drawn immediately after the first 6 winning numbers. These numbers are used to determine prizes in Division 2 and Division 5. If one or more of your selected numbers match the drawn supplementary numbers, your chance of winning a prize increases.

Syndicate - A 'syndicate' (or Group Play) allows you to increase your chances of winning a prize by buying a Lottery ticket that covers more games and share the cost between the members of a group. If you are an Ozlotteries.com member you can join one of Ozlotteries.com syndicates. If the syndicate ticket wins a prize, the total winnings will be divided equally among all the members of the group.

System - A System allows you to select more than the standard 6 numbers. For example, a System 7 allows you to pick 7 numbers and a System 8 allows you to pick 8 numbers. The highest amount of numbers you can pick is 20 which is a System 20. Powerball allows you to play up to a System 24. The benefit of playing a System is that your ticket will automatically include every possible combination of 6 numbers which increases your chances of winning a prize. For example, if you are playing a System 8, the ticket will include every combination of 6 numbers that is possible with your 8 selected numbers which is equivalent to 28 games.

Systematic Form - A systematic form is a form that players fill out with seven to eleven numbers entered on it. These numbers are then generated giving the player lotto tickets with all the possible number combinations for those numbers.

Terminal - A computerized device located at a lottery retailer that is used to sell lottery tickets and online games and to validate winning tickets of lottery, online and instant games. Terminals are connected to a lottery's central computers by phone line.

The Big - this is a 'Lottery Category' that sorts lottery games from the highest jackpot payout to the lowest. A player who selects this category will play to win the highest declared jackpot lottery games.

Three-digit or 3-Digit Game - A numbers game in which three digits between 0 and 9 are selected. Numbers may be repeated.

Ticket – The piece of paper you get as proof that you have entered a lottery game. Online players get an email which serves as a “virtual ticket”.

Tix - Tix is another term for Sc, which is an instant scratch lottery ticket with the latex scratched off.

Toto - Short for "Totocalcio". Italian football pools. A form of sports lottery. (See 'Sports Lottery' above.)

To Wheel - To play the 'Wheeling System' (see below).

Tree System - A way of organizing numbers to play for a straight win so that potential combinations are not missed. Similar to a 'Wheeling System'.

Triple or Triples - A three digit number consisting of the same number. Example; 111.

UK National Lottery - this is the largest lottery that is operated in the United Kingdom. This lottery game allows players to have a minimum age of 16 years old. Many games require only 1 pound per play.

Underdrawn or Under Drawn - A digit that over a period of time is drawn less often than the norm. These numbers are favored because they can only reach normality by being drawn.

Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) - Electronic games of chance played on a video screen. They often simulate popular casino games such as blackjack, poker, or spinning-reel slot machines (for all about 'Slot Machines' click here). Unlike slot machines, video lottery terminals do not dispense money. Rather, a winning player is provided a ticket that is redeemed by the retailer for prizes.

Virgin - A colloquial term referring to a number or number combination that has never been drawn.

Wheel - Wheel is lotto slang used as a noun and a verb when referring to the wheeling system of lotto play.

Win Hunter - is a free lottery analysis software created by Andrew Reed that helps players predict winning numbers for future lottery games. Players can then use these numbers on their betting slip.

Winner – Someone who wins a cash prize by playing lottery games. All lottery players aspire to become winners, and that’s why we play!

Winning Numbers - The winning numbers are the first numbers drawn in the lottery draw, prior to supplementary numbers being drawn. In the case of Powerball, they are the first 5 numbers drawn from the first barrel.

Withholding - The anticipated tax amount deducted from prize payments.