Pokies Glossary

Zane | May 9, 2023 | Updated on: January 17th, 2025

pokies glossary Welcome to AustralianOnlineCasinos.io, your ultimate guide to understanding the world of pokies terminology. While pokies, also known as slot machines, are a popular form of gambling in Australia, the jargon associated with them can be daunting for new players.

Familiarizing yourself with these terms is crucial for making informed decisions, choosing the right games, and maximizing your winnings. This glossary will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the exciting world of pokies like a pro.

Technical Pokies Terms

RTP (Return to Player): The percentage of money a pokie machine pays out over time. A higher RTP means better chances of winning. For more on RTP, visit our How to Win at Pokies page.
Volatility: Indicates the level of risk associated with a pokie machine. High volatility offers larger payouts less frequently, while low volatility provides smaller, more frequent payouts.
Max Bet: The highest amount a player can wager on a pokie machine. Some bonus features and jackpots require the maximum bet to be eligible.
Fixed Jackpot: A predetermined payout that remains constant, regardless of the number of players or bets placed.
Coin Size: The amount of money bet per payline.
Autoplay: A feature that allows the machine to spin automatically for a set number of rounds.
Gamble Feature: Allows players to risk their winnings for a chance to double or quadruple them.
Hit Frequency: The percentage of spins that result in a win.
Paytable: A chart showing the payouts for each winning combination.
Random Number Generator (RNG): A computer program that determines the outcome of each spin, ensuring fairness.
Random Jackpot: A jackpot awarded randomly during gameplay.

Types of Pokies Terms

Progressive Jackpots: Jackpots that increase with each bet placed, sometimes reaching millions.
Classic Pokies: Simple machines with three reels and a single payline, featuring classic symbols like fruits and bars.
Fruit Machine: Originating in the UK, these pokies feature symbols like cherries and lemons.
Video Pokies: Use video displays to simulate spinning reels, often with multiple paylines and bonus rounds.
3D Pokies: Feature advanced graphics and animations for an immersive experience.

Features and Symbols Terms

Reels: Vertical spinning columns on a pokie machine, usually divided into three or five sections.
Paylines: Lines that run across the reels, where matching symbols result in a win. Some pokies offer fixed paylines, while others allow players to choose the number of active paylines.
Wilds: Symbols that substitute for others to create winning combinations, sometimes with multipliers.
Scatters: Special symbols that trigger bonus features or payouts, regardless of their position on the reels.
Free Spins: A bonus feature allowing players to spin the reels without betting money, often triggered by scatter symbols.
Multipliers: Features that multiply winnings by a certain amount, awarded randomly or as part of a bonus feature.
Bonus Rounds: Unique features triggered by specific symbol combinations, offering free spins, multipliers, and more.
Expanding Wilds: Wild symbols that expand to cover an entire reel, increasing winning chances.
Sticky Wilds: Wild symbols that remain in place for several spins, enhancing winning potential. For more on this, visit our Sticky Wilds page.
Stacked Wilds: Wild symbols that appear on top of each other on a reel, increasing winning chances.
Re-spin: Allows players to spin one or more reels again after a spin.
Random Feature: A bonus feature triggered randomly during gameplay.
Double-Up: Allows players to double their winnings by guessing the correct color or suit of a card.
Cascading Wins: Also known as avalanche or tumbling reels, where winning symbols disappear and are replaced by new ones, potentially creating multiple wins in a row.
All Ways: Describes pokies with multiple paylines in all directions, allowing for more potential winning combinations.

History and Evolution of Pokies Terminology

The language of pokies has evolved alongside the machines themselves. From the early days of mechanical slots to today’s digital marvels, new terms have emerged to describe the features and mechanics that define modern gameplay. Understanding this evolution can provide valuable context for players looking to deepen their knowledge.

