How to Win at Pokies

Many tips are in circulation about how to win at pokies, and they actually risk leading many players astray. Legends about loose machines, hot and cold games, and secret strategies have been around as long as the game itself, but very few strategies from this swirling cloud of rumors have proved to be effective.

We should always bear in mind that pokies are a game of chance and that no master plan is able to help you beat them. It all comes down to chance, and that’s why they are so fun!

However, there are still some ways you can increase your chances and help swing the balance just that little bit more in your favor. So let’s have a sneaky peek at pokies, examining them inside out, and then see what we can do to win!

Are They Slots?

If you’re already getting confused with what we are talking about, then you are probably not from Australia or New Zealand. A pokie is what most of the world refers to as a slot machine. Although, if you are from the U.K., you most likely call it a fruit machine. Nonetheless, they are all the same game, so when we say “pokie,” you read “slot!” Well if you’re not an Aussie, that is…

There are a couple of theories about how slots became pokies, and none of these have been well substantiated. However, the most common one suggests that they found their place next to the poker machines on casino floors. The players called all the gaming machines pokies, and the name has stuck ever since. After all, “pokie” sounds way cuter, don’t you think?

Casino Superstars

Whatever you choose to call it, the game is equally as seductive and exciting in every corner of the planet. Pokies are, arguably, the most popular casino game. So, whether you’re in Vegas, Monte Carlo, or your local Sidney venue, pokie machines will occupy the biggest portion of the casino.

Pokies are a true gamble, and that’s a huge part of their appeal. The rush of winning, the gratification of instant success, and euphoric sound of the coins bursting out of the machine have been successfully luring gamers into gambling venues for over a century. It’s a favorite game among casino owners, while it’s also the biggest moneymaker in the industry. Pokies amount to 75% of the total income for casinos in Australia, and the figure is more or less the same anywhere in the world!

The internet successfully propelled pokies into worldwide superstardom, making this guilty pleasure available for everyone. And with the various exciting online versions out there, the stories on how to win grew even wilder, so that elusive jackpot seemed to inch closer and closer over time. The pokies aka slots were invented by Charles Fay in America, somewhere between 1887 and 1895. The name of the game was Liberty Bell, and Fay was inspired by the poker machines. He simplified the principle by reducing the number of reels to three, which in turn granted an effective payout system.

Pokies became an instant success and quickly spread across the continents. They arrived in Australia in the early 20th century and only grew in fame and notoriety.

Inside Out

But how do they work? Well, the gameplay is straightforward and doesn’t require any particular skill set.

Out

Here’s the step-by-step guide if you play in a classic casino:

1. Insert a coin into the machine
2. Place the bet
3. Spin the reels
4. Wait for the results

Once the results are displayed, you will automatically know whether you won or not. And if you choose to play at the online casino, everything is even easier.

1. Deposit the money into your account
2. Pick the pokie you prefer
3. Place the bet
4. Hit Spin or Start

If you were among the few people that didn’t already know this, now you do! But knowing how to play and knowing how to win are two entirely different things. So while you’re doing next to nothing, the machine inside is playing a way more intricate game.

Inside

The first pokies were simple machines. They had three reels with each reel containing ten symbols. This set-up amounted to a thousand combinations. If three identical symbols appeared on one line, you would win the prize. But because of the limited number of combos, the jackpots had to stay limited as well. The casinos could not offer million-dollar rewards for one-dollar bets.

In the 1980s, everything began to change with the computerization of pokie machines. Although the number of symbols rose to 22 and made 10,648 winning combinations possible, it wasn’t until 1984 that the random number generator was introduced and the jackpots started to get truly massive.

RNG Reign

With the digital era, the developers are not restricted to a certain number of reels and symbols. The possibilities are becoming endless. If, for example, a virtual reel has 256 stops per line, it amounts to 256³ possibilities. That means there are 16,777,216 outcomes in total.

The game providers were able to offer enormous jackpots because the prizes would occur every 16.7 million plays. This is a long-term prediction, however; because due to RNG you can also win on the first spin!

The random number generators brought true randomness to pokies. It is highly sophisticated software, which is designed to make every outcome in the game perfectly random. Two pieces of info are vital when we discuss RNG.

1. They never stop working. It doesn’t matter if you or someone else is not playing the pokie. The RNG picks those random numbers non-stop.
2. As a result of this, every spin is an independent event and is not at all connected to the previous outcome.

A concept of randomness is not easy to grasp, especially when you put all your lucky charms and intuition into play; but it’s most definitely there! The good thing about it is that the games are not tampered with in any way, and because of this, all the players are on an equal footing.

Casino Rules

When you enter a casino, be it a real one or a virtual one, the odds are not in your favour. You’ve probably heard a lot about the house edge; and if you’re not sure how it works, we’ll try to explain it for you now.

To understand the edge, you should look into the RTP or the Return to Player percentage. This number is usually available for any machine that you play. It is the percentage that the casino pays out on your wins. So they never pay out 100% of the total wagered money; but rather, somewhere between 91–97% (in the case of pokies).

The casino keeps the remaining amount and thus they manage to earn some money. Let’s break it down into a simple table:

So when you lose, you lose it all. But when you win, you don’t really win it all! And although it sounds unfair, there is still a possibility for you to win the jackpot in your first round. RTP rules make the casinos profitable in the long-term; however, short-term outcomes cannot be predicted with any accuracy.

How to Beat that Pokie?

You’ve probably realized up by now that these machines make for some pretty fierce adversaries. So instead of trying to come up with solutions to beat them, let’s try to find ways to improve our odds.

Prep, Prep, Prep

Explore the battleground! In order to promote their business, casinos offer many options for free play or demo mode. You can learn a lot about pokies before you wager your money. Find out everything you can about the wilds, scatters, multipliers, and bonus features of the particular machine. This will give you an idea about what kind of bankroll strategy you should apply.

Beat the Casino

As we have said, in this competitive industry, game providers are not thrifty when it comes to marketing. They offer a lot of free stuff to attract players! Become a member of a casino club, and subscribe to the newsletters. This is where you can find a lot of bonuses and special offers. You can even win without investing in real cash. If you don’t, you get to play and learn with your bankroll intact.

Stay Grounded

Don’t go chasing myths about loose machines and elaborate tactics! All these tales about corrupt machines that give out enormous prizes seem even less plausible when you consider the state-of-the-art software they’ve incorporated into the pokie machines. You’re playing against the computer. The levers on the side and retro details are just for show, inspired by the legacy of old-school manual pokie machines. Instead, you can direct your strategy and funds towards succeeding in the battles you actually have a hope of winning!

The same goes for your bankroll. Don’t be careless, but be aware that most machines are going to give away those jackpots for minimum bets. Try to allocate the funds properly, so you can stay in the game but also get the chance to win the big prize.

Wise Choices

Always check the RTP. It will show you a number of things about the pokies. Don’t squander your resources, and only play games with RTP of 96% and higher. Manage your bankroll with care, so that you can play longer. According to many gamers, you should avoid the most obvious pokies. The ones that are heavily advertised are precisely the ones that the casinos would like you to play, and that’s not good! Same goes for branded pokies. Their primary purpose is to attract inexperienced players and take their money.

Also, make sure you understand the volatility of the machine before you start betting. Low-volatility means that the pokie awards lower sums but more frequently, and high-volatility implies that the prizes are rare but generous. This is an important factor to consider, and it can help you get better at the game.

In a Nutshell

No, we cannot beat the pokies. But, then again, they cannot beat us either! The best way to win is to play and play wisely. Randomness does not favour anyone, so the game is fair. And a lot of fun, to boot! What more could you possibly ask for?

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