How to win on pokies: what you can and cannot control

Can you really win on pokies?

You can win on pokies in a single session, sometimes a lot, but you cannot win over time. Every pokie has a house edge built into its maths, and a random number generator decides each spin. The longer you play, the closer your result moves towards losing that edge on everything you wager.

So the honest answer to "how to win on pokies" is: you cannot beat them, but you can control how much they cost you and how long your money lasts. That is what this page is about. For how the maths works, see our guide to how pokies work.

What can you control?

How does RTP change what you lose?

RTP decides the average cost of play. On a 96% RTP pokie, AU$1,000 of total bets costs about AU$40 on average; on a 94% version, about AU$60. Because many games come in several RTP versions, checking the game rules is the simplest way to lower your cost. Our guide to best payout pokies lists published RTPs and explains how to check them.

Progressive jackpot games such as Mega Moolah send part of every bet into the jackpot, so their normal play returns less.

How do stake size and volatility change a session?

Stake size and volatility decide how long your budget lasts and how much it swings.

• Stake: AU$100 at AU$1 per spin is 100 spins; at 25 cents it is 400 spins. More spins means more time and more chances to reach a feature.
• Volatility: low volatility pokies pay small wins often and drain a budget slowly; high volatility pokies can empty it before a feature lands, or pay a large win.

Neither changes the house edge. They change how your session feels and how likely you are to leave with something.

Do bonuses help you win?

Bonuses help only when their terms are fair. A bonus with high wagering means betting the bonus many times over, and every bet costs the house edge. In many cases the expected cost of meeting the wagering is higher than the bonus itself. Low or no wagering offers are the exception. Read the terms before you accept, and decline an offer that does not fit; our guides to no deposit bonus pokies and free spins explain how.

Which "tips" cost players money?

These common tips cost money:

• Betting systems that raise the stake after a loss. They do not change the odds and can wipe out a budget fast.
• Watching for "hot" or "due" machines. Each spin is independent.
• Playing longer to win back losses. This is the clearest sign of gambling harm.
• Choosing a pokie because its jackpot is big. A large jackpot is not more likely to drop.
• Using the gamble feature to double wins. It adds risk without improving your odds.

What is a good stop rule?

A good stop rule is decided before you start and kept whatever happens:

1. Loss limit: the most you will spend this session. When it is gone, stop.
2. Win target: a result you are happy to walk away with. When you reach it, withdraw.
3. Time limit: use the reality check or time limit in your account.

When is it time to get help?

It is time to get help if you play to win back losses, borrow or use money meant for bills, hide your gambling, or feel unable to stop. Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858. You can also self-exclude in your casino account, use blocking software, and, for Australian-licensed wagering providers, register with BetStop. For the sites we currently feature, see our online pokies Australia guide.

Gambling is for adults only (18+).