Tickets, numbers, picks, plays, lines, dollars?Prev Topic Next Topic

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What is the best terminology for a single bet on draw games?

Picks

[ 2 ]

[ 11.1% ]

Dollars

[ 0 ]

[ 0.0% ]

Plays

[ 2 ]

[ 11.1% ]

Lines

[ 6 ]

[ 33.3% ]

Numbers

[ 1 ]

[ 5.6% ]

Tickets

[ 1 ]

[ 5.6% ]

Many of the above

[ 0 ]

[ 0.0% ]

Who gives a f***

[ 4 ]

[ 22.2% ]

Other

[ 2 ]

[ 11.1% ]

Total valid votes

[ 18 ]

Discarded votes

[ 0 ]

Jon D

Los Angeles, California
United States
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January 5, 2011
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Apr 27, 2013, 8:22 pm

What is the best terminology for a single bet on draw games?

It always throws me for a loop, when you ask someone how much they played on a game, and they answer in Tickets, "I bought 3 tickets!" WTF is a ticket? 1 line, 2 lines, 5 plays, 10 picks, 20 dollars? It is completely ambiguous. Or would you assume a ticket is the max plays allowed on one ticket?

Or when you ask a clerk for Quick Picks on a game, do you ask for 5 picks, or ten dollars, or 5 lines? (or ... a ticket) What is your preferred terminology?
HoLeeKau

Idaho
United States
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July 17, 2010
2,453 Posts
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Apr 27, 2013, 8:50 pm

I say "Gimme a Megamillion please, no Megaplier."

I had to quit going to one store when PB was still $1 and I was buying the PowerPlay. I'd say "A Powerball with the Powerplay please." She'd ALWAYS say "One dollar?" I'd say "One line, two dollars with the PP." And she'd get all annoyed and try to tell me that one dollar meant one line, even tho it really cost $2. But I figured the second I just agreed with her, she'd hand me a $1 PB without the PP. About the 50th time she did that, I got weary of it and just quit going to that store.

As far as telling someone I bought 3 tickets, in that context, to me tickets equals chances to win, so that would mean 3 lines.
redhot7

California
United States
Member #112,359
June 17, 2011
661 Posts
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Apr 27, 2013, 9:45 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Apr 27, 2013
What is the best terminology for a single bet on draw games?

It always throws me for a loop, when you ask someone how much they played on a game, and they answer in Tickets, "I bought 3 tickets!" WTF is a ticket? 1 line, 2 lines, 5 plays, 10 picks, 20 dollars? It is completely ambiguous. Or would you assume a ticket is the max plays allowed on one ticket?

Or when you ask a clerk for Quick Picks on a game, do you ask for 5 picks, or ten dollars, or 5 lines? (or ... a ticket) What is your preferred terminology?

I never have that problem because I almost always buy draw tickets from a self service machine. I know exactly what I want and I don't need to worry about terminology.

If you must talk to the clerk to buy your draw tickets, you should fill out the pay slip and give it to them. That way, there would be no risk of misunderstanding.
Ronnie316

100

United States
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September 7, 2011
20,243 Posts
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Apr 27, 2013, 9:57 pm

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Apr 27, 2013
I say "Gimme a Megamillion please, no Megaplier."

I had to quit going to one store when PB was still $1 and I was buying the PowerPlay. I'd say "A Powerball with the Powerplay please." She'd ALWAYS say "One dollar?" I'd say "One line, two dollars with the PP." And she'd get all annoyed and try to tell me that one dollar meant one line, even tho it really cost $2. But I figured the second I just agreed with her, she'd hand me a $1 PB without the PP. About the 50th time she did that, I got weary of it and just quit going to that store.

As far as telling someone I bought 3 tickets, in that context, to me tickets equals chances to win, so that would mean 3 lines.

Tickets and lines are the same to novice players. 5 PB "tickets" is $10.
Ronnie316

100

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September 7, 2011
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Apr 27, 2013, 10:06 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Apr 27, 2013
What is the best terminology for a single bet on draw games?

It always throws me for a loop, when you ask someone how much they played on a game, and they answer in Tickets, "I bought 3 tickets!" WTF is a ticket? 1 line, 2 lines, 5 plays, 10 picks, 20 dollars? It is completely ambiguous. Or would you assume a ticket is the max plays allowed on one ticket?

Or when you ask a clerk for Quick Picks on a game, do you ask for 5 picks, or ten dollars, or 5 lines? (or ... a ticket) What is your preferred terminology?

I understand your frustration. When I came to LP I had to force myself to say "lines" in order to avoid confusion when posting about multiple draw bets.

The only time I ask a cashier is when I buy QP's, so that's exactly what I call them.

