Online Pokies

Written by John Gold. Last updated:

Live dealer games and sports betting may not be available for every casino, but online pokies can be found in all of them. In this article, we will cover the types of pokies that exist and explain all the main details you might need to know about these kinds of games. We will also give you tips on how to get the most out of your gambling experience!

- Australian gamblers spend over $400 on pokies every month
- The median online pokies session for regular gamblers lasts around 2.5 hours​
- About 96% of Australians of 18–24 years have tried playing pokies
- About 60% of Australian players gamble on pokies at least weekly

Online Casinos Where You Can Play Pokies

  • Certified Certified
  • Safe & secure Safe & secure
  • Expertly rated Expertly rated
  • Trusted Trusted
Trip2vip
4.99

up to $6,000

+400 Free Spins

Winshark
4.98

up to €2,500

+300 Free Spins

KingMaker
4.97

100% up to $2,000

+25 Free Spins

up to $3,000

+200 Free Spins

up to $2,400

+140 Free Spins

up to $2,500

+250 Free Spins

MrPacho
4.94

100% up to $750

+200 Free Spins

BetiBet
4.93

100% up to €1,500

Slotuna
4.92

100% up to $750

+200 Free Spins

Editor's Pick: the Best Casinos to Play Pokies Online

Zoome

Zoome is a big online casino with a game library of over 10,000 titles. Such a huge variety of games guarantees various pokie options from over 80 providers. At the casino, you can find various pokies themes: mythology, Asian, Wild West, Ancient Egypt, and many more. Also, there are over 200 progressive jackpot pokies.

🎰 Number of pokies: 10,000+
👨‍💻 Number of pokie providers: 80+
🥇 Best pokie providers: Platipus, NetEnt, NoLimit City, Playtech
🎊 Progressive: 200+
📍 Average pokies RTP: 96.7%

up to $2,500

+250 Free Spins

Playzilla

Playzilla provides more than 9,500 games in total, with about 8,500 pokies, 460 of which are classic and progressive jackpots. The range includes pokies featuring fairy tales, mythology, Mayan temples, space and science fiction, animals, the Wild West, and more. Megaways and classic slot machines are also part of the collection.

🎰 Number of pokies: 8,500+
👨‍💻 Number of pokie providers: 67
🥇 Best pokie providers: Play'N Go, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, NetEnt, Relax Gaming
🎊 Progressive: 21
📍 Average pokies RTP: 96.5%

KingMaker

KingMaker casino has over 3,000 games including classic, video and jackpot pokies. Also, the casino offers players a range of table and live games, as well as a chance to bet on sports. At KingMaker, you can participate in tournaments and become a VIP member, which will grant you personalised offers, higher withdrawal limits, cashback, and more.

🎰 Number of pokies: 3,000+
👨‍💻 Number of pokie providers: 80+
🥇 Best pokie providers: Hacksaw, Play'n GO, Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming
🎊 Progressive: 50+
📍 Average pokies RTP: 96.7%
KingMaker
4.97

100% up to $2,000

+25 Free Spins

Choosing the Perfect Real Money Pokies

Given the huge variety of pokies, it's hard to recommend anything specific. Nevertheless, it's worth being in tune with the latest trends and what's currently popular among other players. We have made a few selections that can act as a sort of mini guide to the variety of online pokies.

According to the latest selection from iGamingBusiness, based on analysing data from over 3,000 gambling operators, the following pokies hold the lead. It's worth noting that most of these titles are very often found in the lobbies of the casinos we review.

The Book of Dead by Play'N GO — the number one pokies in Australia

The Book of Dead, by Play’N GO, has an Egyptian theme, offering players to hunt ancient treasures. The pokie is a part of the provider's premium collection. Book of Dead has an RTP rate of 96.21% and a high volatility. The game features up to 10 paylines and 5 reels. The Book of Dead symbol serves as Wilds and Scatters. Three or more of which on a payline triggers a Special Expanding Symbol and 10 Free Spins, offering players multiplying by 2 or 4 of any winning line. Playing Book of Dead, you can also win a Jackpot of 250,000 coins max.

