How To Play Pokies and Win in 2025

Ryan Anderson
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How To Play Pokies and Win in 2025
5 min

Pokies are Australia’s most popular form of online gambling, loved for their simplicity, excitement, and potential for big wins. But knowing how to play pokies—like paylines, features, and bonuses—can turn casual spins into smarter play.

We have used our 15 years of know-how to bring you simple steps for how to play pokies and scoring those wins. We are uncovering the best pokie strategies, the different symbols, how the paylines function, and what features are the best to look out for.

Let’s dive in, so next time you have a slap on a pokie machine, you’ll be on top.

How Pokies Work and Key Mechanics

Before diving into gameplay, understanding the structure and mechanics of pokies is crucial. Here’s what you need to know:

Basic Mechanics

Betting and Payouts of Online Pokies

Volatility and RTP

Types of Pokies

Pokies come in many forms, offering something for every type of player. Here’s a deeper look at the most popular categories:

Traditional Reel Pokies

These pokies are a nod to the retro charm of classic casino slots. Often referred to as "fruit machines," they feature:

  • Format: Usually three reels and one to three paylines, keeping gameplay simple and easy to follow.
  • Symbols: Classic icons like cherries, bells, BARs, and lucky sevens dominate the reels.
  • Features: Limited extra features, though some may include a physical bonus wheel or a nudge/hold function.

Perfect for players who love straightforward, no-fuss pokies with a nostalgic vibe, these games are ideal for smaller bets and quick sessions.

Modern Video Pokies

Video pokies take things to the next level with stunning visuals, engaging themes, and loads of bonus features. Key characteristics include:

  • Reels & Paylines: Typically 5 reels with 20 to 50 paylines, though some offer hundreds of ways to win.
  • Themes: From ancient mythology (Zeus) to blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park), there’s a theme for everyone.
  • Bonus Features: Expanding wilds, cascading reels, free spins, and interactive mini-games are standard.

These pokies provide a highly immersive experience, combining cutting-edge graphics and dynamic gameplay to keep you entertained for hours.

Progressive Jackpot Pokies

These pokies are all about life-changing payouts. What sets them apart is their jackpot structure:

  • Jackpot Growth: Every bet placed contributes to a shared prize pool, which continues to grow until one lucky player wins.
  • Standalone vs. Networked Progressives:
    • Standalone: The jackpot is tied to a single machine or game.
    • Networked: Jackpots are linked across multiple machines or casinos, often reaching millions of dollars.
  • Tiers of Jackpots: Many games, like Jackpot King Deluxe, offer multiple levels—Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand.

Popular examples include Mega Moolah and Divine Fortune, where payouts often reach millions. Be prepared for higher volatility and a lower base RTP, as a portion of your bet funds the jackpot.

Top Pokie Features to Look For

What makes pokies exciting is the huge amount of features in each game. these features mean twists and turns at every corner, keeping you on the edge of your seat! Here are a few of our favourite top picks for features to look for in online pokies:

  • Wild Symbols: These symbols substitute for others to help complete winning combinations. Variations include:
    • Expanding Wilds: Expand to cover an entire reel, increasing winning potential.
    • Sticky Wilds: Remain locked in place during subsequent spins, often in bonus rounds.
  • Scatter Symbols: Unlock special features like free spins or bonus rounds, even if they don’t land on a payline.
  • Free Spins: One of the most sought-after features, free spins let you play without wagering additional funds. Often triggered by scatter symbols, these can include multipliers or retrigger options for additional spins.
  • Hold & Spin: Common in Aussie favourites like Dragon Link, this feature locks symbols in place while giving you chances to land more for bigger prizes.
  • Cascading/Tumbling Reels: Winning symbols disappear, making way for new ones to drop into place. This can lead to multiple consecutive wins in a single spin.
  • Megaways: A dynamic reel mechanic offering up to 117,649 ways to win by varying the number of symbols on each reel with every spin.
  • Multipliers: Increase your winnings by a set factor, often found in free spins or bonus rounds.
  • Gamble Feature: After a win, take a 50/50 chance to double your winnings by guessing the correct colour or suit of a card. Be cautious—one wrong guess forfeits your winnings.
  • Bonus Rounds: Interactive mini-games triggered by specific symbol combinations. Players might pick hidden prizes or play a themed challenge to unlock rewards.
  • Win Both Ways: Enables payouts for combinations formed from both left-to-right and right-to-left on the reels.

Advanced Features Worth Exploring

Take your pokie knowledge to the next level with these features:

  • Cluster Pays: Winning combinations form in clusters instead of traditional paylines (Aloha: Cluster Pays is a great example).
  • Win Multipliers: Increase your payouts during base games or bonus rounds.
  • Bonus Buy-In: Some games let you pay to access bonus rounds instantly, like Deadwood by NoLimit City.

How To Play Pokies - 4 Easy Steps

When you're ready to play, choose an online casino from our list, complete the verification process and follow these 4 simple steps.

  1. Deposit To your Casino Account
    • Online casinos make this part easy with various payment options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill, bank transfers, PayID and cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Choose your method, enter the amount, and deposit securely.
  2. Set Your Bet and Adding Coins
    • Placing bets on pokies is a straightforward process. Begin by selecting the value of a single coin, ranging from 1c to $10. Next, decide on the number of coins to wager on each payline, usually between one and five coins. Choose the desired number of paylines. Some online pokies feature a 'Maximum Bet' button for a quick selection of the highest possible total bet, bypassing the detailed setup.
    • Expert Tip: Most pokie machines have the option to play the game in demo mode, offering free spins to try it out. This is always a good first move. Just remember, you can't win real money in demo mode.
  3. Spin The Reels
    • Slap spin button, often adorned with arrows or a play symbol. Clicking or tapping this button sets the reels in motion, unveiling whether your combination of symbols aligns with the active payline.
    • Expert Tip: Before diving into a pokie, always check its paytable—it helps you determine the payout rate and odds of a game. This chart reveals crucial info about symbols, paylines, and payouts, as well as lists its bonus features.
  1. Make your Withdrawal
    • Most casinos offer multiple withdrawal options, including bank transfers, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Keep in mind that the speed of your payout varies depending on the withdrawal method chosen.

