Key facts
- A random number generator decides each result at the moment you spin. The reels just show it.
- Each spin is independent: past wins or losses do not change the next result.
- RTP is the long-run share of bets paid back. NSW and Victoria set a legal minimum of 85%; Queensland machines return between 85% and 92%; new SA machines must reach 87.5% or more.
- Many wins are smaller than your bet, so the machine celebrates while your balance goes down.
- Over time the house edge wins. RTP tells you the cost, not your chances in one session.
How a pokie decides each result
A pokie's result is decided by a random number generator at the moment you press spin. The reels, sounds and animations only show a result that has already been picked. Victoria's gambling regulator puts it simply: the result is random, and each spin is independent, so previous results do not affect future outcomes. Queensland's training material for gaming staff says the same thing: each outcome is independent of previous plays.
That has one big consequence. A machine that has not paid for an hour is not "due", and one that just paid a feature is not "cold". The next spin has exactly the same odds as every other spin.
Reels, lines and features
The screen layout is just how the result is shown and paid.
- Reels and symbols. Most pokies have five reels; some have more, and classic pokies have three. Each symbol combination pays a set multiple of the bet, listed in the game's paytable.
- Lines or ways. Older games pay along fixed lines. Many newer games pay "ways": matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, wherever they land.
- Features. Free spins, hold and spin rounds and jackpot features carry a big share of a game's total return. That is why long runs without a feature feel so expensive. Our pokies bonus features guide explains what wilds, scatters and free spins are each worth.
- Credits and denominations. On pub machines the credit value can be 1 cent or more, and the bet is credits per line times lines. Always check the total bet in dollars.
What RTP means
RTP, or return to player, is the share of all money bet that a game pays back over a very large number of spins. If a game's RTP is 90%, it pays back $90 for every $100 bet in the long run and keeps $10. That $10 is the house edge.
RTP is not what you get back in a session. Over a few hundred spins anything can happen. It is the average cost of playing, and over time your results drift towards it.
How much pokies pay out in each state
Pub, club and casino pokies are regulated by the states, and each sets a minimum return.
| State | Minimum return to players | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | At least 85% of money played | Gaming Machines Regulation 2019, clause 11 |
| Victoria | At least 85% (measured per venue per calendar year, or higher if gazetted) | Gambling Regulation Act 2003, section 3.6.1 |
| Queensland | Between 85% and 92% over the machine's lifetime | Business Queensland |
| South Australia | New pokies: expected RTP of 87.5% or more | SA Department of Human Services |
GambleAware NSW describes machines as returning 85 to 92% of all money bet over their lifetime. So on $100 of play you can expect $85 to $92 back on average over the long run, which means losing $8 to $15 for every $100 you put through.
The real odds of winning
You will win often, but many wins are smaller than your bet. How often a game pays anything at all is its hit frequency. A 40 cent win on a $1 spin plays the winning music while your balance drops by 60 cents. Count your balance, not the celebrations.
The cost that matters is turnover times the house edge. At $1 a spin and 600 spins an hour on an 88% machine, you put $600 through and lose $72 an hour on average. Try your own numbers in the pokies calculator.
| Bet per spin | Spins per hour | RTP | Average cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.50 | 600 | 88% | $36 |
| $1 | 600 | 88% | $72 |
| $2 | 600 | 88% | $144 |
| $1 | 900 | 88% | $108 |
Online pokies work the same way, with fewer protections
Online pokies use random number generators too, and most game makers publish an RTP for each title, often higher than pub machines. Some games are released in several RTP versions, so the figure in the game info of the site you play is the one that counts.
The difference is who checks. Pub pokies are tested and monitored under state law. Online casinos cannot legally offer pokies to people in Australia, so the sites that do operate offshore, outside state testing and minimum return rules. Read are online pokies legal in Australia before you play online.
Pundit tip: two games can share an RTP and still play completely differently. That is volatility, explained in our pokies volatility guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How do pokies decide when to pay out?
They do not decide based on what has happened before. A random number generator produces the result for each spin when you press the button, and each spin is independent of the last. A machine is never due to pay.
How much do pokies pay out in Australia?
Each state sets a minimum return. NSW regulation requires at least 85% of money played to be paid out, Victoria's law sets 85% as the minimum, Queensland machines must return between 85% and 92% over their lifetime, and new SA machines must have an expected RTP of 87.5% or more. These are long-run figures, not per session.
What does RTP mean on pokies?
RTP means return to player: the share of all money bet that the game pays back over a very large number of spins. A 90% RTP game pays back $90 for every $100 bet over the long run and keeps $10.
What are the odds of winning on pokies?
You will win often on small amounts, but over time you lose roughly the house edge on everything you bet. The odds of the top jackpot on a single spin are usually tiny. What matters most is the RTP and how much you bet in total.
Do online pokies work the same way?
Mechanically, yes: online pokies also use a random number generator, and most game makers publish an RTP for each title. But offshore online casinos are not covered by Australian state testing or minimum return rules, so you rely on the game maker and the site.
Do pokies pay more at certain times of day?
No. Results come from a random number generator, so the time of day, how busy the venue is or how long since the last jackpot make no difference to the next spin.
Related reading
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