Best Online Pokies 2024

Slot machines may feature varying themes, bets, and payouts, but they operate on the same principle framework. The blueprint is similar to the first-ever pokies invented and has evolved with time to accommodate new generations of the game. Here is a breakdown of how these games work, from their gameplay procedure and payouts down to their inner workings:

Gameplay Procedure

If you are going to love slots for anything, it has to be the simplicity of their gameplay. The procedure is similar in all of them, with only a few alterations in the steps to achieve it. Generally, punters have to place a bet, spin the playtable, and wait for the results. All you need to do is;

• Select an ideal pokie – narrow down the best option according to the developer, theme, betting limits, payouts, bonus features, and casino.
• Deposit funds – a cash commitment in your registered casino is necessary to activate gameplay in real money slots.
• Adjust paylines – choose those to remain active if the game has adjustable win lines. These lines affect the bet value – the more the paylines, the higher the stake. On the upside, they drive up the chances of triggering a win.
• Choose a bet – there are one or two requirements in this step depending on the pokie. Some slots require players to choose the number of coins and their values separately. Others limit it to one of these fields.
• Spin the reels – the spin button runs the game one round at a time. Autoplay is a popular alternative that plays automatic spins and can be preset in most pokies.
• Set turbo mode – this option speeds up gameplay by stopping all the reels at once instead of one at a time. It applies to both manual and autoplay spins.

Pokies feature UI panels or buttons around the screen to carry out the gameplay procedure. The reels spin and reveal random symbols on each reel, the necessary payouts are awarded, and the process repeats. Pokies require no skill to play, and results are entirely luck-dependent.

Slots have bonuses in all shapes and sizes, but they function the same way. They can be customized to suit the payouts and themes, and they often fall into the following categories:

• Wilds

The wild is a symbol with the power to stand in the place of any other to complete a paying winning combination. For instance, if the same icons land on the first and third reels with the wild in between and on a payline, a win is awarded. Usually, scatters, free spin, and other bonus characters are the exceptions to these rules. The wild carries no value in some slots and appears on limited reels. In others, it serves the highest payline wins.

The wild is the most popular slot bonus, sometimes featuring more than once in one game. In the first-ever pokie, it appeared as the joker and could complete any hand. Modern slots feature them as theme-inspired symbols. Aside from the standard task of replacing icons, pokies modify wilds in other ways, including;

• Scatter

The scatter is a bonus symbol that earns the name from its ability to pay despite its position on the reels. Other icons have to line up on paylines or form win ways and clusters. Also, scatters wins are multiplied by the total wager instead of the payline stake or coin value. These characters are usually linked to bonus rounds like free spins.

• Free spins/respins

A spin refers to each round in a pokie, so a free spin is one that does not require a bet. These bonuses trigger when 3+ scatters appear and can vary depending on the number of symbols. The awarded rounds can be anywhere between 5 to 100 or more. The spins play with the same value and paytable as the activating round. Slots can customize their free spins by adding multipliers to their wins, making them available to retrigger, or making them upgradeable. Respins are similar to free spins but are usually smaller, often up to three. They can be attached to unique icons like wilds and scatters or grid events.

• Cascading/tumbling/avalanche reels

Most pokies use spinning reels to reveal new characters while others drop them off the grid while new ones rain from above. Paying icons vanish from the screen, and those above them fill the spaces left behind. These cascades potentially create new winning combinations, which also exit the reels. The tumbles continue until no more wins trigger, and they do not cost a dime more than the original spin.

• Cluster wins

Some pokies pay for icons appearing anywhere on the reels as long as a certain number of them connect horizontally and vertically. Tumbling reels and large grids often accompany cluster payouts.

• Multipliers

Multipliers can appear as symbols or accompaniments for wilds, scatters, free spins, and other bonuses. They multiply the payouts by the indicated value, often ranging between 1x and 100x. In most pokies, multipliers that occur in the same combinations apply to each other before the wins. These bonuses can also be progressive, especially when linked to cascading wins. They are among the most valuable slot features.

• Gamble features

Some slots offer a shot at more win values after symbol combinations pay. Choosing to gamble reveals a second screen with a guessing game that awards correct answers and strips winnings for wrong ones. The most common gamble feature is the hidden card that doubles payouts for the right colour and quadruples them for the correct suit. The round can be played multiple times, but a single loss ends it. The gamble feature does not usually apply to bonus wins.

