How to Play Pokies
Online in Australia

What Are Online Pokies?

"Pokies" is the Australian and New Zealand term for what the rest of the world calls slot machines or video slots. The name comes from "poker machines" — the original mechanical devices in Australian pubs and clubs were based on poker hand combinations. Today, the word covers every type of reel-based gambling game, from simple three-reel classics to complex video pokies with hundreds of thousands of ways to win.

Online pokies are the digital equivalent: software-based games that run in your browser or a mobile app, using a certified random number generator to determine the outcome of every spin. The game studios that build them — Aristocrat, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Big Time Gaming, Microgaming — are the same studios that supply major land-based venues. The mathematics, bonus features and payout structures are identical; only the delivery method changes.

In Australia, online pokies real money gameplay is accessed through offshore-licensed online casinos. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prevents Australian-licensed operators from offering pokies online, but does not prohibit Australian players from accessing offshore platforms. The three platforms reviewed on Mates Win — Crikey7, Bonza7 and Dinkum33 — all operate under international gaming licences.

How Online Pokies Work — The Mechanics

Understanding the mechanics removes the mystery and helps you make better decisions about which pokies to play and how much to bet.

Reels and Symbols

Every pokie has a set of vertical reels (typically 3, 5 or 6) that display symbols. When you press "spin," the reels appear to spin and stop on a random combination of symbols. In reality, the outcome is determined instantly by the RNG — the spinning animation is purely visual.

Symbols have different values. Low-value symbols (often playing card ranks — 9, 10, J, Q, K, A) pay small amounts for three or more matches. High-value symbols (themed icons specific to the game) pay larger amounts. Special symbols — Wilds, Scatters, Bonus triggers — activate features rather than paying directly.

Random Number Generators (RNG)

The RNG is the engine that makes online pokies fair. It is a software algorithm that generates thousands of random numbers per second, each mapped to a specific reel position and symbol. The moment you press spin, the current random number determines the exact outcome. Nothing that happened on previous spins affects the next one — each spin is completely independent.

Licensed online pokies use RNG systems certified by independent testing laboratories — eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, BMM Testlabs. These labs verify that the RNG produces genuinely random, unpredictable results and that the actual payout percentages match the stated RTP over millions of test spins. If a platform claims its pokies are "audited" or "certified," this is what they mean.

Paylines vs Ways to Win

Traditional pokies use paylines — fixed patterns across the reels where matching symbols must land to create a winning combination. A classic three-reel pokie might have 1 to 5 paylines. A standard five-reel video pokie typically has 10 to 50 paylines. You can visualise paylines as invisible lines drawn across the reels in specific patterns — left to right, zigzag, or other shapes.

Modern pokies increasingly use ways-to-win systems instead of fixed paylines. In a 243-ways pokie, any matching symbol on adjacent reels (left to right) counts as a win, regardless of vertical position. In a 1024-ways pokie, the same principle applies with more reel positions. And in Megaways pokies, each reel shows a random number of symbols per spin (2 to 7), producing anywhere from 324 to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin.

The ways-to-win system means you do not need to track individual paylines — you just need matching symbols on consecutive reels starting from the left. This makes the games more intuitive but also increases volatility, because the potential winning combinations per spin vary dramatically.

RTP Explained — Return to Player for Australian Pokies

RTP (Return To Player) is the most important number in online pokies. It tells you the long-run percentage of total money wagered that the game returns to players. A pokie with 96% RTP returns $96 for every $100 wagered — on average, over millions of spins.

The remaining percentage is the house edge — the operator's mathematical advantage. A 96% RTP pokie has a 4% house edge. Over a very large sample of spins, the casino expects to keep 4 cents of every dollar wagered.

Typical RTP Ranges

Notice the gap between online and land-based pokies. Online pokies in Australia typically return 5-12% more than their venue-based counterparts. This is the single biggest advantage of playing online — the maths is measurably better.

