The Golden Rules of Playing Online Pokies

The term ‘online pokies’ is Australian and New Zealand parlance for online slot machine games. Otherwise known as poker machines, or video slots, these gambling slot machines are popular throughout the land down under. They are readily found in hotels, pubs, and casinos. Pokies is the term given to a category of chance-based casino games encompassing classic slots, video slots, and progressive slots. Slot machine functionality is governed by RNGs (Random Number Generators). These computer programs act independently of the casino or slots venue, and are preprogrammed with specific payout percentages. Payouts on pokies are determined by chance. Once a player has deposited, selected paylines, and clicked the spin button, it's up Lady Luck to determine the outcome.

Since the results of slot machine games are determined by chance, players cannot influence the results of a spin once the spin button has been clicked. No amount of ‘manipulation’ can tweak the odds in favour of the player, but this does not mean that players cannot formulate a playing strategy that is more likely to yield positive results. The literature on playing online pokies covers an extensive range of topics. From game selection, to bet size, payout percentages, paylines in play, gamble features, bonus rounds, bonus packages, Free Spins, and online casino selection, players can craft a framework that is conducive to effective online pokies entertainment. This comprehensive guide is geared towards providing a full set of do’s and don'ts for slots aficionados.

Several important topics are addressed, notably casino selection, responsible gaming practices, game choices, playing within a budget, maximising bonuses and promotional offers, et al.

What you Should Do When Playing Pokies

• The most important decision a player makes when playing online pokies is the online casino that is selected. Players are urged to conduct the necessary legwork to ensure that the online casino in question is fully licensed and regulated, and is a responsible gaming advocate. Various regulatory authorities exist around the world, including the Government of Gibraltar, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Nevada Gaming Commission, Antigua and Barbuda, Government of Curaçao, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, and several others. Licensed online casinos proudly display the badges of their licensing authority. This should be cross-referenced for credibility.
• RNG certification is equally important with online casinos offering pokies. As mentioned earlier, RNGs are random number generators. This software ensures that the outcomes of every spin are completely random. This is a non-negotiable component when selecting online casinos. RNG certification is typically provided by organisations like eCOGRA Safe & Fair, and Technical Systems Testing (TST). These independent companies randomly test the systems and processes for randomness. As with online licensing, players are encouraged to cross-reference eCOGRA and TST certification with the respective authority. These actions will allay many fears that players may have about the integrity, credibility, and transparency of an online casino’s operations.
• Since online pokies are offered through online casinos, there are several other elements of the online casino that players must verify. These include the professionalism, promptness, and proficiency of customer service. If a player does not receive feedback in a timely fashion, or receives improper feedback, it indicates the absence of a customer-centric focus. Ideally, online casinos should provide multiple options for players to communicate with them. These include live chat functionality, email support, telephone and fax, social media connectivity, and a comprehensive set of FAQs. The exclusion of one or more of these elements indicates that customer support could be doing a better job. Before registering and depositing at an online casino, players are urged to attempt communication with customer support and to gauge the responsiveness of the support team.
• Players must take extra care when picking an online casino bonus or promotional offer. Note that many offers are limited to 1st time depositors. This means that players wanting to get the most bang for their buck must carefully select the right bonus package from the get go. There are several types of bonuses and promotional offers players can pick from. These include matching bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, free spins, multi-deposit bonus offers, re-deposit bonus offers, game specific promotional offers, friend referral bonuses and the like. The value of a welcome bonus package cannot be understated. These offers can significantly boost a player's bankroll for playing online pokies. However, a caveat is in order: Always read the terms and conditions (playthrough requirements) associated with each bonus package. Players must be aware of the fine print and wagering requirements. Several elements can affect the viability a bonus, including how many times the bonus must be wagered before any winnings can be cashed out, or which games are excluded.
• Picking the right pokies. This is often listed as the first ‘must-do’ activity, but careful selection of the online casino takes precedence. The ‘right pokies’ is a subjective term to many people, however there are hard and fast rules that apply regardless. For starters, players are advised to pick slots with high RTPs. An RTP is the return to player percentage. It indicates in percentage terms how much a player can expect to win back for every $1 that is wagered. A slot with a 96% RTP indicates that a player can expect to win back $0.96 for every $1.00 that is wagered in the long term. Several important elements are at play here: Expect to win back, and long term. The long-term is defined as millions of spins, given that the RTP is calculated over a long period of time. For all intents and purposes, most players do not gamble in such a fashion. As a rule, games with high RTPs are preferable to games with low RTPs. If a player has a choice between Game A with an RTP of 80% and Game B with an RTP of 98%, the latter should be selected every time.
• Choose coin size and paylines carefully. This is one of the lesser understood rules with online pokies. There are several schools of thought on this topic, one of them being that players should play at maximum coin value on the maximum number of paylines. Advocates of this system believe that players stand the highest chance of winning jackpots and payouts when they are playing at the maximum bet level on the maximum number of paylines. This strategy can work if higher bet values can activate higher payouts. However, it is important to gamble responsibly at all times. This means that a player should maximise their budgets first, to ensure that they are playing within their means and not risking their bankroll unnecessarily. It may behoove players to choose a lower coin value on maximum paylines. Various bonus elements and in-game features can only be triggered if players wager according to the rules of play.
• Be sure to understand the paytable for payouts and winning combinations. Many a slots player has come short simply because they didn't understand the rules of play. For example, certain features and game elements may not be activated if a player doesn't meet the minimum bet threshold, or chooses to play on less than the optimal number of paylines. In these cases, problems can be avoided by simply reading the game rules and understanding the payout combinations in the paytable.
• Always gamble responsibly and never chase losses. Responsible gaming advocacy is promoted by the world's most reputable online casinos. The term responsible gaming refers to the sum total of a player’s behaviour at the casino. Several elements need to be highlighted with responsible gaming, notably limited time spent playing pokies, budgetary constraints when playing pokies, balancing gambling activity with non-gambling activities, taking regular breaks, never gambling with money earmarked for other expenses, and so forth. If players find themselves in the unenviable position of problem gambling, it is important that the online casino allows for self-exclusion, limitations, or account freezing.
• One benefit that online casinos offer slots players over traditional casinos is this: demo play mode. With so many slots games to play, players will do well to practice in demo mode before depositing money and playing in real-money mode. Demo mode allows players to experiment with different coin sizes, paylines, and game features. Once players have settled on their favourite slot games, the switch to real money mode can easily be made.
• Evaluating risk versus reward for online pokies. All slot machine games are lumped together into the slots category, but each variant is different. For example, there are classic slots, video slots, and progressive slots. Classic slots are typically played on 3 reels, with a limited number of lines. Video slots typically play out on 5 reels and feature many-in game elements, bonus rounds, and gamble options. Progressive slots are the jackpot-rich games which are part of a network comprising hundreds, perhaps even thousands of players around the world. These games are typically more expensive to play, since the higher wagers bring the progressive jackpots into contention.
• Every outcome is based on chance. Once a slot machine game has been selected, players must remember that there are no guarantees. Even if all the checks and balances have been factored in, it often comes down to Lady Luck. No online pokies are guaranteed winners – it all depends on chance. You may have beginners luck on your very first spin, or find yourself grinding away for hours on end with no payout. For this reason, players are encouraged to go into an online slot session with the mindset that slots are about fun, first and foremost. Winning is an added benefit.

