How to Play Pokies — a Complete Beginner's Guide
Pokies look complicated at first glance — flashing symbols, mysterious multipliers, twenty different buttons — but the machinery underneath is refreshingly simple. This guide covers everything a first-time player actually needs, and every concept in it can be tested for free in our demo library as you read.
The basic loop
Every pokie works the same way: you set a bet, you spin, symbols land, and matching combinations pay according to the game’s paytable. That’s the whole game. Everything else — features, bonuses, jackpots — is decoration built on top of that loop. The outcome of every spin is decided by a random number generator the moment you press the button; nothing you do during the spin, and nothing that happened on previous spins, changes it.
Paylines and ways
Classic pokies pay when matching symbols line up on a payline — a defined path across the reels. Queen of the Nile runs 20 of them; older games run as few as one. Newer games often use ways instead: Buffalo Gold’s 1,024 ways simply means matching symbols on adjacent reels pay regardless of their row position. Practical difference for you: on a lines game you choose how many lines to play (play them all — winning combinations on unplayed lines pay nothing), while ways games have no such decision.
The symbols that matter
Three symbol types do all the heavy lifting:
- Wilds Substitute for other symbols to complete wins — some double the win, some expand across their reel, some carry multipliers (Buffalo Gold's sunsets).
- Scatters Pay or trigger features from anywhere on the reels — no payline needed. Three scatters for free spins is the most common feature gateway in pokie design.
- Feature symbols Power a game's signature mechanic — Lightning Link's cash orbs, Where's the Gold's dynamite. These are what make one pokie feel different from another.
Bet sizing without regret
Your total bet is usually lines (or a fixed ways cost) multiplied by a coin value. Two rules keep it sane. First, size bets so your session budget survives at least 100–200 spins — pokies are volatile, and a bankroll that only covers 30 spins will regularly evaporate before anything interesting happens. Second, check whether the game’s jackpots or features scale with bet level: on some titles (Lightning Link included) higher bet levels unlock proportionally bigger feature values, while on others betting more just means losing faster. The paytable screen tells you which kind you’re playing.
Reading a paytable
Every pokie has an info screen listing what each symbol pays, how the features trigger, and the game’s RTP. Thirty seconds there answers most questions a new player has. The two numbers worth finding: the RTP (long-run return percentage — full guide here) and the gap between the top symbol and the rest, which hints at volatility (explained here).
Demo first, always
Everything above becomes obvious after twenty demo spins in a way it never will from reading. Demos run the identical maths to real versions, cost nothing, and let you test-drive a game’s rhythm before any money is involved.
Start with a low-volatility title like Starburst to learn the loop, then try an Aristocrat feature game to see what the fuss is about.
When — and only when — a game makes sense in demo mode, you’ll know exactly what you’re buying if you choose to play it for real.
The myths worth unlearning early
Three beliefs cost new players real money. None of them survive contact with how the random number generator actually works — the outcome is fixed the millisecond you press spin, before the animation even starts.
The myth
- Machines run “hot” or “cold”
- A game is “due” after a dry spell
- Bet patterns and lucky rituals shift the odds
What's actually true
- Every spin resets identical odds — no streaks exist
- Nothing is stored, so nothing is ever owed
- The result is locked before the reels even move
None of this makes pokies less fun — it makes them honest. The game is a random entertainment machine with a known price built into its maths, and the players who internalise that early are the ones who never chase.
Quick-start checklist
- 1 Open a demo and find the paytable The info screen answers most first-timer questions in thirty seconds.
- 2 Check lines vs ways Play all lines if it's a lines game — unplayed lines pay nothing.
- 3 Size your bet for 100+ spins A budget that only covers 30 spins evaporates before anything interesting happens.
- 4 Learn what triggers the feature That's the game's engine — everything fun happens there.
- 5 Only then consider real play When nothing about the game surprises you any more.
How to Play Pokies — FAQ
Do I need any skill or strategy to play pokies?
No — every spin's outcome is decided by a random number generator the instant you press the button, and nothing you do changes it. The skill in pokies lives entirely around the game: choosing titles whose volatility fits your budget, sizing bets sensibly, and knowing the feature rules so nothing surprises you.
Should I always play all the paylines?
On a lines game, yes — a winning combination on an unplayed line pays nothing, which is the most avoidable mistake in pokies. Reduce your coin value instead if the total bet is too high. Ways games (like Buffalo Gold's 1,024 ways) remove the decision entirely.
What's the best pokie for a complete beginner to start with?
A low-volatility, low-decision game — Starburst is the classic answer: ten lines, one feature, constant feedback. Once the loop feels natural, graduate to a classic Aristocrat title like Queen of the Nile to learn scatters and free spins, then try a feature game like Lightning Link. All three are in our free library.
Do pokies pay more at certain times of day?
No. The random number generator has no clock, no memory and no schedule — payout behaviour is identical at 3 pm and 3 am, on payday and any other day. Any pattern you've noticed is the human brain doing what it does with randomness.