How to Play Pokies

Ask any Aussie what their favourite casino games are, and they will reply with online pokies; such is the entertainment and pulling factor of these games. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned player, everyone likes to dive into the world of online pokies. Without any skills involved whatsoever, learning how to play pokies is a doddle that opens up doors to jackpots and big wins.

Online pokies come in various shapes and forms, including classic one-armed bandits, modern multi-reeled video slots, megaways titles with more than 100,000 winning ways, and more. Each of these games may also come injected with a plethora of in-game features, such as tumbling reels, wilds, multipliers, free spins features and more. If you are looking to learn how to play pokies, it will not take you much time to figure out how they are played. Keep on reading this guide to find out more about this alluring game.

Online pokies are available in hundreds of different formats and are known as online slots or slot machines in other parts of the world. Pokies are available at both brick-and-mortar casinos and online casino sites.

At land-based casinos, they can easily be spotted by their flashing lights and mechanical reels. You will occasionally hear someone scream with joy when they hit a jackpot. Online pokies can come with 3 to 5 reels and multiple paylines.

Software game developer Big Time Gaming introduced the Megaways game mechanics to crank up the excitement of online slot gameplay. This reel modifier changes the number of symbols presented on each reel with every single spin, and it can result in thousands of ways to win.

Another popular mechanic available in some online pokies is the cascading reel feature. When present, each time you hit a winning combination in an online pokie, all winning symbols are removed from the reels, with new ones dropping in from the top. This essentially provides you with a re-spin. This process keeps on repeating until no winning combinations are formed.

In Australia, slot machines contribute to 62% of all gaming revenue. Thanks to their cost-effective and convenient nature, online pokies have proven to be a fun and economical way to win money. 

What’s more, due to the visual diversity in terms of themes and in-game features, players are guaranteed to find a game that appeals to them. Be it a movie-themed online pokie, a fruit-based pokie or even a music-themed pokie, there is truly something for everyone.

The history of pokies stretches back to the late 19th century when the first mechanical slot machine was launched in the United States by Charles Fey. The original slot machines were very basic and only featured three reels and a limited number of symbols. 

The first electronic slot machine was introduced later in the 1960s. At this time, slot machines were being produced with more intricate graphics, which eventually paved the way for online pokies late in the 20th century. The first online casino was launched in 1994, and since then, they have been growing in numbers, housing tens of thousands of online pokies from hundreds of software developers. 

For many players, the allure of physical machines lies in pulling the lever or pressing the button to watch the reels spin. However, with modern advancements in technology, an increasing number of players are moving their gaming online to benefit from a larger collection of online pokies. Online pokies come with different volatility levels and, very often, offer a higher payout percentage than that of their land-based counterparts. As such, it’s clear to see why they are so popular. 

Moreover, there are many casino bonuses and promotions, which can be taken advantage of when you play at an online casino. Since online casino sites do not have overhead expenses, they can afford to dish out casino bonuses with gusto to their loyal players.

Thanks to the proliferation of online slot games today – there are tens of thousands of games – you no longer have to drive into town or travel to Las Vegas to enjoy a spot of gambling. You can simply create an account at an online casino in Australia, make a real money deposit, and spin the reels on pokies for your chance to win big payouts.

The history of pokies stretches back to the late 19th century when the first mechanical slot machine was launched in the United States by Charles Fey. The original slot machines were very basic and only featured three reels and a limited number of symbols. 

The first electronic slot machine was introduced later in the 1960s. At this time, slot machines were being produced with more intricate graphics, which eventually paved the way for online pokies late in the 20th century. The first online casino was launched in 1994, and since then, they have been growing in numbers, housing tens of thousands of online pokies from hundreds of software developers. 

For many players, the allure of physical machines lies in pulling the lever or pressing the button to watch the reels spin. However, with modern advancements in technology, an increasing number of players are moving their gaming online to benefit from a larger collection of online pokies. Online pokies come with different volatility levels and, very often, offer a higher payout percentage than that of their land-based counterparts. As such, it’s clear to see why they are so popular. 

Moreover, there are many casino bonuses and promotions, which can be taken advantage of when you play at an online casino. Since online casino sites do not have overhead expenses, they can afford to dish out casino bonuses with gusto to their loyal players.

Thanks to the proliferation of online slot games today – there are tens of thousands of games – you no longer have to drive into town or travel to Las Vegas to enjoy a spot of gambling. You can simply create an account at an online casino in Australia, make a real money deposit, and spin the reels on pokies for your chance to win big payouts.

The history of pokies stretches back to the late 19th century when the first mechanical slot machine was launched in the United States by Charles Fey. The original slot machines were very basic and only featured three reels and a limited number of symbols. 

