The Complete Guide to Australian Pokies

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Deni

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Published: April 14, 2021
Updated: August 18, 2025

With the online casino industry continuously growing and expanding, there are many different popular online casino games to try. Among the many choices, there are slot machines known as online pokies in Australia and New Zealand.

Pokies capture players' attention with their exciting themes, fun features, and enormous real money win possibilities. As with other slot games, it has a set of rules, and wins are purely luck-based.

Despite this, there are a few things you can do to increase your winning odds when playing online pokies.

The complete guide to Australian online pokies

Read our complete guide on the best Australian online pokies games to learn how to play and tips for increasing your winning combination odds.

What are pokie games?

In simple terms, pokie games are slot machines. The term refers to a popular game in Australia and New Zealand and was first used about video poker machines, but later became the one used for slots.

Pokie games are available in online and in land-based casinos, as well as in a variety of pubs and clubs in those countries. At first glance, pokie machines are no different from slots with video screens used for spinning action.

How to play pokies?

To play free online pokies, you do not require any skill, strategy, or in-depth game knowledge. All types come with rules that are quick to learn and easy to follow.

If you are new to the world of Australian online pokies, a little guidance can help you play pokies online like a pro from the get-go. Continue reading for that.

Choose the best casinos to play pokies at

Before you can start playing, you first need to pick the right online casino for you. When selecting sites that can be played in Australia, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind.

Licensing and regulation: Play only at licensed casinos that have to follow strict safety protocols designed to keep you safe.
Look for the extras: customer support, welcome bonuses and bonus rounds. You want an online casino with a great variety of games and features that will satisfy your needs.

If you are not sure where to go, browse through CasinoWow's list of top online casinos. Each is secure and provides the best in gaming action, bonuses, games, and features. Once you find a casino you like, register a new player account to start.

Setting up your Australian online pokies game

Top online casinos will have various games, such as online pokies, that you can play on all platforms you wish. Pick a game you are eager to try, hit the button, wait for it to load, and play. From there, you need to do a few things before you start spinning the reels.

Select your desired bet amount. You can do this by adjusting the coin value and coin size or even the number of paylines. Always check the paytable for information on the symbol value, the payouts, and the rules.

If the sound volume is too loud or you prefer spinning in silence, you can head over to the volume/sound buttons to adjust it according to your preference.

The majority of slots have a "Spin/Start", "Autoplay", "Max bet" and "Gamble" button. These are your tools for navigating your gameplay.
If your maximum bet amount is set, you can click Spin or Start to spin the reels.
Alternatively, you can hit the Autoplay button to set several automated spins. This essentially means the reels will spin automatically until a real money win or a bonus round is struck.

Fair play with online pokies

All Australian pokies make use of Random number generators (RNGs) to ensure the outcome is random and fair. This software allows each spin to deliver a completely random outcome that is not bound to previous spins.

Take note: every pokie has its restrictions, including the betting structure. There are also playing limits (like min and max betting limits) that cannot be altered.

In each game, you could find specific Wild and Scatter symbols. Their purpose may vary as well. Some award instant wins, while others expand or are used to trigger bonus rounds such as free spins or pick-and-click bonus games.

Where does the term pokies come from?

There is no definitive answer, but the belief is that the term came from the original video poker terminals. These were the first casino games available in both Australia and New Zealand casinos.

It's believed that the term comes from 'poke' in 'poker machine' and eventually evolved into pokie.

Instead of constantly saying 'poker machines' the majority quickly started referring to it as a pokie or pokies. As the industry continued to grow and develop, the range of video slots available increased. It did not take long for players in these regions to start referring to slots of any kind as pokies.

What is the difference between pokies and slots?

Today, there are no differences between pokies and what most of the world refers to as slots; the only difference is in the name of the game. If you find yourself in Australia or New Zealand and hope for some slot spinning action, the pokies section is where you need to go.

To clarify this, we can quickly look at another theory for where the term 'Pokies' came from. Slot machines operate through the use of coins. In order to play, you need to put in several coins, and if you trigger a win, the coins will fall out, ready for collection.

Some believe that the term pokies came from the habit of players poking their fingers at the machine in hopes that it would spill coins at random.

As someone who knows online slots by one name, you might have found yourself wondering if there's any difference, but now you know.

FAQs for Australian pokies

What are the most common questions about Australian pokies? Do you know all you need to by now? We are sure you can learn a bit more, so keep on reading:

What do pokies mean in Australia?

Pokies refers to slot machines, video slots, video poker, and any slot game. It started as a term for video poker and later became the blanket term used for online slots.

Why are pokies called pokies?

There are many theories, but most believe it is derived from video poker and turned into a slang word that was later used to describe slot machines.

What are the best online pokies in Australia?

All differ in bonus rounds, jackpot prizes, maximum bet, and themes. The top online pokies are made by the leading developers and come with a great return to player percentage.

Are the online pokies rigged?

No, online real money pokies run via RNG software which ensures the outcome is always random and fair. That being said, it is safer to play for free first and then move to real pokies via top online casinos where games are audited and checked for fair play practices.

The impact and effects of pokies

Studies of Australian online gamblers have shown that online pokies are the primary online gambling activity, leading to strong improvements in Australia's gambling regulations. However, they also state that pokies are responsible for about half of the gambling problems among Australians.

The harsh reality is that Australians are known as some of the most prolific gamblers in the world. They spend almost double the amount on gaming as most other players. According to researchers, less than 1% of every 4% experience severe harm, making it nearly 1.5 times more common than heart disease.

On top of that, stats show that about six of those around people with gambling problems experience harm, increasing the overall impact on society. The total social cost of gambling in the Australian community is estimated at $3.7 billion a year.

Some of the many effects/harms that can come from online gambling include:

sleep disruption
poor physical health
family problems
bankruptcy
unemployment
possible suicide

With the rapid growth in online and mobile gambling, the number of problem gamblers has also risen. For this reason, the Australian Interactive Gambling Act has banned all forms of online casinos apart from the lottery, race, and sports betting.

International casinos still cater to Australian players, which helps with access to all online games they wish to play. If you are an Australian player looking for online casinos outside the legal variety, it is always suggested to follow responsible online gambling protocols. Set limits and never chase winnings or losses.

Responsible Gambling & Play Safe — Gamble RESPONSIBLY. At CasinoWow, we're dedicated to responsible gambling and we provide you with many resources to help you play safe.

Gambling should always be a form of entertainment rather than a means to an end. No matter what games you choose to play, choose to do so responsibly.