5 Powerball quick picks please. And I know the cost will be $10.

10 Mega Million quick picks please. And I know the cost will be $10.
Ronnie316

100

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Apr 27, 2013, 10:11 pm

When the jackpots are high, I see people all day long in the stores asking for "5 tickets please"

It doesnt make sense to me, but the clerks always just give 5 lines on whatever game is the high JP.
Jon D

Los Angeles, California
United States
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January 5, 2011
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Apr 27, 2013, 10:25 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Apr 27, 2013
When the jackpots are high, I see people all day long in the stores asking for "5 tickets please"

It doesnt make sense to me, but the clerks always just give 5 lines on whatever game is the high JP.

That's funny! I've never seen that in stores myself, that is so foreign to me: tickets=lines. I guess that's just my anal retentive pet peeve.
rdgrnr

100

The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
United States
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April 28, 2009
15,378 Posts
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Apr 27, 2013, 10:26 pm

I just use the name of the game to keep it as simple as possible for the clerk.

Give me 5 Powerball.

Give me 5 Mega Million.

If I have to explain it to them, I go somewhere else the next time.

Unless it's a cutie-pie lil' darlin' of course.
Ronnie316

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Apr 27, 2013, 10:40 pm

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Apr 27, 2013
I just use the name of the game to keep it as simple as possible for the clerk.

Give me 5 Powerball.

Give me 5 Mega Million.

If I have to explain it to them, I go somewhere else the next time.

Unless it's a cutie-pie lil' darlin' of course.

I always take time to splain things to a cutie.
Jon D

Los Angeles, California
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Apr 27, 2013, 10:42 pm

Yeah, prior to Powerball we only had 1 game in CA that was $2 for each bet, the awful Daily Derby game.

Normally, I'd ask "gimme 2 on Mega Millions" and that was easy: 2 picks. If it was an odd number, there was no issue, but for an even number, there might be a question, and even more now with Powerball.

So "gimme 4 on Powerball" and they ask, "4 dollars?" and I say, "no, 4 picks, 8 dollars" or something like that.
four4me

MD
United States
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June 18, 2003
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Apr 27, 2013, 10:47 pm

If you tell the clerk you want a powerball ticket you will get 1 ticket with 1 line of numbers unless you specify wether or not you want more than 1 line of numbers or more than 1 ticket.

1 ticket with1 play - 2 plays 3 - 4 - or 5 plays either separate tickets or all 5 lines on one ticket.

Most play slips i have seen only contain 5 boards or 5 lines.

Big John says. You don't hit the number. The number hits you!!!!

I'm not Big John, I'm Four4me, Big John's a friend.
Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
United States
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January 17, 2006
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Apr 27, 2013, 11:56 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Apr 27, 2013
Tickets and lines are the same to novice players. 5 PB "tickets" is $10.

Only to someone who doesn't play the Powerplay, Ronnie.

Then it would be $15.

__________________________________

I was tempted to vote Other but couldn't pass up voting WHOGAF!

I've found that even when playing a QP with a clerk it's best to have a playslip filled out.

There' too many variables now.

I've asked for $2 on Pick 5 and got one set of numbers for two draws.

Or $2 trying to get two sets of numbers and got one set with the Ez match.

Of course, this assumes that therre are playslips. Sometimes they're not there at all and sometimes the old slips, which no longer work, are there. I was in a store the other day that still had the old PB slips.

Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners.

There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers.
sully16

25

Ringleader

Michigan
United States
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October 28, 2009
128,350 Posts
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Apr 28, 2013, 9:33 am

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Apr 27, 2013
I just use the name of the game to keep it as simple as possible for the clerk.

Give me 5 Powerball.

Give me 5 Mega Million.

If I have to explain it to them, I go somewhere else the next time.

Unless it's a cutie-pie lil' darlin' of course.

LOL

I always fill out my bet slips, no errors or misunderstandings.
Ronnie316

100

United States
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September 7, 2011
20,243 Posts
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Apr 28, 2013, 9:38 am

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Apr 27, 2013
Only to someone who doesn't play the Powerplay, Ronnie.

Then it would be $15.

__________________________________

I was tempted to vote Other but couldn't pass up voting WHOGAF!

I've found that even when playing a QP with a clerk it's best to have a playslip filled out.

There' too many variables now.

I've asked for $2 on Pick 5 and got one set of numbers for two draws.

Or $2 trying to get two sets of numbers and got one set with the Ez match.

Of course, this assumes that therre are playslips. Sometimes they're not there at all and sometimes the old slips, which no longer work, are there. I was in a store the other day that still had the old PB slips.

True, but generally you only get powerplay if you ask for it. So "5 PB QPs" is $10.

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