Most Popular Types of Online Pokies in Australia – Classic, Jackpots, Bonus-Buy & More
Chance-based and downright exciting to play, online pokies are among the most popular pastimes for Australians.
However, before you play, you should know that pokies are classified based on a wide range of factors that can affect the entire gameplay and payout system, such as win rate and win size.
Let’s dive in and learn more about all the types of pokies available, shall we?
How are Online Pokies Categorized
Many factors come into play when developers set out to create an online pokie, such as volatility level, RTP, features, grid layout, jackpots, and payout mechanisms.
Based on a specific project idea, the final slot will have distinguishing attributes based on which we can ascribe a category. Here are a few types of online pokies you’ll find at Australian online casinos and a quick look at an example for each type.
Classic 3-Reel Slots
Classic slots typically have 3 reels on 3 rows, paying left-to-right. The number of pay lines is typically small, between 5 and 100, but usually in the 10-50 range.
Classic pokies are characterised by their straightforward grid and symbols, lack of bonus rounds, and they often feature fruit or card symbols. Most classic slots are inspired by real-life pokie machines, such as Betsoft’s Old Timer (inspired by Retro Timer).
Other 3-reel online pokies take a more original approach, such as Pragmatic Play’s Triple Tigers.
Classic 3-Reel Pokie Example: Old Timer
Betsoft’s Old Timer is an excellent example of a classic online pokie. Featuring 3 reels on 3 rows and the traditional fruit symbols, it pays homage to the beloved pokie machines that started it all. The interface is simple, with the paytable located on the right-hand side.
The return to player (RTP) is low at 93%, and there are only 5 pay lines. The bet range is 0.2 to up to 10, with a maximum win of 6,000 and medium risk (volatility). From an entertainment perspective, Old Timer does not offer much, except a trip back memory lane for the sentimental.
Video Slots
Video pokies encompass a broad spectrum of digital slot machines. Typically, video slots start with 5 reels, but some can add extra reels (up to 7 or even more reels). Some of the best online pokies in Australia – or anywhere for that matter – are 5-reel pokies, such as Big Time Gaming’s White Rabbit Megaways.
Apart from the extra reels, video pokies have distinctive features, bonus rounds, special symbols (scatters, wilds), and more immersive themes and animations.
Another distinguishing aspect of video slots is the varying pay mechanisms. Instead of the traditional left-to-right, some have cluster pays or tumbling reels.
Video Slot Example: Hands of Midas II
Hands of Midas II by Pragmatic Play is the prototypical video slot game. It is modern and innovative and offers an excellent visual experience. It features 5 reels on 3 rows and modest 20 win ways. The RTP is 96.07% at its highest, and a maximum payout of 8,000x your bet size is possible.
It offers special features, like a free spin bonus round and a 2x multiplier, activated when 3 Golden Hand scatters land. There are also sticky wilds, carrying multipliers up to 10x, and you can buy bonus free spins for 100x your bet.
Jackpot slots
The only major difference between jackpot pokies and any other slot (except classic machines) is the jackpot itself. The design and theme can be more basic and feature multiple fixed jackpots, as with Playson’s Energy Coins: Hold and Win pokie.
On the other hand, you have pokies with progressive jackpot prizes like Microgaming’s Mega Moolah and NetEnt’s Mega Fortune. These mega prizes rise progressively as more players play a single pokie or a network of games from a certain game provider like, for instance, Pragmatic Play.
Jackpot Pokie Example: Age of the Gods
Playtech’s Age of the Gods is a prime example of a progressive jackpot slot. The RTP is 95% (average-to-high), with 20 win lines on a 5×3 grid. As far as online pokies volatility goes, it is rated medium-high, so you should expect bigger but more infrequent wins.
There are over 20 sequels to the original Age of the Gods, and the progressive jackpots are often linked to most, if not all, Age of the Gods slots available at a given AU casino site. The smallest prize starts at $50, then $500, $5,000, and $100,000 for the Ultimate, which is paid every 40 days or so and averages over $400,000.
Cluster Slots and Cascading Reels
Not all slots implement the basic left-to-right pay mechanism. Some pokies can feature cluster pays mechanisms or tumbling reels, where symbols combine in clusters, or the reels tumble (cascade) to form multiple wins in a sequence.
The grid layout can be composed of 5 reels, like iSoftbet’s Wild Ape, but usually has 6 or more reels, such as Pragmatic Play’s hit pokie Sugar Rush, which features 7 reels and 7 rows. The payout mechanisms are the distinguishing point of these slots. They still share commonalities with other pokie types, such as wilds, scatters, bonus rounds, and win multipliers.