Gates of Olympus — the second most popular pokie in Australia

Gates of Olympus by Pragmatic Play offers gamblers to visit the world of Greek Gods. The pokies have an average RTP rate of 96.5% and high volatility. Gates of Olympus presents 20 paylines and 5 reels. Even though the game offers no Wild Symbol, there are Multipliers, which give players between x2 to x500, and Scatter Symbols. Landing three or more Scatters during the free spin round grants players five extra free spins. The special feature of Pragmatic Play is the Ante Bet option, which doubles our chances to win, according to the provider.

Sweet Bonanza — the third most popular pokie in Australia

Another pokie by Pragmatic Play, Sweet Bonanza, is a confectionery-themed game with 20 paylines and 5 reels. The slots have 96.49% RTP and medium-high volatility. The Scatter symbol triggers a free spin round with 10 Free Spins, offering multipliers up to x100. Players are provided with Tumbling Reels. Also, one of the pros of Sweet Bonanza is a cascading type of winning. In the best case scenario, if 12 of the most profitable symbols, the heart candies, land on the reels, it will pay out x50 your bet.

Big Bass Bonanza by Pragmatic Play — the number four popular pokie in Australia

The most popular pokie from Pragmatic Play, Big Bass Bonanza, features 12 paylines and 5 reels. Big Bass Bonanza has a common fishing theme. The RTP rate is slightly higher than the previous pokies, 96.71%, while the volatility level is medium. The game has no Multipliers. However, it provides players with a Free Spin round, triggered by Scatters and Wild Symbols, every four of which grants extra 10 Free Spins. Big Bass Bonanza has special Fish symbols that have a cash value. During the bonus round, players get a chance to collect them. If, during the round, the Fisherman symbol lands, it starts catching the symbols, bringing the gambler additional winnings.

Starburst by NetEnt — the fifth most popular pokie in Australia

The first NetEnt game on the list. Space/Jewels-themed Starburst pokies are featured with traditional Wild Symbols, Expanding, and Sticky Wilds. However, you will not find any free spin bonuses, Multipliers, or Scatters. The pokie has 5 reels and 10 paylines. The appealing feature of Starburst is that you can land wins in both directions. While the RTP level is 96.1%, which is less than in previous pokies, the volatility is low. Also, Starburst offers the Wild bonus round, during which you will have up to 5 re-spin features.

Big Bass Splash by Pragmatic Play — the number six ob the most popular pokie in Australia

Online Pokie by Pragmatic Play Big Bass Splash is one more fishing-themed slot. The game has an RTP of 96.71% but a high volatility. On 10 win lines and 5 reels, you will see features such as Wilds, Scatters, and free spins. Every fourth collected Wild triggers the free spin round. The number of free spins depends on the landed Scatters: 3 Scatters — 10 FS, 4 Scatters — 15 FS, 5 Scatters — 20 FS. The most generous symbol in the game is Monster Truck; five of those give a player x200 win.

Sugar Rush by Pragmatic Play — the seventh of the most popular pokie in Australia

The pokie from Pragmatic Play has a 3D Candy theme. Sugar Rush has 20 paylines and 6 reels, high volatility, and a 96.5% RTP rate. The feature of the slot is a cluster mechanism, which means that to win, you need to land at least 5 connected matching symbols. The Free Spin bonus appears when 3 Gummy Bear Scatters are landed; the more Scatters, the more free spins. Sugar Rush also features Multipliers and Wilds. Additionally, players can re-trigger the bonus round by landing more Scatters.

Bonanza by Big Time Gaming — the number eight pokie by popularity in Australia

Big Time Gaming pokies Bonanza fascinates gamblers with numerous paylines, which it has up to 117,649. Jewels-themed game has 6 reels. Bonanza has an average for pokies RTP rate — 96% and a medium volatility. All kinds of features are offered here: Free Spins, Wilds, Multipliers, Scatters, and Bonus Rounds. Even though the maximum single-line win is x50, the cascading reels and multipliers can get you additional winnings. To activate the Free Spin round, it’s necessary to land four symbols the way they spell the word «GOLD».

