New to pokies? This plain-English guide walks you through how Australian poker machines (electronic gaming machines) actually work — bets and paylines, what RTP, wilds, scatters and jackpots mean, what to expect when you walk into a pub, club or casino, and how to find venues and machines near you. No hype, no “systems”, just the basics done well.
A quick checklist to run through before you sit down. None of it guarantees a win — it just helps you stay in control and avoid the most common beginner traps.
Treat it like the cost of a night out. Once it’s gone, that’s the session over.
Decide both before you walk into the gaming room — it’s much harder to choose a limit once you’ve started.
Some clubs and RSLs ask visitors to sign in or show ID, especially if you’re not a local member.
Every machine is different. The paytable shows symbols, features and how wins are paid.
Look at the total bet before you press play — denomination, lines and credits all change it.
Press cash out, take the printed ticket and keep it safe until you redeem it.
Trying to win back what you’ve lost is the fastest way to spend more than you planned.
Most pokies in Australia are in three kinds of venue. The atmosphere and entry rules differ, but the machines work the same way.
Casual and easy to walk into, usually with no membership. Gaming rooms tend to be smaller.
Sporting, bowling, leagues and RSL clubs often have larger rooms. Some ask visitors to sign in or join, depending on the venue and location.
Bigger gaming floors with more machine variety and a more intense atmosphere.
Looking for a venue instead of a guide?
A walkthrough of a typical first visit, from the front door to cashing out. Tap each step to expand it.
Pokies are electronic gaming machines run by software. When you press spin, the machine selects a random outcome. Previous spins don’t affect future spins, and there’s no reliable way to predict or influence the result.
The words you’ll see on screen and in the paytable, in plain English — what each one means and why it matters to you.
What it means: The on-screen balance, shown in credits rather than dollars.
Why it matters: One credit isn’t one dollar — its value depends on the denomination.
What it means: The value of a single credit (for example 1c, 2c or 5c).
Why it matters: It’s the base unit your bet is multiplied from, so it drives the cost per spin.
What it means: A line across the reels that pays when the right symbols land on it.
Why it matters: More active lines usually means a higher total bet.
What it means: A “ways to win” system that pays for matching symbols in adjacent reels, not fixed lines.
Why it matters: You win on positions rather than drawn lines — the paytable explains it.
What it means: A symbol that pays or triggers a feature no matter where it lands.
Why it matters: Scatters often start free spins or bonus rounds.
What it means: A symbol that substitutes for others to help complete a win.
Why it matters: Wilds can come with multipliers or expand — check the paytable.
What it means: Bonus spins that don’t cost credits each spin.
Why it matters: They’re still random — a feature isn’t a guaranteed payout.
What it means: An extra game or round triggered by certain symbols.
Why it matters: Features vary hugely between machines, so read how each one works.
What it means: An optional double-up offered after some wins.
Why it matters: It increases swings and can wipe out a win in one go.
What it means: Return to Player — the long-term theoretical percentage returned across millions of spins.
Why it matters: It’s a long-run average, not a promise for your session.
What it means: How a machine tends to pay — small and often, or rarely but larger.
Why it matters: Higher volatility can mean longer dry stretches.
What it means: A prize that grows as players bet, on one machine or a linked network.
Why it matters: Big jackpots are rare and shouldn’t be treated as a plan.
What it means: Ticket In, Ticket Out — a barcoded ticket used instead of coins.
Why it matters: You insert tickets to play and print one to cash out.
What it means: The game info screen listing symbols, features and payouts.
Why it matters: It’s the single most useful screen for a beginner — always open it.
How a machine pays varies a lot from game to game. The paytable is the only place that tells you for sure.
Example only: matching symbols on the highlighted middle line pay left to right. Real games can have many lines or use ways-to-win.
Pokies cost more per spin than beginners expect, because the denomination is multiplied by the lines and credits. Use this to estimate the cost of a session.