Cluster/Cascading Reel Pokies Example: Aloha Cluster Pays
NetEnt’s Aloha Cluster Pays is one of the most popular examples of a cluster pays pokie. The betting range is from 0.10 to 200, with only 10 pay lines on a 6-reel, low-volatility mechanism with 5 rows. The maximum win is 2,000x your bet size.
As far as cascading reels go, Relax Gaming’s Temple Tumble 2 is an excellent pick. Unlike Aloha Cluster Pays, this one has 46,656 pay lines. The biggest win you can trigger is 10,045x your bet amount. The volatility (risk) of this pokie is high and the RTP is below average at 94.8%.
Bonus Buy
Hundreds of modern online video pokies come with added features, with the Bouns Buy being the most recurring. The “bonus buy” option essentially allows you to buy your want into a bonus game without having to wait for three scatter symbols to appear on the reels.
The pokies can feature any grid format (5×3, 5×4, 5×5), volatility level, or RTP and still have a bonus round available for purchase.
The bonus round considerably raises the win combinations once activated and usually increases the RTP compared to the base game unless it’s fixed. The bonus feature usually triggers wilds, multipliers, or, scatters and unlocks multiple free spins.
Bonus Buy Pokie Example: Money Train 2
Money Train 2 from Relax Gaming is a perfect representative of the Bonus Buy pokie. A high-volatility pokie with a 50,000x maximum possible win and 40 pay lines, the RTP ranges from 94% to 96.4%. It features immersive Western-themed animations with a touch of cyberpunk inspiration.
You can buy the Money Cart Bonus Round for 100x your bet. The round begins with 3 free spins, but the chances are you’ll land at least 3 extra free spins, alongside a win multiplier that can reach up to 200x. The grid can extend to add two extra reels, creating a 7×4 playing grid.
Multi-Line Slots and Megaways
It is not uncommon for pokies to have limited win ways i.e. pay lines. Hundreds of online pokies available at Australian casinos have between 20 and 100 pay lines. But the wheels of innovation have made multi-line slots a new standard, with new titles and mechanisms featuring up to 200 or much more ways to win.
The standout category of multi-line pokies are Megaways games. The mechanism was invented by Big Time Gaming and virtually all major pokies developers have borrowed it since.
The Megaways mechanism ensures the game rotates different symbols each spin, creating hundreds, even tens of thousands of possible win combinations.
Example of Megaways Slots: Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways is a 6-reel pokie by Red Tiger Gaming, with 2-7 rows and a changing RTP of 94.66%-96%. It’s inspired by NetEnt’s original Gonzo’s Quest while borrowing BTG’s Megaways mechanism for an astounding 117,649 win ways.
It features free spins rounds, multipliers, and a cascading (tumbling) reel mechanism. The volatility is high, but so are your (sporadic) wins, and you can potentially hit a maximum in-game payout of 20,000x your bet.
Branded slots
Branded online pokies are mostly about style and brand recognition. It’s simple psychology: you see a pokie inspired by a famous show, game, or film, and you’re instantly drawn to it. So don’t be surprised to see Australian online casinos promoting pokies like Jurassic Park (Microgaming), Pinnochio (Betsoft), or Game of Thrones (Microgaming/Games Global).
Branded pokies are like any category of online slots and can have varying grids, features, volatility, RTP, and paylines. One thing that makes these pokies stand out is the theme, which is complemented by unique symbols or even theme-specific features.
Branded Slot Example: Jumajni
The Jumanji Slot by leading pokies provider NetEnt is a classic example of an innovative game inspired by a popular film franchise. The game features a solid RTP of 96.33% but has low volatility and just 36 win ways.
The game has 5 reels, but an uncommon 3-4-5-4-3 row layout. This feature-rich pokie offers re-spins, sticky wilds, and free spins rounds via themed features like Monsoon Wilds, Sticky Vines, Wild Stampede and, of course, Monkey Mayhem, referencing the popular scene from the original Jumanji movie.
Finals Words About the Most Popular Pokie Types
In the end, what type of pokie you choose depends on your personal taste. If you’re a casual player, classic 3-reel pokies come in many modern formats and offer low-risk play for as little as $0.10.
Pokies with 5 or more reels and innovative mechanisms like cluster pays are always fun but can have high volatility and risk.
Jackpot pokies can be a win-win. Although they are more suited to high-rollers who always hope for the right combo to trigger a jackpot prize, they can have special features, bonus rounds, and decent payout rates to support casual play.
Thanks for reading – we hope you’ve learned something extra today!