How do pokies work? RNG, RTP and volatility explained

How do pokies work, in short?

Pokies work by using a random number generator (RNG) to pick the result of every spin, and a set of maths, the game's paytable and reel layout, that decides how much each result pays. Over millions of spins, that maths returns a fixed share of all bets to players and keeps the rest for the operator. In any single session, the results are random.

That is true for venue pokies in clubs and pubs and for online pokies. Knowing how the numbers work will not help you win more often, but it helps you choose games, set a budget and recognise the myths that cost money. For the sites we currently feature, see our online pokies Australia guide.

What does the random number generator do?

The random number generator produces a stream of numbers all the time, whether anyone is playing or not. When you press spin, the game takes the current number and maps it to a position on each reel. That decides the result straight away; the spinning reels and the slow stop are animation.

Three things follow from this:

• Each spin is independent. The previous spin, or the previous thousand, do not change the next one.
• Timing does not help. Pressing spin faster, slower or at a "lucky" moment cannot be timed to a result, because the numbers change far too quickly.
• Near misses mean nothing. Two jackpot symbols and a third just above the line is a losing result, not a sign that a win is close.

What is RTP?

RTP (return to player) is the percentage of all money wagered on a pokie that it pays back to players over a very long run. The rest is the house edge.

Two points are easy to miss:

1. "Wagered" means every bet, not your deposit. If you deposit AU$50 and keep re-betting your wins, you might wager AU$500 in a session. At 96% RTP, the average cost of that is AU$20, not AU$2.
2. RTP is a long-run average. Over a session of a few hundred spins, your result can be far above or below it.

Australian states set a minimum RTP for venue pokies. In Victoria, the minimum return to players was lowered from 87% to 85% in 2014. Online pokies publish their RTP in the game rules or information screen, often in the mid-90s, and many come in several RTP versions, with the casino choosing which to run. Always check the RTP in the game rules of the version you are playing; our guide to high RTP pokies explains how.

What is volatility?

Volatility (also called variance) describes how a pokie's returns are spread. Two games with the same RTP can feel completely different.

• Low volatility: frequent small wins, smaller swings in your balance, rare big hits.
• Medium volatility: a mix of small wins and occasional larger features.
• High volatility: long runs without much, then large wins mostly from features. Your balance can drop fast.

Volatility matters for budgeting. With AU$50 and a high volatility pokie, it is common to lose the full amount before the feature lands. Many providers show volatility as a scale in the game information; demo mode lets you feel it without risk, see our guide to free online pokies.

How do paylines, ways and features work?

Paylines, ways and features are how a pokie turns symbols into wins.

Paylines are fixed lines across the reels. A win pays when matching symbols land from left to right on an active line. Classic and many venue-style pokies use 10 to 50 lines.

Ways to win pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any row. A 5-reel, 3-row game with 243 ways is common; Megaways games change the number of symbols per reel on every spin, so the number of ways changes too.

Features are where most of a pokie's top wins come from:

Hold and spin pokies come from the venue game Lightning Link; our guide to Lightning Link pokies explains the feature in detail.

What is hit frequency, and why can a pokie still feel generous while you lose?

Hit frequency is the share of spins that return any win at all. A pokie with a 30% hit frequency pays something on about three spins in ten, but many of those wins are smaller than the stake. A 20 cent spin that returns 10 cents shows a win on screen, with sound and animation, while you have lost 10 cents.

These "losses disguised as wins" make a session feel better than it is. Watch your balance, not the win messages, to see how a session is really going.

How do jackpots affect a pokie's return?

Jackpots affect a pokie's return because part of every bet goes into the jackpot. On a progressive jackpot pokie, a small share of each stake feeds a prize that keeps growing until someone wins it, often across many players or sites. The base game therefore returns less on its own, and much of the game's total RTP sits in a prize most players will never win.

Our guide to jackpot pokies compares the jackpot types. Fixed jackpots, such as those in many hold and spin games, pay set amounts or multiples of the stake and are included in the game's published RTP in the same way as other wins.

Which pokie myths cost players money?

These myths are common and expensive:

• "This machine is due." A pokie has no memory. Long losing runs do not make a win more likely.
• "It just paid, so it will go cold." The same logic in reverse, and just as wrong.
• "Play at night, or after a big win by someone else." Results do not depend on time of day or on other players.
• "Stopping the reels early changes the result." The result is fixed when you press spin.
• "I can win back what I lost." Chasing losses is the clearest sign that gambling is causing harm.

What can you control when you play pokies?

You cannot change the odds, but you can control how much you spend and how long it lasts:

1. Your budget, set before you start and never topped up in the same session.
2. Your stake per spin, which decides how many spins your budget buys.
3. The game: higher RTP and lower volatility make a budget last longer on average.
4. Your time: set a session limit and a reality check in your account.
5. Bonuses: read the terms, or decline them if wagering would push you to play more than planned.

When should you stop?

Stop when you reach your budget or time limit, whether you are up or down. Our guide on how to win on pokies explains how to set a stop rule. If you find it hard to stop, if you play to escape problems or if you chase losses, talk to someone. Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.

Gambling is for adults only (18+).