Best Real Money Lightning Link Online Pokies in Australia (2025)

• RTP: 95.65%
• Volatility: High
• Max Win: 15,000x
• Reels: 3
• Paylines: 8
• Where to Play: DragonSlots

Theme-wise, Coin Strike 2: Hold and Win is a charming classic fruit slot, featuring three reels, eight fixed paylines, and those familiar fruit symbols that give it a nostalgic feel. In terms of gameplay, it takes inspiration from Lightning Link pokies with its bonus game, but adds special features like Super Strike Coins and Strike Coins to really spice things up.

These symbols made the base game more exciting. For instance, regular payouts become more rewarding thanks to the Collect feature, which adds up the values of all Bonus Coin and jackpot symbols to boost winnings. The Collect feature kicks in when Super Strike and Strike Coins link up with the Bonus Coins.

Since the game is rated as volatile, payouts don’t happen very often – usually every 4 to 6 spins – but when they do, they can be substantial. I set it for 30 auto spins at A$1 each and ended up winning about A$56 while wagering A$30 in total. The secret to my A$16 gain was the Collect symbols, which often paid between 3x and 10x my bet, along with the thrilling Pile of Gold feature.

The Super Strike symbol can trigger the exclusive Strike Boost Feature randomly during the main game, or you can choose to pay for it. I didn’t get it to trigger randomly, so I paid A$300 for Super Strike Coins with a guaranteed Strike Boost. This was the priciest of the three bonus options.

As the Super Strike Coin collects values from other high symbols and multiplies them, payouts begin to climb. I started with three free spins, but each new symbol reset the spins, so I ended up playing more than 20 spins in total.

Basically, every new symbol in the game resets the spins and adds to the total payout, all managed by the Super Strike Coin. The bonus game can really be a hit or miss depending on how many new symbols land and the total multiplier. My first purchase brought in about A$90, which was a bit disappointing. I decided to buy the feature again, this time with a smaller wager of A$0.80 per spin for A$180 in total, and this time, I collected around A$240.

Overall, it’s quite an engaging game that offers opportunities for big wins with a bit of luck. It also has three fixed jackpot prizes that you can win during the bonus game.

• RTP: 96.17%
• Volatility: High
• Max Win: 3,691x
• Reels: 3
• Paylines: 5
• Where to Play: Stay Casino

Coins of Zeus: Hold and Win is a high-volatility game with five paylines, so you’ll need a good dose of patience waiting for it to pay out. That said, long-term performance is solid, with a decent RTP of 96.17%, and the higher volatility leads to bigger wins.

The wilds and the Bonus and the Zeus Bonus symbols are what give this game a real kick. Land either of those bonus symbols in the main game, and you’ll kick off the top feature: the Hold and Win bonus.

I was determined to hit this feature, so I went for 50 auto spins at A$0.75 each, costing me A$37.50 total. After 35 spins, the Hold and Win feature finally triggered with a mix of three Bonus and one Zeus Bonus symbol.

Just like the game before, I started with three spins, and every new bonus symbol added three more. I ended up getting about 12 spins in total, winning around A$58, which was more than enough to cover the money I’d wagered over those 40 spins.

The base game yielded some nice payouts, often 2x to 5x my wager, but only when the wilds linked up with the high-value or bonus symbols. Getting any major wins outside of the bonus game really depends on getting lucky with high symbol combinations or wilds, and getting those bonus features.

• RTP: 95.65%
• Volatility: N/A
• Max Win: 1,057x
• Reels: 3
• Paylines: 5
• Where to Play: King Billy

Diamond Power: Hold and Win, a 2023 slot from Playson, is a Hold and Win game that breaks the pattern a bit with its classic 3-reel, 3-row setup. I hadn’t played it before, but it definitely gives off strong Lightning Link pokies vibes.

While the official volatility isn’t confirmed, seeing wins pop up every 3 to 6 spins suggests it’s probably in the medium to medium-high range, with decent payout size to match. Heads up, though: the slightly low RTP (just under 96%) and the 3-reel structure mean the base game returns are pretty modest, so don’t expect massive long-term wins there.

The real fun lies in the four jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand. I actually snagged the Mini and Minor jackpots twice, which added up to a nice little A$100 total. Jackpot symbols also have their own values, and when you combine them with the Power Bonus and regular bonus symbols, that’s when the Diamonds Power feature kicks off.