Legacy of Dead by Play’N GO — the number nine pokie in Australia by popularity

Similar to Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead by Play’N GO offers a slightly higher RTP rate of 96.58% and high volatility. The theme is Ancient Egypt. The pokies have Free Spins, Stacked Symbols, Wilds, and Scatters, three or more of which activate free spins. During the Free Spins round, you will be granted expanding symbols chosen randomly during one of the 10 free spins. The most profitable winning symbol in Legacy of Dead, Tutankhamen, can bring up to x5,000.

The Dog House Megaways by Pragmatic Play — the number tenth of the most popular pokies in Australia

The Dog House Megaways by Pragmatic Play, like Bonanza from Big Time Gaming, offers gamblers over 100,000 paylines and 6 reels. The game has a high volatility and 95.55% RTP. Dog House Megaways is featured with Wilds, Scatters, Multipliers, and free spins. Besides traditional free spins, the pokie provides users with Sticky Wild free spins, offering to multiply any Wilds that appear on the reels, and Raining Wild free spins, offering up to 6 Wilds on every free spin. Note that free spins can’t be retriggered.

Newly Released Online Pokies

Panda Money mobile pokie by Big Time Gaming
February 2024

Panda Money by Big Time Gaming and Legion Gold Unleashed by Play’N Go

January 2024

Jelly Belly Megaways by NetEnt

November 2023

Sherwood Gold by Play’N Go

October 2023

Coin Charge by Platipus

September 2023

Wizard of the Wild by Platipus and Wild Unicorns by Big Time Gaming

July 2023

Thor Turbo Power by Platipus

February 2023

Fairy Forest by Platipus

January 2023

The Big Score by Platipus

Highest RTP Online Pokies

Pokie Name RTP Provider Max Win Bonus Features Jackpot
Goblin’s Cave 99.32% Playtech x450 Scatters, Wilds, Bonus Game No
Ugga Bugga 99.07% Playtech x1,000 Wilds, Multipliers, Scatters, Hold and Autoplay feature Yes
Mega Joker 99% NetEnt x2,000 No features Yes
Monopoly Big Event 99% Barcrest x500 Wilds, Scatters, Free Spins, Expanding Wilds, Bonus Game No
Cosmic Quest: Mystery Planet 98.95% Rival Gaming x12,500 Scatters, Multipliers, Wilds, Free Spins, Bonus Game, Autoplay Yes
1496 Uncharted Seas 98.60% Thunderkick x670 Wilds, Scatters, Expanding Wilds, Free Spins, Retriggering No
Moon Stone 98.50% Smartsoft x250 Wilds, Free Spins, Autoplay Yes
The Catfather 98.10% Pragmatic Play x5,000 Wilds, Free Spins, Multipliers No
Blood Suckers 98% NetEnt x1,014 Wilds, Scatters, Free Spins, Multipliers Yes
Ragnarok 98% Genesis Gaming x10,000 Wilds, Scatters, Multiplies, Free Spins No
Money Train 2 98% Relax Gaming x50,000 Wilds, Scatters, Multiplies, free spins, Respins No

What Kinds of Pokies are Right for You?

Considering that pokies are pretty simple games, each of the players has their own preferences, which basically boil down to the theme of the pokies. However, online pokies also have other specifications that affect gameplay. Some online casino brands even make special selections based on the specs of slots. Let's understand what types of online pokies there are.

By Number of Reels

While physical pokie machines had limitations on the number of reels — it was too difficult to build a slot machine with a large number of reels, virtual online pokies opened up endless variations and game options (combos) for players.

3-Reel Pokies

It is the most classic and old type. Usually, players find it easier to gamble. However, they can also be a bit more boring. This type of pokies doesn’t offer too many paylines and winning combinations, and jackpots are often slightly lower.

5-Reel Pokies

Five-Reel pokies have more room for bonus features to be placed. Therefore, you will see many more of them. Unlike the previous type, this one sometimes offers progressive jackpots.

7-Reel Pokies

7-Reel pokies are much less common. However, you are provided with the opportunity to win much bigger prizes and jackpots. On the other hand, it only happens if you are lucky enough to land seven identical symbols in a row.

Expanding-Reel Pokies

These ones have a mechanic of adding new random symbols to each reel during the game. Which means increasing the probability of hitting a winning combination. Additionally, they don’t miss on bonus features.

