Alaskan Pulltab Jargon and Terms

If you’ve ever played pull tabs at an Alaskan bingo hall, pulltab counter, or pulltab shop, you might have noticed a language all its own—one filled with terms like "tops," "bottoms," "high profit," and "win codes."  At Alaska Indoor Sports Distributing, we pride ourselfs on staying on top of the lastest Alaska pulltab jargon.  Whether you're a pulltab manager or a new pulltab dealer, understanding this jargon can help you give your your pulltab player's a better experience and help you order the best pulltabs for your Alaskan pulltab players. Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common Alaskan pulltab jargon.

1. Tops and Bottoms: “Tops and Bottoms” in a pull tab game refer to the highest and lowest paying winners. A $500 top game will pay a maximum of $500 for a winning ticket.  A $1.00 bottom game has $1.00 as the lowest winning pulltab ticket. 

2. High Profit:  When people talk about "high profit" pulltabs they’re referring to the games that offer the charity, pulltab store, bingo hall, or "house" the greatest "hold" or return.  High profit pulltabs games give the charities the most money.  

3. Player Game:  A "player game" is a term used to describe a pulltab game that has the most money returned to the player in prizes.  The charity makes less money with player games.  The term "player game" is also used to design pulltabs games thare are more engaging and fun for the pulltab player. These games often have more interactive elements or multiple ways to win, making them more appealing and entertaining.

4. Windows: "Windows" in a pulltab game refer to the "pulls" or "tabs" on a ticket that you can be opened to reveal prizes. Each window contains a potential prize.

5. License Plates and Win Codes: In most pulltab games you will come across "license plates," (also called win codes). which are special symbols or patterns on the ticket that correspond to a winning ticket.  

6. The "Accountant": The accountant tells a player on a winning ticket how much the player has won.   

7. Pay Table: The "pay table" outlines the prize structure of the pulltab game. It shows how much you can win based on the different combinations you uncover.

8. Pickboard: "Pickboards" are a type of pulltab game where players select large windows or panels from a larger board to reveal prizes. Charities often use Pickboards for their engaging and interactive nature.

9. Instants: "Instants" are pulltab tickets or games where the outcome is immediately known after the tickets are opened.  Instants provide instant gratification by showing whether you’ve won or lost right away.  Games that are not "instants" are seal cards, pickboards, and coinboards. 

10. Flare Card: The “Flare Card” is a poster that that displays the payout structure of the Pulltab game along with its artwork and serial numbers. The flare card is usually displayed at the pulltab counter for players to see. By law, the charity must display the flare card. 

11. Playback: A “Playback” is the lowest winning ticket amount in a pulltab game.  Often pulltab plyers will trade this lowest winner for a new, unopened ticket and play again.  

12. Last Sale: A "last sale" pulltab game is a style of Alaskan pulltab game in which the purchaser of the last ticket in the pulltab deal automatically wins a prize.

13. Pulltab Deal: A “Pulltab Deal” is how a game of pulltabs is referred to. A pulltab deal is the whole game.  Most pulltab deals come in one box.  But some larger ticket count pulltab games will come in more than one box.  

By familiarizing yourself with these pulltab terms you’ll be better equipped to stock your pulltab counter with the best pulltab games for your pulltab players. 

Happy pulling!