An Aussie Beginner's Guide To Online Pokies

Choosing The Right Casino Pokies

There are thousands of pokies out there on the net right now. Major developers like Microgaming and NetEnt often bring out several new games each year, many aligned to big brands in film, TV or music. Video pokies can come with in-depth bonus rounds and dozens of paylines, while 'Classic' pokies have no special features and perhaps only 1-3 paylines in total.

Variance: Whatever pokie you choose, it has to be one that's right for you and your budget. Some pokies pay out small, regular wins (low variance) while others pay irregularly, saving up their big jackpots (high variance).

Good Themes: Also choose a pokie that interests you. If you can't stand sitcoms, don't play a pokie based on Friends. Similarly, if you hate superheroes, playing Playtech's Marvel Jackpot slots is probably going to send you round the twist.

RTPs: Each pokie is programmed to give a rough Return to Player percentage (RTP%) over the long term. Most online pokies have RTPs of around 92-98 percent. That means that for every $100 paid into a casino pokie, around $92-98 is paid back to players on average. The remainder is the house edge.

Online casinos will generally list the RTP of all their pokies. Find the highest returns and stick to a small group of games. 

Making Bets And Choosing Coins

Betting on pokies is simple. First, choose the value of a single coin. It could be anything from 1c to $10. Then choose how many coins you want to bet on each payline. Most slots let you pick between one and five coins.

Now you have to pick the number of paylines. Some pokies have fixed paylines, while others let you select which and how many lines to bet on.

After selecting your coin bet, paylines, and number of coins you will reach a total stake. Some slots let you hit a 'Max Bet' button to skip the whole process and just select the highest total bet possible.

Top Tip: Checking The Paytable

It's important to check a pokie's paytable before playing. Every game has one, and here you will find details on the symbols, paylines, and payouts. You'll also find detailed descriptions of the bonus features.

Paytables are a good indicator of how well a pokie pays out. In a typical 5-reel game, look at how much is paid out for lining up five symbols. These jackpots will give a good idea of how generous a pokie is.

Typical Pokies Bonus Rounds

Most modern online pokies will have bonus features which are triggered by landing special symbols on the reels. Wilds substitute for all regular symbols in a game to help form winning lines. 'Scatters' are bonus icons that pay out regardless of where they land. Scatters can also trigger bonus rounds, usually by landing three or more anywhere on the game reels.

- Free Spins
A free spins bonus awards the player a set or random number of free games. Usually, the free spins wins will have a multiplier attached. Players can expect to have their wins doubled or trebled for the duration of the bonus round.

- Pick 'Em Bonus
A Pick 'em Bonus takes the player to a second screen where they have to select several symbols from a choice of 10 or 12. Prizes hidden inside objects can include free spins, multipliers, or cash.

- Click Me Bonus
A Click Me Bonus works like a Pick 'em Bonus but players will have three hidden symbols on the reels to select from.

- Prize Trail
A Prize Trail, or Trail Bonus, sees players work their way up a path en route to a big jackpot. Players roll the dice and move forward along the trail, picking up cash prizes, free spins and multipliers as they go.

- Wheel Of Fortune
A wheel of fortune is spun, with the outcome determined at random. Prizes include cash jackpots and free spins.

Understanding Random Number Generators

All pokies are governed by RNGs (Random Number Generators) which determine the spin of the reels. Each reel may have up to 30 symbols on them in set positions.

But where the reels stop isn't entirely random. Rather, when the reels spin the RNG picks a number which correlates to a set arrangement of symbols. RNGs are strictly tested before a game is released. Casinos will also have their pokies audited by external bodies like eCOGRA to ensure the randomness factor is working fairly for the player. Despite what many Australian commentators say, pokies are not "fixed". But picking the right games with lots of bonus and jackpot icons on the reels is important.

Picking The Right Casino Site For Aussies

Online casinos are packed with pokies for players. Picking a good gambling site is essential before you start playing. Can you test out some of the newer games for free before you commit any real cash? Can you earn free spins on the biggest pokies when you open an account? Is the pokies lobby packed with big-money games from the best developers or are they fairly obscure and not very generous in their payouts?

A good Aussie casino has pokies from a range of developers and in a range of flavours. It's good to have a few favourite games so you don't get bored. Most sites these days let you make a 'Favourites' list in the lobby. Here you can save your favourite pokies in one customised list rather than keep scouring the pokies lobby every time you log on.

Getting A Free Spins Bonus

All pokies players can earn a bonus when they sign up to a casino. By making an initial deposit, pokies nuts can get their cash "matched" by the casino. Casinos will usually match the deposit 100 or 200% as long as you meet the wagering requirement.

Bonuses sometimes come with free spins attached too. A free spins bonus gives players 20-30 free games on a chosen pokie. Your "winnings" are then released if you go on to gamble them successfully at the casino. 

If you're new to pokies, most casinos let you try out games for free. It's the ideal way to test out the gameplay or find a game you like. Once you're comfortable with how pokies work, pick a casino, sign up, and make a deposit. As long as you've done your homework potentially big winnings can be yours.