Lottery Glossary: Terms & Definitions Explained
Explore essential lottery terms with our comprehensive glossary. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, our guide helps you understand key concepts to enhance your gaming experience. Learn everything from "jackpot" to "quick pick" and confidently navigate the lottery world.
Adjacent Numbers
Adjacent numbers are those numbers next to each other. For example, 15 and 16 are adjacent numbers.
Annuity
It means that, when you win, you collect your jackpot in installments over several years instead of in one lump sum.
Lotteries sometimes use annuities to create higher jackpots than their immediate cash holdings would allow.
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.
Boxed
A way of betting a three or four digit number that pays off if those digits are drawn in any order.
Boxing
Boxing allows you to play more digits than you could normally play in a three or four digit number game.
Cash Payoff
The opposite of annuity (see above). When a lottery prize is paid out at one time, instead of spread over several years
of installments.
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. (see also Hot Numbers, Outstanding Numbers).
Combo
A way of betting a three-digit number that covers all possible sequence combinations.
Double
A three-or-four digit number that contains two numbers of the same digit, i.e. 122.
Double-Double
A four-digit number made up of two doubles, i.e. 1221.
Draw
The lottery results.
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. (see also Outstanding Numbers).
Exact Order (also Straight)
When numbers are drawn in the same order as played.
Exotic Numbers
An unusual or uncommon set of numbers.
Fixed Payouts
Fixed lottery prizes for each dollar played.
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.
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. (see also Cold Numbers, Outstanding Numbers).
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.
Natural Selection
A selection of numbers made by the player as opposed to a computer-generated "Quick Pick" selection.
No-Match Numbers
A three-or-four digit number that contains no double digits, unlike a Double or a Double-Double.
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 Numbers
Please see outstanding numbers.
Pairs
When a three-digit number is bet, and the drawn number includes any one pair of the first two digits, the last two digits
and, in some cases, the first and last digit of the player's three-digit selection.
Pari-mutuel
A common method of payoffs in which the total available money is split between all winners at a particular prize level.
Quad
A four-digit number consisting of the same number repeated four times, i.e. 1111.
Quick Pick
A random selection of numbers made by computer.
Skip and Hit Pattern
Information about a particular number's pattern of appearances and absences during the drawing history of the lottery.
Straight
A bet of three or four numbers that must be drawn in the exact order.
To Wheel
To play the Wheeling System
Tree System
Similar to a Wheeling System, a system for organizing numbers to play for a straight win so that potential combinations are not missed.
Triple
A three-digit number consisting of the same number repeated three times, i.e. 111.
Virgin
A colloquial term referring to a number or number combination that has never been drawn.
Wheeling System
A system for organizing and playing a set of numbers to improve the chances of winning multiple prizes.
Withholding
The anticipated tax amount deducted from prize payments.
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