By Winning Opportunities

Of course, we gamble for fun, but what could be more enjoyable than winning, especially a big one? And here are a few features that will allow you to try your luck for a big score.

Progressive Jackpot Pokies

Unlike fixed jackpots, offer players the opportunity to win enormous amounts of money, as much as millions of dollars. The mechanics behind it is adding the percentage of each bet to the jackpot amount. This way, the more and longer you place bets, the bigger the jackpot you might get.

Megaways Pokie

It is a relatively new mechanic launched by Big Time Gaming in 2016. This type of slot has up to over 117,000 paylines. The mechanics of the game mean that each spin lands a random number of symbols, usually from two to seven. This creates a different number of paylines each round.

Variability-Categorized Pokie Titles

Depending on your attitude toward risk, you can also choose pokies that match your temperament. You can learn about the level of risk associated with a specific pokie game from special selections or detailed reviews on our site.

Low Variance Pokies

Low Variance Pokies offer a lower risk of losing and a greater chance of winning. When playing Low-Risk Pokies, you can expect frequent but lower payouts. The level of risk in the game depends on several indicators, such as volatility and minimum bet. If you encounter a Low Volatility Pokie or a Penny Pokie, which typically doesn’t have a minimum bet, you can start playing without fear. These are perfect examples of Low-Risk Pokies.

High Variance Pokies

High Variance Pokies entail the highest level of risk, but they offer the potential for larger prizes to winners. So, if you're willing to test your luck and wager a larger amount of money, you should seek out High Roller Pokies and High Volatility Pokies. However, when playing High-Risk Pokies, we strongly advise following responsible gambling practices, especially by setting betting limits and managing your bankroll, to prevent overspending.

Theme-Based Pokies

Despite the technical differences among all pokies, the theme and visual design often become the main motives in choosing a pokie. Regardless of your preferences, today, you can find a pokie on almost any theme. Take a look below to see which themes are the most popular at online casinos right now.

Classic Pokies

You can easily recognise classic pokies by their iconic themes and familiar gameplay. They boast the simplicity of traditional fruit symbols and other well-known elements that have stood the test of time. Perhaps it's just a temporary draw to the nostalgia of retro themes, but classic pokies, sometimes with a modern touch, continue to captivate players around the globe with their enduring charm and timeless appeal.

  • Fruit Pokies
  • Vegas Pokies
  • Retro Pokies
  • Jewels & Gem Pokies
  • Sports Pokies
  • Animal Pokies
  • Adventure Pokies

Fantasy Pokies

From the depths of the ocean to the icy tundras of the Ice Age, fantasy slots explore a diverse array of themes that ignite the imagination and evoke a sense of awe. Of course, the engagement is greater with these pokies, but you can easily become immersed in the game for long periods, so think twice about the limits you set yourself.

  • Underwater Pokies
  • Ice Age Pokies
  • Horror Pokies
  • Mythical Pokies
  • Pirate Pokies

Cultural Pokies

Such pokies offer players a virtual journey to various countries and provide an opportunity to explore their cultures. According to our observations, the most common themes for slots are Ancient Egypt, the Wild West, and Oriental motifs. These are the themes with which Aristocrat — the producer of some of the best pokies — gained its popularity. However, nowadays, more and more diverse themes are emerging.

  • Egyptian Pokies
  • Irish Pokies
  • Oriental Pokies
  • Wild West Pokies
  • Viking Pokies
  • Historical Pokies

Brandes Pokies

Branded pokies are usually based on well-recognised characters from movies, shows and even celebrities. Sometimes, due to licensing requirements, pokies may only copy the general visual themes, but some are created in collaboration with different brands or stars.

  • TV Show Pokies
  • Movie Pokies
  • Celebrity Pokies
  • Comic Pokies

Seasonal Pokies

As a rule, these types of pokies are actively offered in online casinos during the holidays, as well as seasonal bonuses and promotions are focused on them.

  • Christmas Pokies
  • Winter Pokies
  • Romantic Pokies
  • Halloween Pokies

Should I Go With Free Online Pokies?

