Terminology and Definitions

The maximum amount of credits that can be placed on any one spin.

Ticket produced by the gaming machine for prize payment. Cash Out Slip is then cashed/validated at venue Cashier.

The units a gaming machine transacts. A player buys so many credits when they put cash into a gaming machine, selects the amount of credits they wish to bet and receives any winnings in the form of credits. Players credits are displayed on screen in the credit amount or denomination of the gaming machine being played. E.g.:100 credits on a 5¢ machine represents $5:00

Gaming machines generally are in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, $1 & $2 denominations. A conversion ratio from dollars to credits for a game would see $1.15 on a 5¢ denomination machine represent 23 credits.

Also known as Gaming Machines, Poker Machines, Pokies, Slot Machines, Slots, or Fruit machines.

Other games that can be triggered by specific winning combinations of the standard game or at random when playing in a set way.

How a game is played, including: what a player needs to do; how the game responds; and how the winning combinations appear to the player.

Games can specify this to indicate that, should a play line provide two possible winning combinations, the higher of the two will be paid.

A type of prize that is progressively accumulated and awarded randomly during gaming machine play.
Linked progressive jackpot - a jackpot that has multiple EGMs linked to it. All linked EGMs contribute to the jackpot prize pool and any of them can win the jackpot prize.
Standalone progressive jackpot - a jackpot feature contained within a single EGM. Only that EGM contributes to the prize and the prize can only be won on that EGM.

Explanation of how each symbol pays and the game rules. Usually located in the artwork on the front panels of the gaming machine or on screen via the Player Information Display.

The set directional lines in which symbols must appear to generate a win. The player determines the number of lines played on any spin. Play lines are usually illustrated in the artwork on the front panels of the gaming machine

The vertical arrangement of symbols that appear to spin when a game is played.

This refers to the amount per $1 that each gaming machine will return to players via winnings over a defined period of spins. By law, each gaming machine in Victoria must return a minimum of 87% of all monies wagered each year at that venue to the players. This does not mean that every time a player spends $10, they are guaranteed an $8.70 return. It is based on statistical expectation that each venue will have paid out the minimum percentage (87%) over a 12-month period.

These are symbols that win independently of a set play line. The symbols may be scattered anywhere across the game screen or could be required to be in sequence from left to right, right to left or any other defined sequence.

A symbol that can replace other nominated symbols to create winning combinations. The pay-table of the game will identify both the substitute symbol and the symbols it substitutes. Understand that not all symbols may be covered by the substitute. Refer to the pay-table for each game.

The ../images on reels that are arranged when the game is in play. On some games, symbols need to appear consecutively on the line from the left-hand side to be a winning sequence. (Left to Right)
5 winning symbols: Î Î Î Î Î
4 winning symbols: Î Î Î Î -
3 winning symbols: Î Î Î - -
2 winning symbols: Î Î - - -
1 winning symbol : Î - - - -
On some games symbols need to appear consecutively on the line from the right-hand side to be a winning sequence.(Right to Left.)
5 winning symbols: Î Î Î Î Î
4 winning symbols: - Î Î Î Î
3 winning symbols: - - Î Î Î
2 winning symbols: - - - Î Î
1 winning symbol : - - - - Î

A trigger is a symbol that generates free games or a feature. In some games the trigger can also be a scatter or substitute.

When a meeting or part meeting is not conducted, generally for weather and or safety reasons. All bets on abandoned races at the TAB are fully refunded.

A Jockey apprenticed to a Trainer. If the apprentice Jockey has won less than a certain number of races he may claim a 'weight allowance' so the horse carries a lighter weight to compensate for his inexperience.

TAB Sportsbet term for bets placed before the final field is known. Bets can be placed on any competitor nominated to start in the race or compete in the event however if the competitor does not compete in the event there is no refund and the bet is a losing bet.

The act of declaring the official result for greyhound and harness races. All clear must be given before dividends can be paid on a race.

Races begin from a set of starting stalls that are referred to as barriers.

Equipment placed on the horse’s head that restrict vision to prevent the horse from being distracted.

When a horse is interfered with and has to change stride or slow down.

As in all sports, horses are put into various classes. A horse which has not won any sort of race is referred to as a Maiden. When they have won a maiden race they move into classes.
Class 1 is restricted to horses that have only won one race, Class 2 is for horses that have won two races, and so on up to Class 6 for horses that have won six races. Once a horse has won more than six races, it graduates to open company.
Open company includes categories such as Welters, Group and Listed Races etc. Two and three year olds often race in events restricted entirely by their age. Similarly, there are also races restricted to horses of the same gender.