• Picking rounds

This pokie bonus presents players with different hidden items, and choosing them reveals wins. The contents are often cash payouts, but they can also be multipliers, free spins, respins, wilds, and other incentives.

• Fixed jackpots

Slot machines may be some of the riskiest casino games, but they pack massive wins, most of which are jackpots. Fixed jackpots feature set amounts that only change according to the selected stake but do not grow over time. The fixed pots can be 10x to over 100,000x the stake, and one slot can feature multiple.

• Progressive jackpots

Some pokies feature progressive jackpots, which grow over time by collecting a portion of placed bets. The pots start at a seed value (as little as $10 and as much as $2,000,000) and increase continuously until triggered. Pooled jackpots can activate by landing unique icons or through random triggers. Some slots feature multiple of these pots, including Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, and WowPot pokies.

• Bonus wheels

Bonus wheels are exactly what they sound like – wheels with bonuses on different wedges. The pokie grants the incentive pointed at when it stops spinning. These wheels are used to award free spins, multipliers, wilds, and jackpots.

• Meters

In some slots, players have to fill meters to trigger bonus features. They are placed somewhere on the screen and charge up when symbol wins form or unique icons are collected.

As it applies to pokies, volatility is the inherent risk of playing. Also known as variance, volatility describes how much and how often you can expect to win during a gaming session. When playing slots, you will notice that some games often pay small amounts regularly while others have long dry spells rewarded with big payouts. Like RTP, volatility does not affect the random nature of the games. It is determined by observing the game over many previous spins to predict its behaviour. Pokies fall into the following variance categories;

• Low volatility

Slots with this volatility rating have low risk. The games are inclined to low payouts that frequently trigger, reducing the risk of significant losses. Such pokies are perfect for new and casual players not wanting to spend too much but are chasing wins. The volatility is often spotted in sets with low maximum winning potential.

• Low-medium volatility

The risk in low-medium variance pokies is low to moderate, and the wins are small to midsized. These games are perfect for punters looking to entertain themselves but don’t mind a little risk from time to time if the potential for sizeable wins rises.

• Medium volatility

Medium volatility slots fall in the middle and are a delightful compromise between low and high variance games. Most of the triggered wins are typically low to mid-sized, but there are moderate chances at significant payouts.

• Medium-high volatility

Medium-high slot variance takes the risk several notches higher and makes the losing bouts longer. Waiting out the dry spells is compensated with increasing payouts.

• High volatility

High variance pokies are the riskiest of the bunch and the most rewarding. The wins in these games can be higher than 100,000x the bet or have jackpot wins. These slots can be pretty brutal and are survived with large bankrolls that can ride out the extended losses along the way.

Hit Frequency

Also known as hit rate, hit frequency is the likelihood of a pokie machine hitting a winning combination instead of losing. The mathematics behind this metric is relatively simple. The hit frequency indicates the percentage of a pokie’s likelihood to land paying combos or bonuses. Unlike the RTP, hit frequency considers rounds that generate wins lower than the placed bet rather than focusing only on higher ones. The hit rate in high variance slots is usually low due to spaced wins, while that of low volatility titles is high due to frequent triggers.

Before the online gambling era, the only pokie options were pay-to-play machines available in location-based casinos. The internet revolutionized the industry with free-to-play games provided alongside the real money versions. Both variants mirror each other where visuals, bets, gameplay, and payouts are considered. They also differ in several ways, some of which make a huge difference in the playing experience. Let’s dissect the expectations to have when exploring either option.

Cash Commitment

Demo slots save players the trouble of depositing money since they come with built-in credits. The fun coins abide by the same betting limits as the cash versions and trigger the same win values. These games are ideal for sifting through several pokies to find the perfect one without breaking the bank. On the other hand, real money slots demand a cash commitment to activate gameplay.

Account Registration

In most cases, accessing free slots does not require opening an account in affiliate websites and casinos. For instance, you can launch any of the listed free pokies on our website by simply launching our page on any browser, searching for the desired title, and proceeding with gameplay. Real money gameplay requires account registration, which often requires providing personal information like your name, email address, billing address, phone number, and banking info.

Withdrawable Wins

While real money pokies demand account creation and cash deposits, they offer a chance at cashable payouts. The value displayed in the ‘Balance’ section can translate into real money and is transferred to players’ accounts through the casino’s listed payment methods. These wins differ from those of free pokies that can only be reused as stakes.