The first electronic slot machine was introduced later in the 1960s. At this time, slot machines were being produced with more intricate graphics, which eventually paved the way for online pokies late in the 20th century. The first online casino was launched in 1994, and since then, they have been growing in numbers, housing tens of thousands of online pokies from hundreds of software developers. 

For many players, the allure of physical machines lies in pulling the lever or pressing the button to watch the reels spin. However, with modern advancements in technology, an increasing number of players are moving their gaming online to benefit from a larger collection of online pokies. Online pokies come with different volatility levels and, very often, offer a higher payout percentage than that of their land-based counterparts. As such, it’s clear to see why they are so popular. 

Moreover, there are many casino bonuses and promotions, which can be taken advantage of when you play at an online casino. Since online casino sites do not have overhead expenses, they can afford to dish out casino bonuses with gusto to their loyal players.

Thanks to the proliferation of online slot games today – there are tens of thousands of games – you no longer have to drive into town or travel to Las Vegas to enjoy a spot of gambling. You can simply create an account at an online casino in Australia, make a real money deposit, and spin the reels on pokies for your chance to win big payouts.

If you are new to the world of online pokies, we are here to guide you. Learning to play online pokies is one of the easiest processes there is. 

First and foremost, you need to select a licensed and reputable online casino at which to play. Don’t simply pick the first one that you come across, without doing any research first. Opt for a licensed and regulated online casino with a solid industry reputation. The strictest regulatory bodies are the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, so use these regulators as the benchmark. This also ensures that the online pokies on offer are regularly audited by independent third parties like eCogra and that they are not manipulated in any shape or form.

Once you have found an online casino you trust, you can proceed to sign up for an account and make a deposit. Many online casino sites offer an attractive welcome bonus offer, which you can claim when making a deposit via one of the available payment methods. In Australia, you can deposit at an online casino via Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and several other methods. Just double-check that the welcome bonus is available via your chosen deposit method before adding money to your account.

As soon as your deposit has gone through and your bonus has been credited to your account, it is time to choose a game from the number of online pokies available in the game library. If you want to learn how to play pokies, we recommend first trying them in demo mode. This will help you explore the various themes, volatility levels and mechanics of the games. You can also figure out if a game is to your liking without blowing your bankroll in one go. You should adjust the bet per spin to ensure that you spend in line with your available gambling budget. 

As mentioned, online pokies come with different in-game features, so explore what is available before settling on the one that appeals to you best. Most online pokies come with active fixed paylines, while others may require adjusting. This is important to note, as online pokies with adjustable paylines can cause you to miss out on payouts if you don’t trigger them. 

Before spinning the reels for the first time, look at the paytable to get a good idea of the low and high-value symbols and various bonus features. When you are done and confident that you have all the necessary knowledge of the game, you can proceed to make that first spin. If a number of identical symbols land on a payline, then you will win a payout as per the paytable. In most online pokies, you need to land at least three matching symbols on a payline to win. 

Since online pokies are a game of luck, winning is never guaranteed, though there are some strategies, which you can apply to boost your chances when you play online pokies. Here are some top tips to bear in mind before spinning the reels

• Check the game’s RTP: While it may be tempting to pick online pokies based on theme or appearance, you should look beyond the visual aspects of the games and pay attention to the Return to Player (RTP). The majority of online pokies online come with a payout percentage of 96%, though this can vary. Generally, jackpot games come with a lower RTP, but anything lower than 96% doesn’t represent good value for money. The RTP refers to the amount of money expected to be returned to the player over a period of time. So if an online pokie has a 96% RTP and you place a bet of $100, you can expect to receive $96 back. This is only applicable in theory and as such, also only applies when you have played for a long period of time.
• Consider volatility: Another tip is to pick an online pokie based on its volatility level. Also known as the risk factor, the volatility level can impact both your bankroll and gaming session significantly. A highly volatile online pokie may reward you with significantly large wins, but you should also be aware that you may have to weather through a few non-rewarding spins. On the other hand, when you play low-volatile pokies, you can expect small but frequent wins.
• Use promotions and bonuses: Taking advantage of casino bonuses and promotions, such as match deposit bonuses and free spins, could also make your bankroll stretch, especially if you want to play a jackpot pokie. Be aware, that not all casino bonuses are worth their salt. Give special attention to key terms, such as wagering requirements, caps on winnings and eligibility for games.
• Create a budget and gamble responsibly: One final tip is to stick to a budget before you sit down to play a game. Decide how much money you are going to gamble, and consider it as money lost. Have win and loss limits in place and feel free to walk away once you have hit either limit.