Most slot developers offer players the option of trying out their online pokies for free in a demo version. When practising trial gambling, you can explore the game without risking real money and decide whether you like the game and its features.

Even though playing real money pokies fascinates many gamblers by allowing them to hit real money winnings, you shouldn’t forget that, unlike free online slots, they require you to wager and risk real money. Therefore, we suggest you do not neglect the demo and ensure you understand and enjoy the game before placing real bets. Below, we have highlighted the pros and cons of playing free online slots:

Pros
  • Play riskless and for fun only
  • Try new pokies and different types of pokies
  • Gaining extensive insight into all conceivable features of the pokie
Cons
  • Not all pokies are available for demo play
  • You can’t win real money or earn any loyalty points
  • Not all pokies options can be available

Get the Most Out of Your Gameplay with Casino Bonuses

Bonus Description Casino
Welcome Bonus Pack The bonus is offered for new players and is usually available for the first one to three deposits. Ricky Casino offers a Welcome Pack of up to 10 first deposits. Ricky Casino
Highroller Bonus Can be offered as both a welcome and an ongoing bonus when depositing large amounts of money. Playfina offers a personal Highroller Bonus available for deposits from $1,650. Playfina
Free Spins There are three types of free spins: no-deposit and deposit-free spins. Playzilla offers 500 FS in its Welcome Pack with a daily limit of 10 FS. Playzilla
No Deposit Bonus This bonus allows players to try out a few pokies for free. Spinanga offers 50 FS in a no deposit bonus. Spinanga
Sign Up Bonus Usually grants players small cash prizes for pokies or free spins. The bonus doesn’t require deposits. Katsubet offers 50 FS for registration in the casino. Katsubet
Cashback This one provides players with cash prizes based on previous losses. Wild Fortune
No Wagering Bonus Using this bonus, players are not required to fulfil the wagering requirement to withdraw winnings. Nomini

Beginner's to Intermediate Guide to Real Money Pokies: How They Work and What to Know

Placing bets, spinning the wheel, and looking forward to the result are obviously the most fascinating parts of slot gambling. However, to make your gaming experience smoother, we suggest you first learn the basic mechanics and functions of slot machines.

Essential Slang and Terminology

Perhaps if you are new to gambling, we should have placed this section at the very beginning of our guide. But, fortunately, online pokies are not so complicated, and it won't be too difficult to deal with the terminology.

Essentially, it's a sophisticated algorithm designed to generate random and unpredictable sequences of numbers. In the context of pokies, it determines the outcomes of each spin, deciding what symbols land on the reels with every whirl, embodying the core essence of pokies — the exhilarating unpredictability that defines the thrill of the game.

It is the average percentage of winnings you get back from your bets in a specific game over time. Let me give you an example: the average RTP rate for pokies is 96%, which means that for every $100 bet, you will get back $96 in the long run. Note that the closer RTP to 100% is, the better chances of winning you have.

Paylines are integral to pokies, with each machine featuring a specific number of them, each adorned with different symbols. Winning occurs when identical symbols align along a payline. These lines can run vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or even in zigzag patterns.

Refers to money a player is willing to risk when betting. When you bet on, for example, $10, it means that your stake is $10.

This is the minimum amount of money you can wager in one round.

As opposed to the Minimum Bet, this is the maximum amount of money you can wager in one round.

It's essentially all your money — the amount in your account when gambling.

Refers to additional features a particular slot contains. These usually include free spins, scatter and wild symbols, multipliers, etc.

Multipliers or Modifiers can be commonly found in pokies, particularly during free spin rounds. These bonuses increase the amount of your winnings by multiplying them by a predetermined factor.

These are synonymous terms for converted money. For example, if you bet $10 on an online pokie, you’ll see on the screen that you now have 10 credits/coins in your account.

Check the explanation for RTP, because it is basically the same — a percentage that shows how much of your bets you can get back in the long run.

Any Wild Symbol stands for substituting other icons to complete a winning combination. There are several types of Wilds, such as Sticky Wilds, Expanding Wilds, Multiplying, Shifting, and many others.

