Lottery Glossary

Use our Lottery Glossary to learn the meaning of any lottery terms that you might be unfamiliar with. We have grouped the terms into helpful categories so that you can search more easily for the definitions you are looking for and discover any related terms.

Lottery Game Types Prize & Payment Terms Gameplay & Draw Mechanics Number Selection Strategies Ticket & Purchase Terms Security & Legality

Lottery Game Types

Cash Pop: A new format that has been introduced in several states over the past few years, where just one winning number (1 - 15) is selected in every draw. You can choose multiple numbers and decide how much to wager - a prize amount will be randomly assigned on your ticket. There are multiple draws every day.

Daily Numbers / Pick Games: Games that are usually known as Pick 3, Pick 4 (or Cash 3, Cash 4) and so on. You have to select a three or four-digit number, and can choose between several play types (such as Straight or Box). Draws often happen daily or twice daily, and prizes vary based on how the numbers match - such as exact order or any order. The cost of a wager is usually flexible.

Double Play: An add-on game that can be played alongside some draws, for example Powerball, Florida Lotto, New Jersey Pick 6 and Michigan Lotto 47. Your chosen numbers from the main game are entered into a second draw (the Double Play draw) for another chance to win. You have to pay an extra fee and can't play Double Play on its own, but the non-jackpot prizes are usually twice as large.

Extra Game / Supplementary Game: A secondary game that players can enter in addition to the main lottery draw. It often offers smaller or bonus prizes and may require an extra fee or be automatically included with certain tickets.

Fast Play / Instant Win Games: Similar to a scratch-off in that you can win prizes instantly, but without the scratching! Tickets are generated with a set of numbers/symbols, and you just need to follow the instructions to see if you are a winner. Examples include Jackpot USA and Cashword games.

Instant Match / EZ Match: An optional add-on for some games, where a series of numbers are printed on the bottom of your ticket. Each one is accompanied by a prize value. If any of these numbers are the same as the numbers you played in the main game, you win the associated prize.

Keno: A fast-paced game which is often drawn multiple times a day. You choose up to 10 numbers from a larger set (usually 1-80). If you pick one number, it is known as a 1-Spot game, two numbers is a 2-Spot game, and so on. The lottery draws 20 numbers, and the more you match, the more you win. Often drawn multiple times a day.

Lotto: The traditional lottery format. Select a set of numbers (e.g., 6 from 49), and winning the jackpot means matching all drawn numbers. Smaller prizes are awarded for fewer matches. Most states have one flagship lotto game, along with various other draws.

Multi-State Games: Lottery games offered across multiple states, often with much larger jackpots than state-only games. Examples include Powerball and Mega Millions, where the broader player base contributes to massive top prizes.

Progressive Jackpots: Jackpots that grow over time when there are no winners. Each time a game is played without a jackpot win, a portion of the ticket sales is added to the prize pool, increasing the potential payout for future draws.

Raffles: A game where a fixed number of tickets are sold, each with a unique number. Winning numbers are drawn at random, and each ticket has a predefined chance of winning. Unlike most lotteries, you don't pick your own numbers - winning is purely luck of the draw.

Scratch Offs / Scratch Cards: A game where you scratch off a surface to reveal symbols or numbers. Match the right ones and win instantly - no waiting for a draw. State lotteries bring out new scratch-offs regularly and they all have different themes, price points and odds of winning. You can sometimes win millions of dollars. Online scratch-offs are also available in some jurisdictions.

Second Chance Drawings: This is where you can enter losing lottery tickets to give you another opportunity to win. You can sometimes scan your ticket on an app, or input a serial number online, then a raffle takes place to award prizes at random.

Prize and Payment Terms

Annuity: A payout option for large jackpots where the money is distributed in annual payments over time (typically 20-30 years). The advertised jackpot is usually the annuitized total.

Cash Option / Lump Sum: An alternative to the annuity: receive a one-time, reduced payment upfront that reflects the current cash value of the full prize. Despite being a lower amount, most winners choose to take the cash option.

Claimant: The person who submits a winning ticket to claim a prize.

Claim Center / District Office: An official lottery location where larger prizes can be validated and claimed in person.

Claim Period / Deadline: The claim period is the amount of time you have to redeem any prizes you win. Tickets only stay valid for a limited time - usually 180 days or one year, depending on your state. The claim deadline is the final date you have to come forward. If they remain unclaimed, the prize money will be kept by the state lottery and redistributed towards other promotions or to good causes.