Importance of Understanding Pokies Terms

Knowing the language of pokies is more than just a way to sound knowledgeable—it’s a crucial part of making strategic decisions. Understanding terms like volatility and paytable can help you choose games that align with your risk tolerance and maximize your potential returns. For insights into responsible gaming, check out our Responsible Gambling page.

FAQs About Pokies Terminology

Why is understanding pokies terminology important?
It helps players make informed decisions, choose the right games, and maximize their gaming experience.
What is the difference between RTP and volatility?
RTP indicates the percentage of money returned to players over time, while volatility measures the risk level and payout frequency.
How do wilds and scatters differ?
Wilds substitute for other symbols to create wins, while scatters trigger bonus features or payouts regardless of their position.
What are cascading wins?
A feature where winning symbols disappear and are replaced by new ones, potentially creating multiple wins in a row.
Are all pokies terms universal?
While many terms are widely used, some may vary by region or game developer.

Conclusion About Pokies Terminology

Understanding the glossary and terminology used in pokies can greatly enhance your gaming experience. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, knowing the difference between a fixed jackpot and a random jackpot or understanding what a sticky wild or stacked wild means can help you make more informed decisions and increase your chances of winning. So, before you hit the spin button, take some time to familiarize yourself with these terms and enjoy the thrill of playing pokies like a pro.

Types of Pokies Terms

Progressive jackpots: Progressive jackpots are jackpots that increase every time a player bets on a particular machine. They can sometimes reach millions of dollars and be won randomly or by hitting a specific combination of symbols.
Classic pokies: Classic pokies, also known as traditional pokies, are simple machines that usually have three reels and a single payline. They often feature classic symbols such as fruits, sevens, and bars.
Fruit machine: A type of pokie originated in the UK and featured symbols such as cherries, lemons, and plums.
Video pokies: Video pokies use video displays to simulate spinning reels. They often feature multiple paylines, bonus rounds, and animations.
3D pokies: 3D pokies use advanced graphics and animations to create a more immersive gaming experience.

Features and Symbols Terms

Reels: The reels are the vertical spinning columns on a pokie machine. They are usually divided into three or five sections and contain symbols determining the game’s outcome.
Paylines: Paylines are the lines that run across the reels, and when matching symbols land on them, they result in a win. Some pokies have fixed paylines, while others offer players the option to choose the number of paylines they wish to play.
Wilds: Wilds are symbols that can substitute for any other symbol on the reels to create a winning combination. They can increase your chances of winning and can sometimes come with multipliers.
Scatters: Scatter symbols are special symbols that can trigger bonus features or payouts regardless of their position on the reels. They can also sometimes come with multipliers.
Free spins: Free spins are a bonus feature that allows players to spin the reels without betting any money. They are usually triggered by landing several scatter symbols on the reels.
Multipliers: Multipliers are features that can multiply your winnings by a certain amount. They can be awarded randomly or as part of a bonus feature.
Bonus rounds: Bonus rounds are unique features triggered by landing a specific combination of symbols on the reels. They can include free spins, multipliers, and other exciting features.
Expanding wilds: Expanding wilds are wild symbols that can expand to cover an entire reel, increasing the chances of winning.
Sticky wild: A sticky wild is a wild symbol that remains in place for several spins, increasing the chances of winning.
Stacked wild: A stacked wild is a wild symbol that appears on top of other symbols on a reel, increasing the chances of winning.
Re-spin: A re-spin is a feature that allows players to spin one or more reels again after a spin.
Random feature: A random feature is a bonus feature triggered randomly during a game.
Double-up: The double-up is a feature that allows players to double their winnings by guessing the correct colour or suit of a card.
Double feature: The double feature is a bonus feature that allows players to play two bonus games in a row.
Cascading wins: Cascading wins, also known as an avalanche or tumbling reels, are features that allow winning symbols to disappear and be replaced by new ones, potentially creating multiple winning combinations in a row.
All ways: All ways describe pokie machines that offer multiple paylines in all directions, allowing for more potential winning combinations.