Betting receipt

The betting receipt is the printed proof you get at the betting shop after paying. It records what you bet on, how high your stake was and which odds apply. The word is often used to mean the same as the betting slip.

The difference is one of viewpoint: the slip shows your selection, while the receipt is the confirmed proof once you have paid. In the shop it is usually the same piece of paper. On the receipt are your tips, the odds, the stake and a unique receipt number. Betting is permitted only from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen).

The receipt at the betting shop is kept deliberately simple. A small slip of paper is enough to pin down your tip exactly. Unlike with online betting, there is no digital account statement that stores it, which is precisely why the printed receipt on site matters so much. Anyone who plays at the betting shop regularly should get into the habit of tucking the receipt away safely right after paying. A set place in your wallet suits it better than a trouser pocket, where receipts soon crease or go missing.

The guide Checking your betting slip covers this in detail.

At the betting shop, the receipt is your most important document. It decides whether you get any winnings paid. Unlike with online betting, there is no account that stores your tip. The paper receipt is your only proof.

• Proof: shows that you placed the bet
• Payout: without the receipt, often no winnings paid
• Receipt number: makes your tip easy to find
• Check: lets you go over odds and stake

Treat the receipt like cash. Lose it, and you risk your claim to any winnings.

If your tip has come in, you collect the winnings in the shop. The process is usually simple.

• Hand over the receipt: you present it at the counter
• Check: the staff check the receipt and the result
• Payout: you usually get the winnings in cash
• ID for large sums: can be required by law

It is best to redeem the receipt promptly. Some shops and providers set a deadline for the payout. If in doubt, ask at the betting shop by when you have to collect the winnings.

Since the receipt is your only proof, you should know where you stand if something goes wrong. These points are the norm at the betting shop.

• Loss: without the receipt, a payout is generally not possible
• Illegible: a faded or torn receipt makes checking harder
• Receipt number: can help match a tip in the system
• Query: speak to the staff if something is wrong with the receipt

There is no guarantee of a payout without the receipt. So treat it like cash and do not let it out of your hands before the winnings are paid. It is best not to rely on a photo alone, because in the shop the real receipt is what counts. To be on the safe side, ask the staff in advance how the shop handles damaged or lost receipts.

Keep the receipt safe until the match is settled and any winnings have been paid. Creases or damp can make the print illegible, so it is best kept somewhere protected.

Carry the receipt with your other important documents rather than tossing it into a trouser pocket. That keeps it legible and stops it going missing. In Germany, sports bets carry a betting tax of 5 percent, which Tipico calculates separately from the odds.

Always play responsibly and only with money you can spare. Set yourself a fixed budget beforehand and treat betting as entertainment. Gambling is permitted only from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen) and can be addictive. If you run into trouble, free and confidential counselling services can help.