➕ Adding machine 🎰 Betting computer

totalizer

9.5

A machine at a racetrack that records bets and divides the money among winners

noun
/ˈtoʊtəlˌaɪzər/

Archaic

: totalizador

Due to a malfunction in the totalizer, some bettors had to wait longer for their winnings.

Examples

The totalizer displayed the final betting amounts.
The totalizer quickly calculated the payouts for the winning tickets.
All bets are processed by the totalizer before the race starts.
Many totalizers are used at racetracks worldwide.
The totalizer displayed the updated betting totals for each horse at the racetrack.
After the race, the totalizer calculated the winnings for all successful bets.
Before placing my bet, I checked the totalizer to see the current odds and payouts.

Synonyms

pari-mutuel machine

vstotalizer

Specialized

1 9.2

A machine at a race or betting place that records bets and shares the total money among the winners

is mainly used at racetracks rather than in other places

totalizator

vstotalizer

Specialized

1 9.9

A machine or computer that records bets and divides the money among winners

is narrower, referring specifically to a computer often used at racetracks

Surface Forms

totalizer singular

totalizers plural

Morphology

totalizer = totalize (transparent) = totalize + er

Formation from the verb 'totalize' by adding the agentive suffix '-er' yields a device or agent that totals.

Etymology

Totalizer comes from total meaning 'sum' or 'whole', plus -ize meaning 'make' and -er meaning 'one that does something'. At racetracks a totalizer is a machine that adds all the bets and then divides the money among the winners, so the name means 'a thing that makes the total'.