How to Check a Pokie's RTP

Every licensed online pokie is required to disclose its RTP. You can find it in three places:

• In-game help menu. Open the pokie, look for an "i" icon or "Info" button, and scroll to the rules section. RTP is usually listed near the bottom.
• The game studio's website. Search "[game name] RTP" and the studio's official page will typically appear with the certified figure.
• Review sites. Our pokies hub lists RTP for every category we cover.

Be aware that some platforms offer pokies at multiple RTP settings (the studio provides 94%, 96% and 97% versions). Always verify the RTP in the in-game help menu on the specific platform you are playing, not just the studio's default figure.

Volatility and Variance — What They Mean for Your Bankroll

Two pokies can have identical RTP and feel completely different to play. The reason is volatility (also called variance) — the measure of how a pokie distributes its wins over time.

Low Volatility

Low-volatility pokies pay out frequently in small amounts. Your balance stays relatively stable — you will not win huge amounts, but you will not lose your bankroll quickly either. These pokies are best for players who want long sessions, small bets, and steady entertainment. Classic three-reel pokies and many NetEnt titles fall into this category.

Suited for: Small bankrolls ($20-$50 sessions), beginners, players who dislike risk, bonus wagering (steady play helps clear requirements).

Medium Volatility

Medium-volatility pokies balance win frequency and win size. You will experience longer dry spells than low-volatility pokies but with larger payouts when wins land. Most mainstream five-reel video pokies sit here — Starburst, Book of Dead, Gonzo's Quest.

Suited for: Average bankrolls ($50-$200 sessions), players who want a mix of base-game wins and occasional bigger feature payouts.

High Volatility

High-volatility pokies pay infrequently but can produce very large wins — 1,000x to 50,000x+ your stake on a single spin or bonus round. Long dry spells (50-100+ spins without a meaningful win) are normal. Megaways pokies, bonus-buy pokies, and progressive jackpots are almost always high volatility.

Suited for: Larger bankrolls ($200+ per session), experienced players who understand and accept the risk, players who find low-volatility play boring.

Which Volatility Suits You?

Types of Online Pokies

The pokies category has evolved into distinct subgenres, each with unique mechanics and risk profiles. Our pokies hub covers all eight in detail — here is a quick reference for each type:

Megaways Pokies

Big Time Gaming's engine with random reel sizes producing up to 117,649 ways to win per spin. Cascading wins, high volatility, dramatic swings. Titles like Bonanza, Extra Chilli and Monopoly Megaways. Read the full Megaways guide →

Progressive Jackpot Pokies

A portion of every real money spin feeds a networked jackpot that grows until someone wins it. Mega Moolah holds records for multi-million-dollar payouts. Lower base RTP (88-95%) offset by the jackpot potential. Available at all three Mates Win platforms.

Dragon Link & Lightning Link Pokies

Aristocrat's linked-jackpot series beloved by Australian players. The Hold & Spin bonus mechanic and four-tier jackpots (Minor/Major/Grand/Mega) have made these some of the highest-grossing pokies in AU venues. Online versions are mathematically identical.

Aristocrat Pokies

The Australian studio behind some of the most iconic pokies ever made — Buffalo, Queen of the Nile, 5 Dragons, Miss Kitty, Where's the Gold. Aristocrat pokies are the games Aussie players grew up playing, and the online real money versions preserve the original maths.

Classic Pokies

Three-reel, low-payline pokies that mirror the original fruit-machine format. Low volatility, high RTP (often 97-99%), small bet sizes. Games like Mega Joker, Jackpot 6000 and Break Da Bank. Best for budget-conscious players who prefer simplicity.

Bonus Buy Pokies

Pokies that let you skip the base game and pay a fixed multiple of your stake (typically 50-100x) to jump directly into the bonus round. Higher volatility than standard play but faster access to the highest-paying feature. Available where permitted at all three platforms.