Is the most valuable prize in pokies. However, not every pokie offers players the opportunity to win one. Jackpots can be fixed and progressive. The last one allows gamblers to win incredibly big amounts of money, as the sum of a jackpot keeps growing while you place bets until you finally land the winning combination.

Is something that isn’t provided in every online pokies. Some slots have more than one jackpot. The first and the largest one is a primary jackpot, and all the rest are secondary jackpots. The secondary jackpots can be won in the same game as the primary one.

Paylines and Ways of Winning

Here, we offer you to get acquainted with the most important info about paylines and ways to win online pokies.

Payline Wins

Are the standard way of winning. Every slot has a number of win lines, usually 10, 15, or 20. However, the number of paylines can reach up to thousands. Your main aim here is to line up matching symbols on at least one of the paylines.

Cascading Wins

Also known as Avalanche, is a mechanic in which pokies have special columns instead of classic spinning reels. In the games, new symbols fall down from the top of the columns and replace the winning ones that have disappeared. This feature grants gamblers another way of creating winning combinations in the same game round.

Megaways

Megaways give players up to over 100,000 winning ways. Despite numerous paylines, the Megaways pokies are easy to win and don’t require any special knowledge. You will trigger a win every time you land 3 matching symbols in a row. Also, many Megaways pokies have a Cascading feature, which can add further winnings.

Cluster Pays

Cluster Pays is a feature more common for grid pokies than reel ones. The idea is to land symbols in a cluster, meaning they must be connected horizontally or vertically. The required number of matching symbols depends on the size of a grid. You should focus on landing as many identical symbols as possible, because the number of matching icons has an influence on your win.

Win Anywhere

Win Anywhere mechanic doesn’t require you to land symbols in a row, as we are used to. On the opposite, you can win landing symbols anywhere on the reels, as long as there are enough identical symbols. The more matching symbols are land, the bigger your win is.

In-Game Bonuses and Other Features of Online Pokies

Free Spins

Can be triggered by other symbols during a pokie round, giving you a chance to spin the reel for free. Additionally, in some pokie games, there are special bonus features activated during the free spins round.

Respins

Allow players to spin the reel again without playing a bet. Usually, they can be triggered by other special symbols.

Scatters

Unlike many other symbols, Scatters can appear anywhere on a line and trigger other bonuses, including free spins.

Wilds

Wilds are special helping symbols that have the ability to substitute other images, which means that they can help players complete the winning combinations on a payline.

Special Symbols

It is a collective term that refers to pokie in-game features, such as Wilds, Scatters, Multipliers, Free Spins, Expanding symbols, etc.

Bonus Buy

This feature allows players to access any desired bonus by directly buying it. This is a very useful feature when you don’t want to wait for a particular bonus to be triggered naturally.

Pick & Click

This is not a symbol, but a special round that allows gamblers to choose one hidden prize from a range of items on the screen.

Random Prizes

They can appear unsystematically and unexpectedly and offer players random bonus features.

Understanding Bet Limits

When choosing what pokie to play, we suggest you check the betting limits. They refer to the smallest and the largest amounts you can bet in a single spin. For example, if a pokie’s minimum bet is $1, it means that you can still place a bet lower than this, but you won’t be able to withdraw your winning from it. If a maximum bet is $10, you can’t wager more than this. The betting limits can vary in different pokies and depend on the game’s provider.

How Volatility Impacts Your Chances of Winnings

Volatility is the indicator that measures the risk you take when playing a particular slot. Volatility level reflects both how often you will win and how big your wins will be. Now, let’s see what types of volatility there are.

  • Low Volatility Pokies offer players the most frequent and the smallest payouts. This option can be considered the safest, as a betting minimum is usually low, meaning you have a higher chance of winning than losing. Even though there is never a 100% chance, we suggest choosing low volatility for the least risky experience. It will grant you smaller but the most frequent wins. Among popular low volatility slots, you can see Ugga Bugga from Playtech, Safari Sam Slot from Betsoft, and Wild Orient Slot from Games Global.
  • Medium Volatility Pokies can be called a golden mean if choosing between low and high volatility pokies. They can bring you slightly bigger wins that will happen less frequently than low-volatility pokies. Here, you can lose all your bankroll fast if not being careful and keeping an eye on it. If you are willing to try out your luck without a big risk of going broke, here are several pokies with medium volatility: Uncharted Seas from Cornfox & Bros, The Playing Piano Club from Play’n Go, and Big Bass Bonanza by Pragmatic Play.
  • High Volatility Pokies are the riskiest, as even though they present gamblers a chance to get larger winnings, the frequency of getting the win is much lower. When gambling on them, it's extremely important to control your bankroll. Otherwise, you make it easy to go bankrupt. But if you are ready for the risk, here are some high-volatility pokies for you: Mega Joker from NetEnt, Money Train from Relax Gaming, and Triple Red Hot 777 by IGT.

