Pokies and Their Basics
Initially, online pokies can be confusing, especially for those accustomed to traditional slot machines in casinos and bars. Playing classic slots, a player would pull a lever and wait for three identical symbols to appear in the center of the screen, indicating a win. However, online pokies usually have five reels, and a payout can be a row of symbols on any line — horizontal, diagonal, or zigzag, with minor variations in each pokie. Nowadays, pokies are numerous and varied, and very often they are not even classic five-reel slot machines, but various Megaways pokies and other types of machines.
When playing online pokies, the player initially chooses how many paylines to bet on. Sometimes a simple pokie might only have one payline, but more complex slots have from ten to 25 paylines, and sometimes up to several hundred paylines.
In a pokie machine, by pressing the “Spin” button, the player starts the rotation of the reels with different symbols depending on the theme of the chosen pokie.
Then the reels stop, and different symbols appear — the player wins if three or more identical symbols land on a payline. The size of the win depends on the symbol, as well as the size of the bet on the specific payline. Pokies usually have unique symbols with specific values, so it's recommended to check the symbol values before starting the game.
Pokies and Key Terms Winning Lines
In a traditional pokie machine, a player would want three identical symbols to align in the middle line.
This middle line would be the payline, and some pokies still use this traditional format.
However, most pokies today offer much more winning lines, and identical symbols on any of them will result in a win.
The size of the win depends on the payout of the specific symbol and the size of the bet on the line where the corresponding symbols matched.
It's debatable whether betting on multiple lines increases the chances of a big win or not. One argument is that while betting on all paylines gives you more chances to win, you will spend more money on bets and potentially lose more in case of a loss.
Pokies and Wild Symbols
Wild symbols are special types of symbols that replace regular symbols to create a winning combination that otherwise would not have been achieved. For example, if three identical symbols and one wild symbol appear on a winning line, they count as four identical symbols. If you're lucky and more than one Wild symbol lands on the reels on your line, your win will be even bigger.
Wild symbols have a very fitting name, because there are so many different types of them that they're not so easy to understand. But with a little patience, you'll learn to distinguish them. The most common function of a Wild symbol is to help create winning combinations.
Wild symbols also often act as multipliers, increasing your win. Another exciting type of Wild symbol is the expanding Wild, which can expand in any direction on the pokie machine screen, turning every symbol into a Wild symbol.
Pokies and Scatter Symbols
These are the rarest symbols in a pokie machine. They often award bonus games, such as free spins, which can really turn into significant wins. In some pokies, Scatter symbols can have their own value and can replace other symbols on a payline. Scatter symbols do not necessarily have to land on a payline to win or trigger a bonus game. For example, they can appear on the first, third, and fourth reels, and you will still win a prize or a bonus game.
Exciting events in pokies often start with Scatter symbols. Unlike standard symbols, Scatter can bring both wins and activate mini-features and bonus games if they are in the right combination. In most cases, Scatter symbols trigger free spins.
What is a Bet Level?
The bet level is very similar to the cost of a bet, so it's easy to mistake them for being the same. However, there's a significant difference between them, and it's important not to confuse the two.
By changing the bet level, you multiply the cost of the bet by the level. This gives you more flexibility. For example, if your coin value is 0.01 euros, you can use bet levels to multiply the bet value, for example, to 0.40 euros. This is an additional option, as there are no coins with a value of 0.40 euros as such.
Pokies and Reels
Simply put, reels are the vertical sections of the pokie machine screen that spin each time you play. Whether you win or not depends on the combination of symbols that stop on the reels and paylines.
Traditional pokies had three reels, but over time slots with five and seven reels became more popular. In fact, five-reel slots have become the modern online casino standard because they offer a broader range of combinations and winnings.
Pokies and Their Systems
The reels of traditional pokies have a set order, whereas video pokies use a program to randomly select symbols. Therefore, all systems and predictions for traditional pokies should be forgotten, as online slots and their outcomes are entirely random.
However, this doesn't mean there are no strategies that can be used when playing a pokie machine.
The most sensible way to maximize your bets is to find a pokie machine with the highest Return to Player (RTP) percentage. The higher the RTP of a particular pokie machine, the more you can win, and this is the only available payout indicator.
Pokies and Myths
There are several misconceptions about how pokie machines work.
The most common idea is that high bets are always more profitable. However, while this strategy might be useful in other casino games and may pay off if you win quickly, there's no evidence that it leads to higher winnings in pokies.
Another common misconception is that paylines are not equal and that identical symbols are more likely to be divided on horizontal lines. This idea probably comes from traditional pokies and is simply not true. Which symbol and where it will end up on the pokie screen is determined entirely at random.
Some players still believe that video slots operate similarly to traditional pokies or think that wins and losses are played out in a specific order. The frequency of wins in video slots does not depend on how long you've been playing or that you've already lost a certain amount of money — the results are entirely random, and no one can predict or influence them.
You don't need to try to memorize Wild and Scatter symbols or recognize when a winning line will appear, as the pokie machine will do that for you.
Pokies and Winnings
What are Paylines?
A payline, or winning line, is the line on which a winning combination is formed during play. The number of paylines on each pokie can vary. Modern pokies can have anywhere from 1 to 100 paylines! However, the range of 10-25 lines is most common.
As a player, you may be given the option to choose how many paylines you want to activate during play (the more paylines activated, the more frequent but smaller the wins and vice versa). When it comes to paylines, it's important to remember that they don't necessarily have to be straight. Paylines can go in zigzags and various unexpected directions. To find out what the paylines look like, check the description of the specific pokie.
Symbol Combinations and Wins
Each pokie machine has its symbols. Typically, pokies and their symbols are associated with images of jokers, sevens, books, and many other symbols from traditional casino slot machines. However, nowadays, pokies use symbols that match the game's theme, so when playing Egyptian pokies, you are likely to see pharaoh heads, books, and hieroglyphs.
Admittedly, some symbols, such as letters and precious stones, tend to appear in most casino pokies. If identical symbols line up in certain combinations, you win money. Remember that some symbols pay more than others, so find out which symbols are most valuable in the casino game you've chosen.
Pokies and Multipliers
Land a multiplier symbol, and you can multiply your win by the number indicated on that symbol. Multipliers are present in most online pokies and can significantly increase your winnings.
Some multipliers are encountered in the main game, while others are awarded only during free spins or a bonus round. Depending on the game or symbol, your win can be doubled, tripled, or even increased by 100 or 1000 times! It's also worth noting that some of these symbols multiply your win, while others can also increase your line bets or total bets.
Pokies and Free Spins
As mentioned above, free spins can be triggered in the main game of a pokie, usually when Scatter symbols (three or more) align in the right combination. When the free spins game is activated, you can make additional spins for free — hence the name of this feature.
Of course, you still have a chance to win money, just as in the standard round. Free spins are particularly exciting because, during them, you can re-trigger multiple free spins if you land the same Scatter symbols again.
Pokies are a great way to unwind if gambling is viewed not as a way to make money but as a form of entertainment, and always keeping track of the money you can afford to spend on this type of entertainment.