Jackpot: The top prize in a lottery game. It can be a fixed amount or grow over time if no one wins. In Mega Millions and Powerball, the jackpot has been known to reach billions of dollars.

Jackpot Fatigue: A decline in player interest and ticket sales due to a jackpot being perceived as too low. Players may wait to participate until the jackpot reaches a more enticing amount.

Pari-Mutuel: A payout system where prize money is pooled and divided equally among winners in a given tier. The more winners there are, the smaller each share becomes. It is an alternative to a 'fixed payout' system, where prizes are always the same in every draw. In California, for example, all prizes have to be paid out on a pari-mutuel basis.

Prize Tier: The different levels of winnings that are available, based on how many numbers you match. The highest prize tier is the jackpot, for matching all the drawn numbers. Most games have several prize tiers below the jackpot, for example matching three numbers out of six might win a small payout.

Sweepstakes: A type of prize giveaway where winners are selected at random, usually from a pool of entrants. Unlike traditional lottery games, sweepstakes often do not require a purchase to enter and are commonly used in marketing promotions. Prizes can range from small gifts to large cash sums.

Tax Withholding: This is how much money is deducted from a lottery prize. Payouts in every state are subject to taxes at a federal level if they are worth more than $5,000. Each jurisdiction also has its own rules on how much state tax to withhold. There are never deductions on prizes below $600.

Gameplay & Draw Mechanics

Ball Set: A specific group of physical balls used in a draw. Some lotteries track which sets are used to ensure randomness over time.

Bonus Ball (also known as Powerball, Mega Ball, Cash Ball, etc.): An extra number drawn from a separate pool in certain games, such as Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life. It's often required for the jackpot and can help boost lower-tier prizes. Remember that the Bonus Ball can never be substituted for one of the other numbers when counting how many you match. For example, if you pick the number 1 as a main number and it appears as the Bonus Ball, this does not count as a match.

Draw / Drawing: The process where winning numbers are randomly selected, either mechanically (using ball machines) or digitally (via random number generators). Strict procedures are in place to ensure that drawings are fair and always produce random results.

Jackpot Roll: When a jackpot isn't won, the prize money is carried over to the next draw, increasing the next jackpot. This can also be referred to as a rollover. Certain games, such as Mega Millions, have no jackpot limit which means the top prize can theoretically keep rolling on forever.

Matrix: The set of numbers used in a particular lottery, outlining how many are picked and the total range. If winning numbers are drawn from two separate sets, this is known as a dual matrix lottery, such as Powerball - 5/69 + 1/26.

Multiplier: This is a feature that increases the value of non-jackpot payouts. Some games offer an optional multiplier (such as Powerball's Power Play), where the multiplier is then selected at random as part of the main draw. In other lotteries, such as Mega Millions, the multiplier is built in so that it is applied to each ticket at the time of purchase and is not the same for everyone.

Odds: The statistical likelihood of winning a prize, based on the game's number pool and mechanics. When 'overall odds' are given, this refers to your chances of winning any payout with one ticket, rather than your chances in a specific prize tier.

Quick Pick: Also known in some states as an Easy Pick, this is a popular method of playing where the lottery terminal randomly selects numbers for you and they are generated on your ticket at the point of purchase.

Winning Numbers: The official set of numbers drawn in a game that determines prize winners.

Number Selection Strategies

Astrology / Zodiac Strategy: This technique is based on picking numbers related to astrological signs, birth dates, or "lucky" numbers from horoscopes. It is a popular approach but not statistically backed.

Box Play: If you play a 'Box' in a game such as Pick 3 or Pick 4, it means you win if your numbers are drawn in any order. For example, if you choose 123 and the numbers are drawn as 321, you still win.

Birthdays & Anniversaries: Using important personal dates to choose numbers. It is another popular technique, but it can limit your number range (often 1 to 31), which is not ideal for those games where the ball pool can be far higher.

Cold Numbers: Numbers that haven't been drawn recently are said to be cold. Some players believe they are "due," though all draws are random. The term can also be used to refer to the numbers that have been selected the least across all previous draws, not necessarily the last few.

Dream Interpretation: Choosing numbers inspired by symbols or themes from dreams. Dream books often assign numbers to common dream elements.