High-RTP Pokies

Pokies specifically selected for their above-average return rates — 97% and above. Blood Suckers (98%), 1429 Uncharted Seas (98.6%), Mega Joker (99%). Playing high-RTP pokies reduces the house edge, and the benefit compounds over thousands of spins.

Bonus Features in Online Pokies

Bonus features are what separate modern video pokies from simple reel-spinning. They add variety, extend play value, and are typically where the biggest wins occur. Here are the features you will encounter most often.

Free Spins Rounds

The most common bonus feature. Land three or more Scatter symbols (or a specific trigger combination) and you receive a set of free spins — typically 8 to 25 — played at your current bet size but without deducting from your balance. Free spins often come with multipliers, expanding wilds, or additional retriggering opportunities. In some pokies, the free spins round accounts for 60-80% of the game's total return.

Wilds, Scatters and Multipliers

Wild symbols substitute for any other symbol (except Scatters) to complete winning combinations. Some wilds are "sticky" (they remain in place for multiple spins), "expanding" (they stretch to cover an entire reel), or "multiplying" (they multiply the win by 2x, 3x or more).

Scatter symbols typically trigger bonus features regardless of their position on the reels — they do not need to land on a specific payline. Three or more Scatters usually trigger free spins or a bonus game.

Multipliers increase your win by a stated factor. A 3x multiplier on a $5 win pays $15. Multipliers can appear on individual symbols, during free spins, or as part of cascading win chains (where the multiplier increases with each consecutive cascade).

Cascading Reels and Re-spins

After a winning combination, the winning symbols are removed and new symbols drop from above to fill the gaps. This can create chain reactions — multiple wins from a single paid spin. In Megaways pokies, cascading wins are combined with increasing multipliers, which is where the massive payouts (10,000x+) come from.

Re-spins are similar but triggered differently: one or more reels re-spin while the others remain locked, giving you an extra chance to complete a winning combination. Hold & Spin features (as in Dragon Link and Lightning Link) are a specialised form of re-spin where money symbols lock in place while remaining positions re-spin for a set number of tries.

Bankroll Management for Pokies Players

Bankroll management is the skill that separates players who enjoy pokies long-term from players who burn out after one bad session. It is not complicated, but it requires discipline.

Setting Session Limits

Before you open any pokie, decide two numbers: your session budget (the maximum you will lose today) and your win target (the amount at which you will cash out and walk away). When either number is hit, stop. Do not adjust the numbers mid-session.

A reasonable session budget is money you can lose without affecting your daily life. If losing $50 would stress you, your session budget is less than $50. If losing $200 would not matter, $200 is fine. There is no "correct" amount — it depends entirely on your personal finances.

Bet Sizing — The 1% Rule

A conservative guideline: never bet more than 1% of your session bankroll per spin. With a $100 session budget, your maximum bet is $1.00 per spin. This gives you at least 100 spins — enough for variance to play out and for you to experience the game's bonus features.

For high-volatility pokies (Megaways, bonus buy), drop to 0.5% or lower — these games need more spins to reach their expected distribution. For low-volatility pokies, 1-2% is fine because the swings are smaller.

When to Walk Away

Three signals that it is time to stop, regardless of your balance:

• You hit your session budget. The money is gone. Stop. Depositing again to "win it back" is chasing losses — the single biggest mistake in gambling.
• You hit your win target. Cash out. The pokies will still be there tomorrow. Taking profit requires more discipline than absorbing losses.
• You are no longer having fun. If you feel frustrated, anxious, or compelled to keep playing, close the browser. Pokies are entertainment — the moment they stop being entertaining, the correct action is to stop.

Welcome Bonuses and How They Affect Pokies Play

Most online casinos offer a welcome bonus to new players — typically a percentage match on your first deposit. These bonuses can significantly extend your pokies play time, but they come with conditions that affect how and what you play.

The key constraint is the wagering requirement: you must bet a multiple of the bonus amount (often 25-50x) before you can withdraw any winnings. A $200 bonus at 30x wagering means placing $6,000 in total bets. Most video pokies count 100% toward wagering; some high-RTP and progressive pokies are excluded.