Accessibility

Slots are widely available to New Zealand gamblers, but free pokies more than real money ones. Since actual cash and account registration is necessary to play the latter, they are limited to NZ casinos with permits to provide such services. On the other hand, demo pokies feature in casinos and game-review sites like ours.

Gameplay Procedure

Demo and real money pokies mirror each other in the playing procedure. In both cases, the only requirements are placing a stake, spinning the grid, and collecting payouts depending on the displayed symbols. The buttons and menu bars are also the same, making demo pokies the perfect way to get familiar with the procedure before putting actual money on the line.

Mobile and PC Affinity

Free and real money pokies are designed with smartphone, tablet, and desktop users in mind. All new pokie releases come with HTML5 technology, supporting cross-platform accessibility. This tech also allows them to run in instant-play mode on almost any browser. Some pokies come with download options available in app stores, like Apple Store, Microsoft Store, and Google Play Store.

Online pokie machines may use the exact basic blueprint (grids, gameplay procedure, symbol payouts, bonus features), but the software developers behind them tread unique paths in their creation. Some game studios focus on abundant payout values for high win potential, while others deliver high entertainment value with stunning graphics, animations, and soundtracks. Some pokie providers dominate the market more than others, with superior releases catering to most player needs. Below is a breakdown of slot studios that occupy top spots on popularity lists:

While slot machines have a straightforward gameplay formula demanding little effort, there are ways to make the best out of the experience, and here is a look at some:

Understand the Odds

Before starting the gameplay, understand that winning in each round is entirely luck-dependent due to RNGs. Also, pokies are negative expectation games with higher losing than winning chances. Looking at nearly all slot RTPs, the house always has an advantage over the player. Accordingly, treat pokie gameplay like entertainment above all else rather than a way to mint profits.

Manage Your Money

Have a handle on your expenditure, especially when gambling with real money. Online pokies feature fast gameplay, each round lasting only a few seconds. Even when using the smallest penny bets, the amount adds up to a significant amount in the long run. Always approach pokes with a set amount, and it should only be sourced from disposable income. While playing, adjust the stake per round depending on the changes to your betting balance to ensure it exploits the best potential wins while lasting as long as possible. Also, save winnings when they accumulate, even if the gaming session is not over.

Claim the Best Bonuses

The biggest target market for online casino bonuses is slot enthusiasts. The offers typically include matchups, cashbacks, and free spins packaged as welcome, reload, and loyalty offers. Take up incentives that provide the potential to collect profits thanks to lenient terms and conditions. Pay special attention to the attached wagering requirement, which determines the amount required to clear boons and their wins for withdrawal – the lower the value, the better the offer. Also, check the shelf life, triggering deposit, and offered amount.

Play for Jackpot Payouts

Jackpot slots pack massive winning potential, especially the progressive kind. Most pokies leave these bonus features open to trigger by any real money players. However, gamblers must abide by a higher minimum stake limit in others. It should be noted that pokies with such lucrative wins often have brutally high volatility, so big bankrolls are the best.

Have Winning Goals

Online pokies can award life-changing payouts, but triggering them is rare. Before starting the gameplay, have a winning goal in mind, and set it at a realistic amount. This goal should be in place even when playing for jackpot wins. Playing for only the pot payout will likely leave you empty-handed in the long run. Remember that slots have other rewarding features like wilds, multipliers, scatters, free spins, cascading reels, and picking rounds. They may seem negligible compared to jackpots, but they can generate decent amounts.

Play High RTP games

Pokie RTP is far from an accurate prediction of slot wins, but it gives a theoretical projection of expected values in the long run. Ideal online pokies have high RTP rates of 96% and above. Some sets go over 99%, including 1429 Uncharted Seas, Mega Joker, and Rainbow Riches: Pick n Mix. There are cases of variable RTPs that change depending on the version being played.

Choose an Ideal Volatility

Since high volatility slots come with high risk, they are best played with sizeable bankrolls that can survive losses long enough to collect massive wins. Low variance slots have fewer unlucky turns, but wins are small. Therefore, they accommodate low rollers not looking to break the bank but still want to win.

Trust Cherry Red Casino to provide a wide range of pokie machines to play for free with accompanying unbiased reviews and exclusive insight. Look out for new additions to our catalogue combined with honest feedback on their quality.