The Things that Pokies Players Shouldn’t Do

Players may also want to know what actions they should avoid when choosing an online casino and online pokies. Many casino guides extol the virtues of slots strategies and bankroll management techniques. It is also worth noting that a player has more control over the outcomes of online pokies sessions than meets the eye. Below are several elements that should be avoided during slots sessions:

• Players will do well to avoid signing up at just any online casino. Many online casinos masquerade as credible, exciting, and entertaining destinations. Beneath the veneer, players may find that these online casinos are not licensed or regulated. Additionally, these online casinos may not offer the range of online pokies that players require. It is always best to stick with a trusted online casino.
• Do not obsess about a particular online slot game, hoping that if you play it for a longer period of time you will eventually win. This line of thinking is unlikely to yield any positive result.
• Don't fall into the trap of thinking that there are loose slot machines in certain sections of the casino, or at an online casino. Slots are all governed by RNGs.
• Don't be nonchalant about the bonus features in slots games. Several of these have skill-based elements which can help players to boost their winnings during the game.
• Avoid accepting the first bonus or promotional offer you find. When players see the word ‘bonus’, they naturally gravitate towards the freebies. We now know that bonuses and promotional offers come with intricate terms and conditions. If a player is unable to meet the wagering requirements (playthrough requirements), it may not be worthwhile pursuing such a bonus. For example, a wagering requirement of 40X the bonus + deposit may not be an attractive proposition for a $50 bonus.
• Never waste your entire bankroll on a single slots spin. There are affordable slots and there are expensive slots. Choose games wisely and try to spread your bankroll accordingly.
• Never gamble under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other mind-altering substances. Players need to have all their faculties about them when real money is involved.
• Never chase losses in slot machine sessions. Chasing losses is something that many gamblers fall victim to. It is the process whereby a player who is down will attempt to recover the lost money by wagering additional money. The problem with this negative spiral is that there is no end to chasing losses. In the same vein, players are encouraged to play for the love of the game, and not in the expectation of winning. This distinction is the most important one to make in slot sessions since playing for the wrong reasons can have unintended consequences.
• Avoid using the Gamble feature in slot sessions. The gamble feature is available on many video slots games. Simply put, if you win during the main game, the option to gamble your winnings and either double them or quadruple them may present. To double winnings, players must typically choose a card colour – red or black. To quadruple winnings, players are typically required to choose the right suit – clubs, spades, diamonds, or hearts. Unfortunately, the gamble feature is designed to part players from their money. If luck happens to be on your side, you may be able to walk away with significant winnings, but chances are slim that this will happen.
• Do not attempt to hack into the online casino’s servers to manipulate the outcomes of a slot machine game. That is felonious conduct and comes with a heavy prison sentence.
• Do not pick a game based solely on the size of its jackpots. While money is a great motivator when it comes to gambling, choosing slot games with big jackpots is not the best strategy. These games are played by large numbers of players, effectively reducing the likelihood of any single player winning the jackpot.
• Do not think that a slot machine game is ever due for a payout. This rationale is flawed on every level. For starters, no slot game is ever due – it is governed by RNGs which simply ensure the randomness of every outcome. It is perfectly acceptable for a slot machine game to pay out 3 times in a row and then not to pay out for an inordinate period of time. Slots are never due, even if they are approaching what appears to be a jackpot threshold. It's simply a case of RNGs kicking in and the right symbols lining up.
• Online Slots sessions are not to be mistaken for anything other than entertainment. Gambling is not investing, nor is there any credible skill, tactic or strategy that can be employed to ensure long-term consistent winnings with slot games. The best a player can hope for is an enjoyable session, within a budget. When it comes to gambling, players must always use only what they can afford to lose – nothing more.