Our detailed guide explains how to play the pokies from scratch for everyone starting their journey in this exciting world. It covers the main game mechanics, terms, rules, bonuses, and tips for navigating online slots. It also answers several popular questions about these games and helps aspiring punters make the most of their new experience.
Answering the question of how to play pokies requires first familiarising new players with basic terms and notions. They must comprehend how things work and what some of the common punter phrases mean. That’s what this segment of our guide is all about.
Future punters may have never seen a slot machine before. To help them understand how these games work, we decided to show a typical pokie interface.
Many online slots have the following components:
| Paylines | These are patterns that create winning combinations. Many online pokies have numbers on the edges of the game interface, providing the number of paylines. They can run vertically or horizontally across the reels. |
|---|---|
| Paytable | This gameplay component shows symbols for winning combinations and the potential winnings from each of them. Reading the paytable helps punters comprehend pokies rules and possible rewards. |
| Reels | Reels are crucial components of slot machines. They are horizontally or vertically positioned and showcase various symbols. In this case, the slot machine has five reels, but there can be as many as nine. |
| Rows | These are vertical lines on the reels. Specific combinations of symbols in each row create paylines. In some cases, the latter aren’t limited to a single row and can extend in various directions, provided that the symbols match. |
| Symbols | It’s impossible to explain how to play the pokies without mentioning symbols. These are different thematic icons that rotate on reels. Each symbol has a different value, and matching them results in payouts. Some icons have extra features like bonuses and free spins. |
| Total bet | This component lets players adjust the number of coins they’re willing to bet, with a minimum of 600 and a maximum of 2000 in this case. |
| Max bet | By pressing this button, punters can set their bet to the maximum available amount for the game. |
| Spin | Players use this button to spin the reels. They can also use free spins to save some deposit funds. |
Before they get to play, aspiring punters must learn about several important terms. Otherwise, they’ll feel like being on another planet. These include:
Placing bets in an Australian online casino requires several steps.
Choose a pokie
Choosing a pokie with a good selection of games, acceptable volatility, and RTP rates.
Create an account
Going through the registration process, providing the required information, and verifying the account.
Make a deposit
Making a deposit via a supported form of payment (credit card, e-wallet, crypto).
Make a bet
Selecting a game, choosing the bet level, and pressing “Spin”.
Withdraw your winnings
Receiving winnings into the account.
Many Australian platforms provide abundant bonuses to different types of players. Here’s what newcomers can expect to find at these places:
While everybody has a different strategy about how to play pokies, we always say that research is key. Check out different games. Read the terms of use for bonuses. Explore funding and withdrawal options. No information is trivial.
Despite the many types of rewards, new punters can encounter several conditions and restrictions when trying to enjoy their bonuses.
| Game restrictions | Maximized bets | Withdrawal limits | Wagering requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s not uncommon for pokies to make bonuses available only for specific games. | Sometimes, pokies rules dictate that players must maximize their bets when playing with bonus funds. | Online slots can limit the amount of bonus funds converted into cash. | Players often must wager bonus funds before they can be cashed out. |
This guide only scratches the surface of how pokies work, but it’s sufficient to familiarise newcomers with this setting. In future guides, we will continue to explore the intricacies of playing at Australian casinos and the best strategies for winning.
Yes, depending on the pokies rules, punters can use free spin bonuses or play the various slot games in demo mode. In the latter case, players can’t win real cash.
A pokie is an Australian and New Zealand word for casino slots and online pokies. The name derives from a shortened version of the term “poker machine.”