For the full breakdown of how casino bonuses work, which platforms offer the best terms, and how to calculate the real value of a bonus, see our bonuses hub. For specific welcome bonus comparisons, see the welcome bonus guide. If you want to try a platform without depositing first, check the no-deposit bonus guide.

Where to Play Online Pokies in Australia

Mates Win partners with three AU-facing platforms — each reviewed in depth and suited to different player profiles. Here is the quick comparison:

For the complete pokies catalogue, platform comparisons and category breakdowns, visit our online pokies hub.

Responsible Gambling When Playing Pokies

Online pokies are entertainment — they are designed to be engaging, immersive and exciting. That same design can make them easy to over-play if you are not paying attention to your own limits.

Set deposit limits and session timers in your account settings before you start playing. These tools are available on all three Mates Win platforms and take effect immediately. Lifting a deposit limit typically requires a 24-48 hour cooling-off period — this is deliberate friction designed to protect you.

If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships or mental health, help is available:

• Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858 (free, confidential, 24/7)
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• BetStop: Australia's national self-exclusion register — one registration blocks you from every licensed online wagering operator

More resources and guidance on our Responsible Gambling page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do online pokies actually work?

Every online pokie uses a certified random number generator (RNG) that determines the outcome of each spin the instant you press the button. The spinning reels are a visual animation — the result is already decided. The RNG produces thousands of random numbers per second, each mapped to a specific reel combination. This system is independently audited by testing labs like eCOGRA and iTech Labs to ensure fairness.

What does RTP mean in pokies?

RTP stands for Return To Player — the percentage of total money wagered that a pokie returns to players over millions of spins. A 96% RTP pokie returns $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. The remaining 4% is the house edge. RTP is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any individual session. See our RTP section above for the full breakdown.

What is the difference between low and high volatility pokies?

Low volatility pokies pay small amounts frequently — your balance stays relatively stable. High volatility pokies pay less often but with much larger wins when they hit. Two pokies can have identical 96% RTP but feel completely different. Low volatility suits small bankrolls and long sessions; high volatility suits larger bankrolls and players comfortable with long dry spells between wins.

What are paylines in online pokies?

Paylines are the patterns across the reels where matching symbols must land to create a winning combination. Classic pokies have 1-5 paylines; modern video pokies have 10-50. Some newer formats replace paylines entirely — 243-ways pokies pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels regardless of position, while Megaways pokies can produce up to 117,649 ways to win per spin.

Can you make money playing online pokies?

In the short term, any session can produce a profit — especially on high-volatility pokies where single spins can pay 1,000x+ your bet. In the long term, the house edge (typically 3-6%) means the operator retains a percentage of total wagers. Pokies are entertainment, not income. Play with money you can afford to lose and treat any win as a bonus.

Should I play pokies in demo mode first?

Yes. Demo mode lets you experience a pokie's volatility, bonus features and pacing without risking money. It uses the same RNG and maths model as the real-money version. Play 50-100 demo spins to check whether you enjoy the game before committing real funds. All pokies on our partnered platforms have a demo option.

What is a cascading wins mechanic?

After a winning combination, the winning symbols are removed and new symbols drop in from above. This can create chain reactions — multiple wins from a single spin. In Megaways pokies, cascading wins are combined with increasing multipliers, which is the primary mechanism behind very large payouts.

How much money should I start with for online pokies?

A common guideline is at least 100x your chosen bet size per session. Spinning at $0.50? Start with at least $50. For high-volatility pokies like Megaways, consider 200-300x your bet size to weather dry spells. Never deposit more than you can comfortably afford to lose. See our bankroll management section for detailed guidance.

This is a pillar guide covering how online pokies work in Australia. For game categories and platform comparisons, visit the online pokies hub. For specific pokie types, see our guides on Megaways pokies and more coming soon.