Understanding Paylines: The Winning Paths

Paylines are the pathways on the machine grid where winning combinations of symbols must align to secure a win. Here are some common ones you would expect to see available for selection:

  1. Straight Lines: Classic horizontal paths for symbol matches.
  2. Diagonal Lines: Slanting lines for added winning possibilities.
  3. Zig-Zag Lines: Dynamic patterns offering diverse ways to win.
  4. Freeform or Scatter Pays: Wins are not tied to specific lines; certain symbols anywhere can trigger a win.

Players usually choose how many paylines to activate. You can only win on a payline you have selected to play, so don't be shy and add more than one.

Betting Strategies To Win Pokies

Levels Betting: Start with a tiny bet, say 1-2% of your bankroll. If you lose five times, up the bet. Reset when you win. It's about bouncing back from losses and aiming for bigger wins. Just be cautious not to go too big during a losing streak.

Fixed Percentage Betting: Keep it easy with a fixed percentage (let's say 2%) of what you have. Adjust the bet as you win or lose. Great for riding the wave of hot games, but it might take away some of the fun. It helps limit losses during a rough patch.

Martingale Betting System: Think of it as a double-or-nothing game. If you lose, double your bet; if you win, start over. But, put a limit, like 12 times your starting bet, to be safe. It's a simple way to play, but be careful not to go too big, and reset after a win.

Progressive Jackpot Strategy: Use the smallest bet and play a lot. Wait for the jackpot to get big before diving in. Winning big jackpots takes time, so be ready for long sessions and make sure you've got enough to keep playing when you use the progressive jackpot strategy.

Expert Tips on How To Play Pokies

Some folk like to "slap and pray" approach. While others prefer a bit of strategy to their play. While there are no guarantees, our in-house experts reckon these tips can make sure you avoid the casino money-maker pitfalls and snag your best chances at winning real money.

  1. Play Higher Denominations: Take a bit of a risk for more excitement – bigger bets mean bigger wins, even if it shortens your time at the machine.
  2. Place Maximum bets and multiple paylines: For those massive jackpots, bet the maximum allowed – smaller bets won't get you the same colossal wins. Adding additional paylines increases your chance of winning.
  3. Avoid Complicated Games: Keep it simple for better odds – complicated games might seem fun, but they often have lower chances of winning.
  4. Play in Demo mode for Free spins: Try free spins to learn without losing money – it's like a practice round before diving in.
  5. Choose pokies with higher RTP rates: Casino games and pokies with higher RTP rates are generally more likely to yield better payouts. A good RTP is usually anything above 94%.
  6. Know when to quit: Accept losses instead of trying to win it all back – chasing losses can dig a bigger hole in your bankroll.
  7. Remember the house edge: Every spin is a new chance – pokies are random, so don't assume a win is due after a losing streak, casinos owe you nothin' and pokies are powered by the almighty Random Number Generator (RNG).
  8. Set a budget: Set a limit and stick to it – gambling responsibly in an online casino means knowing when to walk away (or in this case, log out!). Choosing your volatility level to match your budget is also essential. If you are on a budget, our experts recommend low-volatility pokie machines. If you're feeling more adventurous and have a larger bankroll, try a high-volatility that leads to bigger payouts.

Best Bonuses For Pokies

Not all casino bonuses are equally suited for pokies. Here are the top three bonuses that deliver maximum value and excitement for pokie enthusiasts:

Top Pokie Developers You Should Know

Certain developers consistently produce high-quality games, each bringing unique innovations to the industry. Here’s what sets them apart:

NetEnt

Famous for stunning visuals and intuitive gameplay, NetEnt is a pioneer in creating immersive pokies. They introduced features like Cluster Pays (seen in Aloha: Cluster Pays) and unique bonus mechanics like the avalanche feature in Gonzo’s Quest.

Aristocrat

This Australian favourite is known for its land-based pokies that translate beautifully online. Games like Buffalo Gold and Lightning Link showcase their signature Hold & Spin mechanic and offer themes that resonate with Aussie players.

Play’n GO

Renowned for high RTP games like Book of Dead, Play’n GO specializes in dynamic bonus rounds and multipliers. Their games often feature in-depth storylines and evolving gameplay, appealing to players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences.

These developers stand out for their innovation, fair play, and dedication to crafting pokies that keep players engaged and entertained.

Licensing and Fair Play

When it comes to online pokies, safety and fairness are non-negotiable. Choosing licensed casinos ensures not only a secure experience but also peace of mind while playing. Here’s why it matters:

Rest assured, all of the best online casinos we recommend have been thoroughly vetted and are licensed by reputable regulators.

Conclusion

This guide has equipped you with everything you need to know about how to play pokies—Australia’s most popular casino games. You’ve learned how key features like wilds, scatters, and free spins can boost your gameplay, how to choose bonuses that maximise your chances of winning, and why understanding RTP and volatility is crucial for smarter play.

With these insights, you can confidently navigate the world of online pokies, making informed choices about the games you play and the strategies you use. Remember, pokies are all about fun, so set your limits, spin responsibly, and enjoy every moment of the journey.

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Ryan Anderson
Ryan Anderson Pokies Expert
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Ryan is our resident pokies expert. Not only does he provide readers with the latest insights, innovations and technology news related to pokies, but he also knows all there is to know about pokies game developers.

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Last updated: 7 February 2025
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