Entire Lotto tally is essential (5)

I believe the answer is:

total

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'entire' is the definition.
(I know that entire can be written as total)

'lotto tally is essential' is the wordplay.
'TOTAL' is hidden within the letters.
However, I'm unsure how the hidden word is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for total that I've seen before include "Entirety" , "Utter" , "Entire sum" , "to give the final figure" , "Sum, aggregation" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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