Australian Lottery Glossary
A comprehensive guide to every term and phrase used in Australian lotteries. Whether you're a first-time player or a seasoned regular, this glossary will help you understand the language of lottery games.
Barrel
The physical container or machine used to hold and randomly draw lottery balls during a live draw. Modern Australian lottery draws use mechanical ball machines that mix and select numbered balls at random.
View draw schedule→Bonus Ball
A general term for additional numbers drawn beyond the main numbers. In Australian lotteries, this may refer to the Powerball number in Powerball draws or supplementary numbers in other games.
Claiming Prizes
The process of collecting lottery winnings. Small prizes (usually under $1,500) can be claimed at any licensed lottery outlet. Larger prizes require a claim form submitted to The Lott, with Division 1 prizes requiring identity verification.
Prize claiming guide→Division
A prize tier in Australian lotteries. Division 1 is the top prize (jackpot), and lower divisions award smaller prizes for matching fewer numbers. Different games have different numbers of divisions, ranging from 5 to 9.
Compare divisions→Draw
The official event where winning numbers are randomly selected. Australian lottery draws occur at scheduled times, typically 8:30 PM AEST, and are conducted under strict regulatory supervision to ensure fairness.
Draw schedule→Draw Number
A unique sequential number assigned to each lottery draw for identification. Draw numbers are used to look up specific past results and verify tickets.
Entry
A lottery ticket or set of games purchased for a specific draw. A standard entry includes a minimum number of games (typically 4) and can be a marked entry, QuickPick, or system entry.
Game Board
A single set of numbers on a lottery entry. Each game board represents one chance to win. A standard entry contains multiple game boards (typically 4 or more), and each board is checked independently against the winning numbers.
Gold Lotto
The Queensland brand name for Saturday Lotto. It is the same national draw with identical odds, prizes, and numbers as TattsLotto (Victoria) and X Lotto (South Australia).
Saturday Lotto results→Guaranteed Prize Pool
A minimum amount set for the Division 1 prize in a specific draw, regardless of ticket sales. Saturday Lotto guarantees $4 million every week, while Monday and Wednesday Lotto guarantee $1 million each.
Jackpot
The top prize in a lottery draw, typically the Division 1 prize. When no one wins Division 1, the jackpot rolls over (accumulates) to the next draw, growing larger until it is won.
Current jackpots→Life Numbers
Two additional numbers selected from a pool of 1 to 10 in Set for Life. Players must match 8 main numbers plus 2 Life Numbers to win the 1st Prize of $20,000 per month for 20 years.
Set for Life results→Lucky Dip
Another term for a QuickPick — a lottery entry where the numbers are randomly generated by the computer system rather than chosen by the player. Commonly used in some Australian states.
Lucky Lotteries
A ticket-based lottery game exclusive to New South Wales where each ticket has a pre-assigned number. Unlike traditional lotteries, players do not choose their own numbers. Comes in Mega Jackpot and Super Jackpot variants.
Lucky Lotteries results→Marked Entry
A lottery entry where the player manually selects their own numbers on a paper coupon or digital form, as opposed to a QuickPick where the system generates random numbers.
Megadraw
A special Saturday Lotto draw with a significantly boosted Division 1 prize pool, typically $30 million. Megadraws occur less frequently than Superdraws and are major promotional events.
Saturday Lotto info→Monday Lotto
A national Australian lottery drawn every Monday night. Players pick 6 numbers from 1 to 45, with a guaranteed $1 million Division 1 prize each week. Also known as Gold Lotto in Queensland.
Monday Lotto results→Multi-week Entry
A lottery entry that is valid for multiple consecutive draws of the same game. Players can purchase entries for up to 10 weeks in advance, using the same numbers for each draw.
Number Range
The pool of numbers from which players select and winning numbers are drawn. Different games have different ranges — for example, Saturday Lotto uses 1 to 45, while Powerball uses 1 to 35 for main numbers and 1 to 20 for the Powerball.
Odds
The statistical probability of winning a particular prize division. Odds are expressed as "1 in X" where X is the total number of possible combinations. Lower odds (smaller X) mean a better chance of winning.
Odds calculator→Oz Lotto
A national Australian lottery drawn every Tuesday night. Players select 7 numbers from 1 to 45, with 2 supplementary numbers drawn. Oz Lotto offers large jackpots that have reached $100 million.
Oz Lotto results→Payout
The amount of money a winner receives for a particular prize division. All Australian lottery prizes are paid tax-free. Small prizes are paid immediately, while larger prizes require processing time.
Tax information→Powerball
Australia's biggest jackpotting lottery, drawn every Thursday night. Players choose 7 numbers from 1 to 35 plus 1 Powerball from 1 to 20. The Powerball number is drawn from a separate barrel and must be matched exactly for Division 1.
Powerball results→Prize Pool
The total amount of prize money available across all divisions for a particular draw. The prize pool is funded by ticket sales and may include guaranteed amounts or rolled-over jackpots from previous draws.
QuickPick
A lottery entry where the computer system randomly generates numbers for the player. QuickPicks are the most popular type of entry in Australia, accounting for the majority of all tickets sold.
