How To Play Pokies

Diving Into A Down Under Delight With The Best Online Pokies

For those unfamiliar with the lingo, pokies is the Australian and New Zealand term for one of the most popular casino games, slots. These engaging games are the cornerstone of entertainment in clubs, pubs and casinos all over the world and online, like at PokerStars.

So whether you’re a curious newcomer or wanting to brush up on your knowledge, this article will walk you through everything you need to know about playing pokies online or even at the best pokies place near you.

Understanding the Basics

At their core, pokies are simple to play and easy to understand. They generally consist of a set of vertical reels (usually three to five) and have various symbols related to the theme of the online pokie.

The aim of the game is to spin the reels and land specific combinations of matching symbols across paylines. Here are some definitions to help you understand the mechanics:

• Reels: These are the spinning columns that show the symbols. Back in the day, older machines had physical reels that would spin, but modern pokies are video slots, which display virtual reels on a screen.
• Paylines: Paylines are literally lines across the reels where symbol combinations must land in order for you to win. There can be a number of paylines depending on the pokie game, from a single one to even hundreds in some modern versions. They are activated by players betting on them.
• Symbols: The icons or images you see spinning on the reels are the symbols of online pokies. Each symbol will be associated with different values, and different combinations will trigger wins and, therefore, payouts. Some common symbols you may see in online pokies include numbers, fruits, letters, and symbols linked to the game’s theme (such as pyramids in an Ancient Egyptian-themed pokie game).

Placing Your Bets

Pokies online may be fun, but it’s even better when you win. Of course, in order to win, you first need to make a wager. In most pokie games, this is how it generally works:

• 1. Select your bet per line: Modern pokies should allow you to adjust your bet amount on every active payline. The screen should have buttons or arrows that let you increase and decrease the amount.
• 2. Choose your paylines: Next, you will need to decide how many active paylines you want in your game. Keep in mind that betting on more paylines increases your chance of landing a winning combination, and it also increases your total bet per spin. Some pokies may have fixed paylines, meaning you bet on all of them with every spin. This is why you should always decide on your budget and stick to it, no matter what.
• 3. Understand the total bet: how you calculate your total bet for one spin is by multiplying your bet per line by the number of paylines you’ve chosen. Always check what your total bet is before you spin the reels.

Reels Spinning and Outcomes

After placing your bet, it’s time to play. Here’s what you will need to know about spinning the reels.

The Spin Button is displayed prominently on the screen of the video pokies, and you should be able to find it easily. Pressing this will start the spin. Many pokies offer an “Autoplay” feature, which lets you select several spins to run automatically with your chosen bet amount.

Once the reels stop spinning, the machine will automatically check if you have any winning combinations of symbols lined up on your active paylines. If you do, you will get a reward of a payout that matches the game’s paytable.

You can usually find this paytable by clicking on the “Settings” or “Information” button, where the value of each symbol is explained. Symbols with higher values and unique combinations generally result in bigger payouts.

Different Types of Pokies

The world of pokies is filled with a wide range of features, themes and gameplay styles. Amongst these, there are some common types of pokies you may encounter at online casinos like PokerStars.

There are the classic pokies, which are similar to the slot machines back in the day. They are comprised of three reels and a limited number of paylines. The gameplay is usually quite simple, but there are fewer bonus features because of this.

The most common type of pokies these days is video pokies. They usually consist of five reels and many paylines. Video pokies also have intricate themes, sound effects and graphics, with various bonus features.

Progressive jackpot pokies are connected to many slot machines (sometimes even across different casinos), and a small portion of each bet contributes to a shared jackpot. The jackpot will continue to grow until a player hits the winning combination. These jackpot amounts can range anywhere from £500 to millions sometimes.

Megaways pokies have an innovative game feature whereby a reel modifier changes the number of symbols appearing on the reels with each spin.  What this does is create a system of many paylines, which makes pokies games much more exciting and unpredictable.

Extra, Extra!

Everyone loves a good bonus, which often results in extra cash or rewards when it comes to online pokies. Here are some common ones you will find in most video pokies, whether they’re online or land-based:

• Wild symbols: They can substitute for any other symbol and help you form a winning combination. Wilds may also come with multipliers, which increase the payout.
• Scatters: They often activate bonus features like free spins, regardless of where they land on the reels. In other words, they don’t need to land on a payline to be activated.
• Free spins: These common bonus offers are spins you don’t have to pay for and may even come with extra rewards like increased multipliers or special Wild symbols.
• Gamble feature: Some pokies may offer a gamble feature after a winning spin, where you may be able to double your winnings by guessing (correctly) the colour or suit of a playing card. An incorrect guess will result in you losing your first win, however.

Understanding the basic mechanics of how land-based and online pokies work, exploring the games and bonus features on offer and practicing responsible gaming habits will ensure an enjoyable experience. Some pokies may even have demo versions online, where you can play and see what the game offers. Always remember, though, to play smart while having fun.