Cost per spin = denomination × lines/ways × credits per line. This is a simplified calculator — some machines use different bet structures, so always check the machine’s own bet display before playing.
| Denomination | Lines | Credits | Cost per spin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1c | 25 | 1 | $0.25 |
| 1c | 50 | 3 | $1.50 |
| 2c | 50 | 5 | $5.00 |
| 5c | 50 | 5 | $12.50 |
These are examples of the formula, not recommendations. Some combinations exceed the maximum bet allowed in certain states, so they’re shown only to illustrate how quickly the cost per spin can climb.
RTP means Return to Player. It’s the long-term theoretical percentage a machine returns across a very large number of plays — not a promise for one person’s session.
The features that make modern pokies feel exciting — but the outcomes are still random.
Scatter symbols often trigger free spins or a bonus, wherever they land on the reels.
Wilds substitute for other symbols. Some expand, stick in place or carry a multiplier.
Free spins don’t cost credits each spin, but the outcome of the feature is still random.
Pick features are usually simple prize-pick games where you choose hidden prizes.
Expanding, sticky and multiplier wilds all exist on different games — the paytable tells you which apply.
A progressive jackpot grows as players make bets. The prize can be large, but it’s rare — and not something to treat as a realistic plan.
Linked to a single machine, so the prize builds from play on that one game.
Connected across multiple machines or even venues, which is how the big totals build up.
Hitting a large progressive is uncommon — don’t treat it like an expected outcome.
Some jackpots only qualify at certain bet levels, so read the machine info first.
After some wins, a machine may offer a gamble or double-up feature — often guessing red or black, or a card suit.
The slip-ups that catch most first-timers. Reading this list is the easiest way to avoid them.
The total bet can be far higher than you think once lines and credits are added up.
A 1c machine can still cost dollars per spin once you multiply by lines and credits.
Betting more to “win it back” usually just means losing more.
Quick, back-to-back spins make money disappear faster than you notice.
You can’t tell how a machine pays — or what triggers features — without reading it.
No machine is ever due. Every spin is independent and random.
Some clubs and RSLs need visitors to sign in before entering the gaming room.
Leaving a credit ticket behind — or losing it — means leaving money behind.
Breaks help you stay aware of how long and how much you’ve been playing.
Never use money set aside for rent, bills, food, travel or study.
Pokies are regulated state by state, so venue types and rules vary. Opening hours vary by state, venue and licence — PokiesFindr venue pages use available opening-hours data where possible, so check the venue page before travelling.
| State / Territory | Common venue types | Basic note | Find venues |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Pubs, clubs, RSLs, casino | Gaming machines are common in hotels and registered clubs; club sign-in may apply to visitors. | Pokies in NSW → |
| Victoria | Pubs, clubs, casino | Found in many hotels and clubs; each venue sets its own entry and membership rules. | Pokies in VIC → |
| Queensland | Pubs, clubs, RSLs, casino | Widespread across hotels and clubs in the cities, coast and regional towns. | Pokies in QLD → |
| South Australia | Pubs, clubs, casino | Common in hotels and clubs; check the venue for any sign-in requirements. | Pokies in SA → |
| Tasmania | Pubs, clubs, casino | Available in a range of hotels and clubs as well as casinos. | Pokies in TAS → |
| Australian Capital Territory | Clubs, casino | Closely tied to licensed clubs; visitors are often asked to sign in. | Pokies in ACT → |
| Northern Territory | Pubs, clubs, casino | Found in hotels and clubs as well as casino venues. | Pokies in NT → |
| Western Australia | Casino | Different from the eastern states — gaming machines aren’t in pubs and clubs. Crown Perth is the main venue for machine-style gaming. | Pokies in WA → |
Pokies are entertainment, not a way to make money. Keeping these habits makes it far easier to stay in control.
Gambling Help Online is free, confidential and available 24/7 across Australia. Call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
This page is educational. It does not provide gambling advice or a method for winning.
Once you know the basics, PokiesFindr helps you find a venue without the guesswork.
Use the live map to see gaming venues around your location.
Jump straight to the area you’re interested in.
See available venue information and opening hours where we have the data.
Look up venues that have a particular machine, where PokiesFindr has machine data.
Weigh up a few venues before you travel.
Read up on a venue or machine instead of guessing.
Pokies are designed for entertainment and the venue has the long-term edge. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858.