Winning Strategies for Online Pokies 

Despite the fact pokie is a game of chance, there still are several simple tips and strategies that can increase your odds to win. Here, we offer you to get acquainted with the most effective strategies and tips for playing pokies.

The “Prime the Pump” strategy can be perfectly described as “Start small to win big.” The ones who follow this strategy assume that there are no instant winnings and so start betting with small amounts. Only later, when some winnings have already come, do they gradually enhance the bets.

Is rather general advice than a strategy. But keeping your budget under control is essential for prolonging your gambling experience and raising your chances of eventually winning. Also, remember that placing high bets doesn’t always mean having higher odds to win. Before playing, you should set a maximum bankroll that you can lose and never exceed it.

Is a tip that follows the previous point. Before gambling, try to analyze your maximum limits, after which you should stop. When deciding your bankroll, be realistic and do not bet more than you can afford. This will help you not to overspend. Remember that having a long losing run doesn’t mean the next spin will be 100% successful.

Is an essential step before starting to gamble. You must get acquainted with all the symbols, winning combinations, and payouts and know the game’s RTP and volatility to choose the right pokie for yourself.

Implementing Effective Betting Strategies might sound controversial, as we all know that pokies are games of chance. However, several betting strategies can still increase your chances of winning. Among the most popular you can find are fixed percentage betting, levelled betting, and the Martingale strategy

Real Money Pokie Regulations

According to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, online pokie machines and online casinos themselves are forbidden in Australia. However, gambling from offshore sites isn’t regulated. Therefore, Real Money Pokies are not prohibited.

Australian regulations state that the right to ban gambling is reserved for each territory separately. The only main rule that does not depend on the region: real money gambling is only allowed for people older than 18 years.

Registration of casinos in Australia is mostly prohibited. The only exception is the Northern Territory, where you can get an online gambling license.

Play’n Go
Play’n Go

Play’n Go is considered a leader in casino software development, licensed in 23 jurisdictions. On the 9th of February 2023, the provider was “Best In-Class” at the iGB Digital Media Awards at the ICE Conference in London. Play’n Go has created some of the most known and popular online pokies, such as Book of Dead, Moon Princess, and Reactoonz. The company has also introduced several unique features to its pokies, such as Special Powers. These offer players the chance to randomly activate bonuses that add wilds, transform, or destroy symbols.

Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play is a software provider that supplies over 300 games. The company provides gamblers with 3D graphics and progressive jackpots. Some of the biggest hit pokies developed by Pragmatic Play include Da Vinci's Treasure, Jade Butterfly, Asgard, Vegas Magic, Great Rhino, and Gold Rush. Pragmatic Play makes regular releases at least 1 title per month. The gambling provider is licensed in over 20 jurisdictions, including Malta, the United Kingdom, Curaçao, and Gibraltar.

NetEnt
NetEnt

NetEnt provider offers players high RTP pokies, one of which is Mega Fortune, with an RTP rate of 99%. The provider twice brought a Guinness Record win to a lucky gambler: the first win was $4.3 million on Mega Fortune and the second one – $7.6 million on Mega Fortune Dreams. The company showed the innovation of 3D and animated pokies. Also, some pokies from the provider are features with progressive jackpots. All games from NetEnt are compatible with mobile devices. And, what’s more, you can find VR mode in some games.

Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming is an Australian software provider. Although its pokie portfolio isn’t impressive, the company has brought some innovation to this market. The provider stands behind the Megaways feature. Now, some of Big Time Gaming’s pokies offer players up to 117,649 paylines. Among the most popular provider’s pokies are Bonanza, Bonanza Falls, and Over the Moon.