Hot Numbers: Numbers that have been drawn frequently in recent games. Some players view them as "lucky" and think they are more likely to be drawn again soon, although in reality all results are random. The term can also be used to describe the most frequent numbers across all previous draws.

Numerology: Using formulas based on names, birth dates, or other personal information to generate "lucky" numbers.

Pattern Picking: Selecting numbers that form visual patterns on a playslip (e.g., diagonal lines or shapes). It's a fun approach and just as likely to win you a jackpot as any other strategy, but it could lead to a big prize being shared by more players than usual if others use the same idea.

Random Selection: Letting the system or yourself pick numbers with no pattern or strategy. Arguably just as effective as any other method. A 'Quick Pick' is the most common form of random selection, but you can also use online generators to see the numbers before you play them.

Straight: In daily numbers such as Pick 3 or Pick 4, one of the play types you can choose is a 'Straight'. This is where you predict that your numbers will be drawn in that exact order. If a Straight/Box option is available, it means half your wager goes on the numbers appearing in exact order, and half goes on them appearing in any order (Box).

Wheel: Lottery wheeling is when you play every combination of a particular set of numbers to increase your chances. It can also be known as a 'lottery system' and sometimes it is referred to as 'Combination' play in daily numbers games. For example, if you play 123 in Pick 3 and 'wheel' your numbers, it means you would enter every combination - 123, 132, 213, 231, 312 and 321.

Ticket & Purchase Terms

Advance Play / Future Play: Buying tickets for upcoming draws in advance, allowing you to play the same numbers for multiple games. Advance Play can also mean to buy a ticket for one specific date in the future without having to enter all the draws in between (also known as Future Play).

Internet Gaming: Participation in games available through an online platform. This includes casino-style games, digital scratch cards, and online versions of lottery games.

Internet Wager: A bet placed via the internet, covering a range of gambling activities from lotteries and casino games to sports betting.

Lottery Courier: Companies which allow you to order lottery tickets online. The courier then buys the tickets on your behalf and uploads an image of it as proof of purchase. Winnings are paid out automatically. Lottery couriers only operate in a few states at present.

Lottery Pool: A group of players who come together to buy tickets. Also known as a syndicate, a lottery pool is a fun way to play with friends, family or co-workers, as you can spend more on tickets than you could on your own. Buying more entries is the only way to increase your chances of winning.

Multi-Draw: A ticket that covers several draws in a row, using the same numbers each time. There is a Multi Draw option on most playslips where you can specify the number of consecutive draws you wish to play.

Play It Again / Replay: An option in some states where you can hand in an old ticket and ask for the same selections to be replayed. A new ticket will be printed at the same cost as the original, starting from the next available draw.

Retired Games: A game that has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase is said to be 'retired'. Tickets can still be cashed in until the end of the relevant claim period. You can read more about retired games at the bottom of our multi-state game page.

Subscription: An option that automatically enters your chosen numbers into future draws, often available for online players. You can subscribe monthly or sometimes for even longer, and it will renew on its own unless you cancel.

Ticket Validation: The process of checking whether a ticket is a winner, typically done in-store, online, or via an app.

Retailer Terminal: The machine used by authorized lottery retailers to print tickets and validate winners.

Security & Legality

Age Requirement: The minimum legal age to play the lottery, which varies by region. It is 18 in most locations, but is as high as 21 in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi. This also means you will have to be at least 18 or 21 to claim a prize

Licensed Retailer: A store or vendor approved by the lottery commission to sell tickets and validate winnings. You'll have to use these if playing in person, rather than online using lottery couriers.

Game Integrity: Measures in place to ensure randomness, fairness, and protection against fraud in all lottery games.

Lottery Commission: The official body that oversees lottery operations, ensuring fair play, secure systems, and proper distribution of funds.

Lottery Scams: Fraudulent schemes that trick individuals into believing they've won a lottery or need to pay a fee to claim a prize. These scams often involve fake emails, phone calls, or letters.

Publicity / Anonymity: Some states allow winners to stay anonymous - where their names are not revealed publicly. However, in other states there are 'Right To Know' laws where the lottery is compelled to release details about a winner's identity as it is regarded as public information.

Void if Altered: A ticket that's been tampered with, damaged, or altered in any way is considered invalid and can't be redeemed.