This Melate glossary gathers, in one place, every term you will hear around this game: from the basics —what a draw or the additional number is— to the words that appear in the statistics, such as frequency, overdue, or sum. The goal is simple: that no word confuses you when you read a result, review a guide, or fill out your ticket. Here you will find short, clear definitions grouped by theme, with links to the full guide for each concept in case you want to go deeper. MelateBot is an informational site: it does not sell tickets, does not pay prizes, and is not affiliated with Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública.
Basic game terms
Let's start with the words that define the game itself. They are the foundation for understanding everything else, so it is worth having them clear before moving on to statistics or prizes.
- Melate: the lottery game in which you choose 6 numbers from 1 to 56 and win according to how many you match in the draw. It is Mexico's best-known number lottery. We explain it fully in what is Melate and step by step in how to play Melate.
- Combination: the set of 6 numbers you choose for a draw. Every possible combination —there are more than 32 million— has exactly the same probability of being drawn. We develop this in the odds of winning Melate.
- Additional number: a seventh number that Pronósticos draws after the main six. You do not pick it; it is used to define intermediate prize categories when you match some of the six plus this additional number.
- Ticket: the physical or digital proof of your play. It is the only valid document to claim a prize, so keep it safe. Learn to check it in how to check your Melate ticket.
- Point of sale: the establishment authorized by Pronósticos where you buy your ticket. You can also play online; we cover it in buying Melate online.
- Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública: the official Mexican government body that operates Melate and other draws. It is the only valid source for results, rules, and payments.
Draws and game modes
Melate is not a single draw: it has fixed days, optional draws that add to your play, and a "classic" version with fewer numbers. These terms help you move among all those modes.
- Draw or contest: each event in which the winning numbers are drawn. Melate holds draws on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday around 21:00 (Central Mexico time); always confirm the time in what time Melate plays. Each draw is assigned a contest number to identify it.
- Revancha: an optional draw that uses your same 6 numbers from Melate, but with its own independent pool. You match 6 numbers from 1 to 56, with no additional number. Details in Melate, Revancha and Revanchita.
- Revanchita: another optional draw, also using your same 6 numbers and its own pool, independent of Melate and of Revancha. We explain the differences between the two in the difference between Revancha and Revanchita.
- Melate Retro: a different version of the game, with its own mechanics and pool. Compare the two in Melate Retro and in Melate vs Melate Retro.
- Results: the winning numbers published after each draw. You can check them in Melate results and in the results section of the site.
Statistics and pattern terms
When you explore the game's figures you will run into words specific to analysis. It is important to remember something before defining them: they are tools to describe the past, not to predict the future. The draw has no memory and every combination remains equally likely.
- Frequency: how many times a number has appeared in the draw history. The ones that have shown up most are called "frequent" or "hot" numbers. See the table in the most frequent Melate numbers.
- Overdue number: a number that has gone many draws without appearing. The "lag" is exactly that count of absent draws. Check which have been out longest in the most overdue numbers.
- Consecutive numbers: two or more numbers in a row within a combination, like 23-24. A pair is normal; three or more is less common. We explain it in consecutive numbers in Melate.
- Odd and even: the split between odd and even numbers within a combination. Balanced splits (3-3, 4-2, 2-4) are the most common. More in odd and even numbers.
- Sum: the total you get by adding the 6 numbers of a combination. Most draws fall in a middle range. We detail it in the most common Melate sums.
- Lucky number: a number with personal value (a date, an age) that a player repeats. It has no statistical advantage, but it is part of the fun; we cover it in lucky numbers.
You can see all these figures live and updated in the Melate statistics. Remember: no pattern anticipates the result; they all serve to choose deliberately and understand the game better.
Prizes, the pool, and categories
Here are the terms related to what gets paid out. The prize structure works in tiers according to how many numbers you match, and the main pool can grow from one draw to the next.
- Accumulated pool (jackpot): the top prize, which grows draw after draw when no one matches all 6 numbers. That is why you sometimes hear that "the pool rolled over." We explain it in the Melate accumulated jackpot.
- Prize category: each prize tier according to the number of matches (for example, 6, 5, 4, or 3 matches, with or without the additional number). More matches mean a bigger prize. We review the structure in Melate prizes by matches.
- Top prize: the highest category, won by matching all 6 main numbers. When it rolls over several times, it is the one that generates the biggest jackpots.
- Guaranteed jackpot: the minimum amount Pronósticos announces for the top prize of a draw. The figures change, so always confirm them with the official source.
Claiming prizes and administrative terms
If you ever win, it helps to know the vocabulary of claiming. Deadlines, exact amounts, and taxes change over time, so here we describe the concept and point you to the official source for the current figures.
- Prize validity: the period you have to claim a prize before it expires. There is a deadline in days to collect; confirm it with Pronósticos. Full guide in how to claim a Melate prize.
- Taxes: the withholdings that apply to prizes under Mexican law. Rates and thresholds vary, so verify them with the official source and the SAT; we cover it in Melate taxes.
- Payment center: the authorized place where prizes are collected; the largest are usually paid directly at Pronósticos offices, while smaller ones may be paid at points of sale.
- Ticket checking: the step of verifying whether your play won, comparing your numbers with the draw. Do it right with how to check your ticket.
One recommendation that applies to the whole glossary: for any amount, date, or percentage, the key phrase is confirm it with the official source, because the rules get updated.
Frequently asked questions about the Melate glossary
What is the additional number in Melate?
It is a seventh number that Pronósticos draws after the main six. You do not pick it when you play: it is used to form intermediate prize categories, for example when you match five numbers plus the additional one. It applies only to Melate, not to Revancha or Revanchita.
What does it mean for a number to be "overdue"?
It means it has gone many draws without appearing; that count of absence is called the lag. It is an interesting statistic, but it neither raises nor lowers the probability that it comes up in the next draw, because each draw is independent.
What is the accumulated jackpot?
It is the top prize when it grows from one draw to the next because no one matched the six numbers. After rolling over several times it can reach very high amounts. Pronósticos announces a guaranteed jackpot for each draw, but the exact figure changes, so it is best to confirm it with the official source.
What is the difference between Revancha and Revanchita?
Both are optional draws that use your same 6 numbers and have independent pools. They are two extra chances with your same play, each with its own prize. We explain the fine differences in our guide dedicated to the topic.
Are "contest" and "draw" the same thing?
In practice, yes: they are used almost as synonyms. "Draw" is the event where the numbers are drawn, and each one is assigned a "contest" number to identify it. When someone says contest 1234, they mean that specific draw.
Does a "pretty" combination have a lower chance of being drawn?
No. Every combination of 6 numbers, including a sequence like 1-2-3-4-5-6, has exactly the same probability. The only thing that changes is how many people play it: popular combinations get shared more if they happen to win.
To keep learning, start with what is Melate, review how to play Melate, check the results, and explore more terms and guides on the blog.
From the glossary to the play
Now that you have the vocabulary down, the next step is to put it into practice with real data. Review the game's statistics with MelateBot and, whenever you want a balanced, well-spread play in seconds, generate your combination with MelateBot AI Picks.
Related guides
This content is informational and for entertainment purposes. The statistics are provided for illustrative purposes only: every combination of 6 numbers is equally likely and no method predicts the winning numbers.