How Online Pokies Work: RNG, RTP and How to Play Pokies

How do pokies work? The basics

A pokie, the Australian word for a slot machine, looks like reels or a grid of symbols, but the pictures are only a display. What decides the result is software. When you press spin, the game takes a number from its random number generator, matches it to an outcome and then shows you that outcome as symbols landing.

The random number generator

The generator never stops and turns out numbers far faster than you can press the button. The moment you spin, it takes whichever number it is on. Because of that, the result of one spin has no link to the one before it. A pokie that has not paid for 200 spins is no more likely to pay on spin 201, and one that just paid is not “cooling down”.

The paytable

The paytable is the rule book. It lists which symbols pay and how much, which symbols are wild or scatter, and what triggers the bonus round. It is behind the “i” or ”?” button in every game. Reading it takes two minutes and tells you more than any review: it shows whether wins are counted on paylines, in clusters or anywhere on the screen.

Reels, paylines and ways

Older pokies count a win only when matching symbols line up on a payline. Newer ones count clusters of touching symbols, or pay wherever enough of the same symbol lands. Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza pay anywhere on a tumbling grid, Fruit Party pays on clusters, and Starburst is a five-reel game with a classic look. Our types guide shows each one with an example.

RTP and volatility explained

Two numbers describe how a pokie behaves. They answer different questions, and you need both.

What RTP means

RTP (return to player) is the part of all stakes a game pays back across a very long run. At 96%, A$100 of stakes returns A$96 on average, and the game keeps A$4. It is a long-run average across millions of spins, not a forecast for tonight.

Why the same game can have different RTPs

The studio publishes a headline RTP, but a casino can run a lower configuration. Published RTP tables print versions as low as 84.08% for Gates of Olympus, 84.07% for Sweet Bonanza and 84.23% for Big Bass Bonanza, against headlines of 96.50%, 96.48% and 96.71%. On a A$100 stake that is the gap between A$96.50 and A$84.08 back. Check the game’s info panel before you play, and see our high RTP pokies guide.

What volatility means

Volatility, also called variance, describes how the return arrives. A low-volatility game pays small wins often, so your balance moves gently. A high-volatility game pays rarely, with bigger swings and bigger top wins. Hacksaw Gaming shows it as a score out of five, such as 4 out of 5 for Wanted Dead or a Wild.

Max win

Max win is the top prize a game can pay on one spin, expressed as a multiple of your stake. At A$1 a spin, 5,000x is A$5,000; at A$5 a spin it is A$25,000. It is a ceiling you will almost never reach, and the studio’s figure is the best-case number, not the typical one.

Bonus features and free spins

Most of the fun, and most of the volatility, sits in the bonus round.

Wilds and scatters

A wild stands in for other symbols to complete a win. A scatter usually triggers free spins and pays wherever it lands. Gates of Olympus needs four or more scatters for 15 free spins, and Sweet Bonanza gives 10 free spins for four to six.

Multipliers and tumbles

Many modern games multiply wins during a bonus round. Gates of Olympus has multiplier orbs up to 500x, and Starlight Princess sums multipliers from 2x to 500x across a tumble sequence. A tumble removes winning symbols and drops new ones in, so one spin can pay several times.

Buy Bonus

Some games let you pay a price set in multiples of the stake to enter the bonus directly. Aztec Clusters sells it at 100x to 800x, and Bonanza Trillion offers three options. It raises your cost per round sharply, so factor it into your budget.

How to play pokies online in Australia

Learning how to play online pokies is simple. The harder part is choosing where, and setting limits before you start.

What PayID is

PayID is a way of addressing an ordinary bank payment with a mobile number, email address or ABN instead of a BSB and account number. Your banking app shows you the name linked to it before you send. The PayID guide explains which casinos list it and how fast their payouts were in our tests.

How to win on pokies: what you control

People search for how to win pokies, how to win at pokies, how to win big on pokies and how to win online pokies, and for casino tricks to win. The honest answer is that nothing changes the odds of a spin. Every pokie has an RTP below 100%, so on average the casino keeps a share of what you stake.

The only choices that matter

You control the game, the stake and the budget. Choosing a higher-RTP version and a volatility that suits your bankroll gives your money the best chance to last. Setting a session limit is the one move that protects you whatever the reels do.

Why no system works

The random number generator makes every spin independent. Raising your bet after a loss, switching games when one is “cold” or following a pattern changes nothing about the next result. It changes how fast you spend.

Wagering on bonuses

A bonus is not free money. A A$100 bonus at 40x wagering means A$4,000 of stakes before the bonus converts to cash, and most bonuses cap the maximum bet while you play. Our free spins guide shows the maths for each welcome package.

Pokie myths worth dropping

A few beliefs travel from the pub machine to the online game. None of them survives contact with the way a random number generator works.

”It’s due to pay”

Each spin is drawn on its own. A long dry run does not build up a payout, and a big win does not mean the next spin will be poor. If a friend tells you a game is hot, they are describing a streak that has already happened.

”A bigger bet gives better odds”

The RTP applies to the stake you choose, so a A$5 spin returns the same share on average as a A$0.50 spin. The only time stake size changes what you can win is when the paytable says a feature needs a minimum bet. Read the info panel before assuming either way.

”The bonus round is where the money is”

For many pokies the bonus round carries most of the top-win potential, but it also carries most of the volatility. Aztec Clusters, for example, lists a 10,000x max win and very high volatility, which means long stretches with nothing between rare large wins. Plan your session around the base game, not around a bonus you may not see.

What to check in a pokie’s info panel

Every pokie hides the facts you need behind a small button. Before you spend a cent, find these:

• the RTP and whether a lower version is listed;
• the volatility, or a score out of five at studios that use one;
• the max win as a multiple of your stake;
• how the bonus is triggered and whether it can be bought;
• the minimum and maximum bet, and any rule that limits the bet while a bonus is active.

Thirty seconds of reading turns a guess into a decision. It is also the quickest way to tell a 97.00% version of a game from a lower one.

Staying in control

A quick budget rule helps here. Decide the amount you are happy to lose, divide it by your stake per spin, and you know how many spins it buys: A$50 at A$0.50 a spin is 100 spins, and on a high-volatility game that can pass without a single bonus round. Pick a lower stake or a lower-volatility game if you want the session to last longer.

Treat pokies as paid entertainment, for adults only: players must be at least 18. Set a deposit limit, never chase losses, and keep gambling away from money you need. If it stops being fun, Gambling Help Online gives free support on 1800 858 858 at any hour, and the tools casinos offer are listed on our responsible gambling page.

How pokies work FAQ