Platipus
Platipus

The Platipus Gaming company has been operating since 2014. Currently, its portfolio has over 80 video pokies. The pokies from the provider are compatible with phones, and almost all Platipus slots have features of bonus rounds or respins, usually even combining the two. The provider's RNG mechanism has been certified in several jurisdictions, so you can be sure your gambling will be fair.

Responsible Gambling

It is no secret that the lack of self-control in the casino world can easily lead you to gambling addiction. Therefore, we contacted a casino employee, who briefly reminded us of the reasons for the importance of responsible gambling.

When talking about how lucky pokie players can be, he also mentioned: "I work for a game provider, and I see winners every day. However, almost everyone loses." This phrase says everything about slots and casino games in general. These are games of chance, and you never know when luck is on your side and how much you will have to lose before getting the win.

 

Therefore, we strongly advise you to follow simple steps:

Before registering in a casino, carefully read reviews and ensure it is not a scam.

Look for casinos with certified RNG. Among the most reliable testing agencies are eCOGRA, GLI, and iTech Labs.

Many casinos allow setting betting or time limits, which will help you to control your gambling.

Set a losing limit that will indicate the moment when it’s time to leave a casino.

Make regular breaks to refresh your mind.

FAQ

Cheating the pokies RNG is practically impossible. If the randomness mechanism works well and has no bugs, you will unlikely find a way to outsmart the RNG.
If you were in the middle of gambling and the game suddenly froze, the first thing to do is to take a screenshot and contact a customer support service. Not only will you find out whether the problem is on your end, but also how to fix it. Usually, you have to check your internet connection, restart the casino site, and clear the cache from your browser. Note that if the casino is reliable, all your data is saved, and none of your winnings will be ignored.
The answer to this question depends on your intentions. If you are ready to take a big risk for the sake of a big win, you can place big bets. However, every experienced gambler would probably recommend staying safe and controlling your bankroll. By placing small bets, you don’t take any significant risks and can prolong your gaming.
To be sure that a slot machine will pay, it is crucial to gamble only in trustworthy casinos. Besides, you should also choose popular pokies from reliable providers. Popularity is always an indicator of good winnings.
Sometimes, players face difficulties with receiving winnings. There are several reasons why casinos don’t pay out your money: non-passing KYC, non-fulfilling wagering requirements, breaking bonus terms, having multiple accounts, underage gambling, gambling in restricted countries, and violation of game rules. Also, before placing bets, we highly recommend you ensure the casino is trustworthy.
Yes, a pokie's RTP can change, but a provider rarely makes such changes. Besides, note that RTP doesn’t depend on its popularity, a casino, or the time when you play it.
It’s extremely difficult to pinpoint an exact statistic on this one, as it varies depending on the RTP level and volatility. However, here, we have prepared the top 3 biggest wins for the last year: in June 2023, a lucky player won $5 million on Ancient Fortunes: Zeus from Microgaming, in October 2023 — $4.5 million on Bison Fury from Inhouse Jackpot, and in February 2023 — $4.2 million on MGM Grand Millions from Inhouse Jackpot.
Yes, it is possible. But when estimating the jackpot you want to win, don’t forget that the announced jackpot in a pokie game is calculated for a maximum bet.
Usually, the instruction, in this case, isn’t too tricky. As always, you will have to verify your identity, go through the KYC procedure, and cash out your winnings. Be aware, though, that casinos usually have the maximum withdrawal limit. If your win exceeds the limit, you might have to make several withdrawals or ask customer support service if they have any exceptions for this kind of situation. Also, if you are a VIP customer, your account manager will certainly call you to congratulate you. However, even if you are not, there is still a chance you will get a personal greeting.
Yes, many casinos have responsible gaming features that allow you to set deposit limits to keep your gambling under control.
John Gold

John Gold

Editor-in-chief

Starting as a typical gambler, I was interested in how the industry works. And now, for more than 10 years, I see myself as a gambling expert. After trying out more than 500 pokies, I'm ready to share my insights and tell you what you need to look at to get a good gaming experience.