How do You Pick a Winning Pokies Machine?


by James Smith |
Date of Publishing: 14/10/2022


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This article is to give both new and existing pokies players some tips on how to pick a winning pokies machine. It’s a safe bet to say that people worldwide love to play pokies machines, and they are fast becoming even more popular than some of the most popular table games. 

You are not alone when you try to figure out how to get a better chance of a win, and although this article does not list every single slot tip, it does focus on the proven ways to improve your odds when playing online pokies.

We shall look at which pokies machines are the best to play, how to find the pokies machine with the best odds and how to improve your odds with all those bonus games on offer. 

We shall also give some tips for those players who love progressive pokies games

How do You Choose the Best Pokies Machine to Play?

It takes more than guesswork to choose the best pokies machine, especially as are many available. The best pokies machine will have the right combination of a return to player percentage (RTP) volatility, casino bonus and limits. 

As a rule of thumb, each time you play on a pokies machine for real money bets, you should check the payback percentage (the pay table) and the stakes. You should always only bet money you can afford to lose because all gambling games have some element of chance. 

Play in Demo Mode Before Committing Any Real Money

When you find new pokies, you might like the theme, the bonus attached, and its potential. Although the game looks like one you might enjoy whilst not in use, it is always a good idea to try it out for free before committing any hard-earned cash. 

Online players have a distinct advantage over those who play pokies at a physical casino. They have a lot of information available to them. If you put the title into the search engine, you can read reviews and even watch them in action on YouTube. 

Some NZ online casinos also offer their pokies games in demo mode so you can see them in action before you play for real. Of course, if you hit a winning streak during demo mode, you would not be able to claim any winnings but testing a game before playing for real money suits a lot of players. 

What is The Return to Player Percentage?

Although you cannot be sure to win, a pokies game with a high return to player percentage (RTP) has better odds than one with a lower RTP. All games have different graphics, features, and bonuses. They also have varying RTPs. 

The RTP is a percentage of all the money wagered that a pokies pays back to its players. For instance, if the game you are playing has an RTP of 95%, then for each NZ$100 you bet, you would expect to win NZ$95 with the house edge at 5%.

You can search for the RTP of pokies online. Most online casino sites tell you the RTP of each game they supply on their game pages. The RTP is calculated on a scale from 1 to 100. Most pokies games have an RTP between 92-97% (although there are some exceptions). 

What is a Pokies Volatility?

The volatility of any pokies game denotes whether that game is high-risk, medium or low-risk. Low volatility pokies play out regular, small cash prizes. High volatility pokies pay big cash prizes irregularly, and medium volatility pokies games fall in-between low and high variants.

Those players who enjoy a risk will tend towards high-volatility games. They will often have a big bankroll to spend. Those players who are less experienced or who are not risk-takers will prefer lower volatility games. You can usually find the volatility on the game page. Most online casinos have a good selection of high, medium and low volatility games to choose from

Making Use of Online Casino Bonuses and Promotional Offers

One distinct advantage online casinos have over their land-based counterparts is the bonuses and promotional offers. From the welcome bonus to the cash-back promotion on monies lost over a specific time, online casinos can increase your bankroll with bonus money, which means you can play for longer and try games you might never have considered.

From free spins to seasonal promotions, always remember to check any rules and restrictions that apply before opting in. For example, an online casino might set a time limit for players to use their bonuses.

Progressive Pokies Game Advice

On each progressive pokies game, a small percentage wagered by each player creates the jackpot (or jackpots). Progressive games usually have one progressive jackpot as the top prize. You must always bet the maximum amount on every payline to be eligible for the jackpot, but they are well worth setting aside a little of your bankroll for the thrill of being in with that chance of winning life-changing prizes. 

In Summary

Knowing how online pokies work is a valuable help when choosing one to play. Having fun at an online casino is your main aim. Keeping to your wagering limits whilst playing on pokies that suit your style of play and personality means that you will enjoy your time spent online on games that you know you will want to return to more than once.

Hopefully, this article has answered some of your questions about picking a winning pokies machine, with tips to use in your search.

About the Author

Author: James Smith.

James Smith has been writing about casino games and strategies for over a decade. He is an expert in the industry and loves to help people get started with online gambling. In his free time, James enjoys reading books by other successful authors, cycling around town, or playing poker.