Rollover
When no one wins Division 1, the jackpot prize money carries over to the next draw and adds to the new prize pool. This is how jackpots grow to large amounts, especially in games like Powerball with longer odds.
Saturday Lotto
Australia's most popular weekly lottery, drawn every Saturday night. Players pick 6 numbers from 1 to 45. Known as TattsLotto in Victoria, Gold Lotto in Queensland, and X Lotto in South Australia. Features a guaranteed $4 million Division 1 each week.
Saturday Lotto results→Set for Life
A unique Australian lottery where the top prize is $20,000 per month for 20 years ($4.8 million total). Players choose 8 numbers from 1 to 37 plus 2 Life Numbers from 1 to 10. Draws occur every night of the week.
Set for Life results→Superdraw
A special Saturday Lotto draw with an increased Division 1 prize pool, typically $20 million. Superdraws are held several times a year and generate significantly higher ticket sales.
Saturday Lotto info→Supplementary Numbers
Additional numbers drawn after the main numbers in certain Australian lotteries (Oz Lotto, Saturday Lotto, Monday Lotto, Wednesday Lotto). These numbers determine winners in lower prize divisions but are not needed for Division 1.
Syndicate
A group of players who pool their money to buy multiple lottery entries and share any winnings proportionally. Syndicates increase the number of games played without increasing individual cost, improving the group's collective odds.
Syndicates guide→System Entry
An advanced entry type that allows players to select more numbers than required for a standard game. The system generates all possible combinations from the chosen numbers, dramatically increasing chances of winning but at a higher cost.
TattsLotto
The Victorian and Tasmanian brand name for Saturday Lotto. It is the exact same national draw with identical numbers, odds, and prizes. The name comes from Tattersall's, the lottery operator in those states.
Saturday Lotto results→The Lott
The official operator of Australia's national lottery games, owned by Tabcorp. The Lott runs Powerball, Oz Lotto, Saturday Lotto, Monday Lotto, Wednesday Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, and The Pools.
The Pools
An Australian lottery game where results are determined by the outcomes of international football (soccer) matches. Six numbers from 1 to 38 are drawn based on match results. Draws occur on Wednesday and Saturday.
Pools results→Ticket
The physical or digital proof of a lottery entry. A ticket contains one or more game boards, each with a set of chosen or randomly generated numbers. Tickets must be purchased before the draw closes to be eligible.
Wednesday Lotto
A national Australian lottery drawn every Wednesday night. Players pick 6 numbers from 1 to 45 with a guaranteed $1 million Division 1 prize. The format and odds are identical to Monday Lotto and Saturday Lotto.
Wednesday Lotto results→Winning Numbers
The set of numbers officially drawn in a lottery draw. Players compare their selected numbers against the winning numbers to determine if they have won a prize in any division.
Check your numbers→X Lotto
The South Australian brand name for Saturday Lotto. It is the same national draw with identical odds, numbers, and prizes as TattsLotto (Victoria) and Gold Lotto (Queensland).
Saturday Lotto results→Frequently Asked Questions
What are supplementary numbers in Australian lotteries?
Supplementary numbers are additional numbers drawn after the main numbers in Oz Lotto, Saturday Lotto, Monday Lotto, and Wednesday Lotto. They are used to determine winners in lower prize divisions (such as Divisions 2-6) but are not required for the Division 1 jackpot. Typically, 2 supplementary numbers are drawn from the remaining balls after the main numbers have been selected.
What is the difference between a QuickPick and a marked entry?
A QuickPick is a lottery entry where the computer system randomly generates your numbers, while a marked entry is one where you manually choose your own numbers. Statistically, both have exactly the same odds of winning. QuickPicks are the most popular type of entry in Australia, with the majority of all tickets sold being computer-generated.
What does Division 1 mean in Australian lottery?
Division 1 is the top prize tier (jackpot) in Australian lottery games. It requires matching all the main winning numbers (and the Powerball in Powerball draws, or Life Numbers in Set for Life). Lower divisions (Division 2, 3, etc.) award progressively smaller prizes for matching fewer numbers. The number of divisions varies by game, from 5 in Lucky Lotteries to 9 in Powerball.
Understanding Australian Lottery Terminology
Australian lotteries come with their own vocabulary that can be confusing for new players. Terms like supplementary numbers, divisions, system entries, and QuickPicks are used every day by millions of lottery players across the country, yet their precise meanings are not always obvious. This glossary serves as a definitive reference for every important term you will encounter when playing Australian lottery games.
Why This Glossary Matters
Understanding lottery terminology is not just about knowing the jargon — it directly affects how you play and what you can expect. For example, knowing the difference between a standard entry and a system entry could help you decide how to spend your budget. Understanding what supplementary numbers do clarifies which prize divisions you can win. And knowing that TattsLotto, Gold Lotto, and X Lotto are all the same game as Saturday Lotto prevents confusion when comparing results across states.
Getting Started
If you are new to Australian lotteries, start by checking the terms for the specific game you want to play. Each game — whether it is Powerball, Oz Lotto, Saturday Lotto, or Set for Life — has its own format, number range, and prize structure. Use our odds calculator to compare the games, check the draw schedule to know when each game draws, and visit our FAQ page for answers to common questions about how to play.