The racing silks worn by the jockey or driver.

The mother of the horse or greyhound

The amount by which a TAB Sportsbet dividend is reduced in the event of a scratched runner in a final field bet.

A race restricted to three year old horses.

Payout from TAB betting.

The common practice of backing a horse or greyhound to win and to run a place.

Odds that give punters the chance to double their money, e.g. get $10 back from a $5 bet.

Runner(s) with the most money bet on it, therefore considered by most people as likely to be the race winner.

All of the runners in one race.

A female horse less than four years old.

Calculate your payout by multiplying the fixed return shown on the TAB Sportsbet displays by the amount you want to bet. For example, if you bet $10 on a fixed return of $4.00, the payout will be $40. And remember, the return is fixed from the time you place your bet. It is important to remember that final field dividends are subject to deductions in the case of scratching.

As found in a form guide, it consists of a listing of each runner’s previous performances including wins, placings, whether or not the runner has run at this track, and how it has performed under specific track conditions.

In this kind of racing, horses are ridden by jockeys around race tracks over varying distances.

Generally refers to the weight a horse carries. It is made up by the weight of the jockey, the saddle and any lead weights added to the saddle.

Race official who allocates specific weights which a horse must carry in a race. The Handicapper takes into account current and past form, so, in theory, each horse is allocated a weight that will give it an equal chance of winning.

Less than even money odds

Can be found in TABs and is a comprehensive and easy-to-use screen that provides the latest TAB information on both TAB Sportsbet and Racing.

Races nominated by the TAB to form the first, second, third or fourth legs of a bet type involving more than one race, i.e. a Double, Treble or Quadrella.

A term race commentators use when a race is about to commence as indicated by a flashing light above the starting stalls or boxes.

The measurement from the horse or greyhounds head to tail.

Name of the piece of equipment greyhounds chase around the course.

An event restricted to runners which have not won a race.

A female horse over four years of age.

Same as "in the red" defined above.

Jockeys, Trainers, Stewards or Owners may lodge a protest if they believe that their runner has been interfered with during a race. Payouts are suspended until race stewards, who may decide to change the order of winners and placegetters, consider the protest.

System to quantify past race results for a runner taking into account the class of race, weight carried, beaten or winning margin, barrier position, in-race interference and sectional and overall times.

Refund of the bets on scratched runners in certain pools. Scratched runners are not refunded in Double, Treble and Quadrella pools as the bet is transferred to a substitute.

The dividend you receive on a particular bet

Individual horse or greyhound in a race.

A runner withdrawn from a race before the starting time. If your runner is scratched after you’ve placed a bet, your money will be refunded. The exception is Multiple Leg Bets, in which case your bet will be transferred to the TAB substitute. In the case of an All-Up bet, the base or accumulated bets are transferred to the next race selection, simply skipping the race with the scratching. If it is the last leg, the final dividend is the last race that was run and won.

Jockeys ride horses over various sized fences placed at intervals around the track.

Racing Officials who oversee the integrity and safety of races.

The runner at race jump with the most amount of money in the Win pool i.e. the favourite. Only applies to Double, Treble and Quadrella betting.

Suggestion about a likely winner from an expert.

A term for a system used to total and calculate bets and dividends. With a totalisator System, all the money from bets is put into pools for each bet type on each race. A commission is deducted and the remaining pool of money is then shared by those who picked the winners. If a popular horse wins, many people will be sharing the same pool of money and they will get a smaller dividend for each $1 bet. Conversely, if the winner isn’t as popular then those people who bet on it will receive a higher dividend. The concept can be seen as being extremely fair, as the Totalisator acts only as a 'stake holder' with the participants themselves setting the return. Dividends are simply a reflection of the weight of money bet on the winning selections.

There are five track ratings in Australia : Fast (very hard), Good (firm), Dead (slight give in the surface), Slow (soft), and Heavy (bog).

The person who prepares a horse or greyhound for racing.

Is the pari-mutuel betting pool that Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory punters bet into.

After each race, the jockey and saddle are weighed together to be sure the placegetters carried the correct handicap weight they were allocated.

A class of race where weights are allocated on a set scale according to the age and the sex of the horse.