This feature is huge because it adds up the value of all bonus symbols in both the main game and the bonus rounds, giving a nice lift to those otherwise average base game wins. The bonus game is the most generous part of this pokie, and it seemed to have a high hit rate – once after about 70 spins and again after about 120 spins. It started when I landed one bonus symbol on each of the three reels.

The low-value symbols are omitted, leaving only regular bonus symbols and the Power Bonus symbols. The Power Bonus symbol is key because it sticks to the second reel for the entire feature. I started with 3 respins but ended up playing about 15, as any new symbol landing resets the respin counter back to three.

When the round ended, all values collected by the sticky Power Bonus symbol were added to the total win. I walked away with about A$40, which was a fantastic return, considering I had only wagered around A$14 before the bonus game even started.

• RTP: 96.07%
• Volatility: High
• Max Win: 12,395x
• Reels: 5
• Paylines: 25
• Where to Play: Neospin

Gold Nugget Rush: Hold and Win was not just enjoyable but also delivered impressive payouts. This one has five reels, three rows, and several key features that enhance gameplay.

Wilds substitute for all symbols except the highest-value ones, helping trigger wins during the main game. The game is highly volatile, with infrequent wins – after over 3,000 spins, payouts occurred every 4-8 spins on average, with bigger wins (exceeding my bet) every 5-12 spins.

The bonus round is especially exciting. I needed at least three scatter bonus symbols to get 8 free spins. After about 100 spins, I couldn’t trigger the bonus randomly, but a quick solution is to buy the Hold and Win bonus. This differs from free spins, requiring 6 scattered bonus symbols, or 5 scatters plus 1 Boost symbol, to activate.

I bought the Hold and Win feature with 3 re-spins for roughly $65 and won about A$85. The purchase guarantees at least 6 bonus or Boost symbols, but the actual number is random. I received 8 on my first buy. The best part of Hold and Win is that bonus symbols stay in place, mystery symbols can appear, and only high-value symbols land on the reels. Each new symbol resets the 3 re-spins.

Playing long-term offers good potential returns, great features, and the chance to win one of five jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, and Grand.

• RTP: 95.66%
• Volatility: Medium-high
• Max Win: 5,150x
• Reels: 3
• Paylines: 5
• Where to Play: Wild Tokyo

Another of Playson’s pokies that is not what it seems. Thunder Coins: Hold and Win was a great find for a 3-reel slot and is actually designed to offer higher returns, which is quite refreshing compared to other classic-style online pokies in Australia. You’ll find those familiar slot symbols like the Bar, 777, and fruits, keeping that classic vibe.

But the real excitement kicks in during the base game. I was really surprised to see wins between 3x and over 10x my bet on a single spin when the high-value symbols landed. The bonus symbols and the Thunder Bonus symbol also add to the thrill, making each spin possibly more rewarding than the one before.

After about 30 spins, three bonus symbols and one thunder symbol triggered the Hold and Win round. During this bonus, the symbols that activated it stay on the reels, and new ones are added for bigger payouts, with every new symbol resetting the free spins back to 3. I played around 15 spins and earned A$42, while spending less than A$10 to activate the feature.

The game’s medium-high volatility means payouts are a bit less frequent – roughly every 4-6 spins – but the bonus rounds come around quite often and are really rewarding.

Before I completed my review, I triggered the bonus round one more time, winning $36. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this game as much as I did. The theme might be a bit dated and simple, but that’s not what makes it stand out.

Instead, it offers some of the most engaging Hold and Win gameplay I’ve experienced, with surprisingly good payouts in the main game and a bonus round that really spices things up. It’s a great example of how a straightforward design can deliver surprisingly good results.

Tip from Mike Waters: Chasing the three scatters to trigger the bonus game is highly recommended. To make the most of your playtime, turn on the Turbo mode and set the game to auto spin. This accelerates the gameplay, allowing you to place more wagers in a shorter period, increasing your chances of activating the bonus more quickly.

• RTP: 96.58%
• Volatility: Medium-high
• Max Win: N/A
• Reels: 5
• Paylines: 243
• Where to Play: PlayMojo

Ultimate Golden Dragon Inferno: Hold and Win is a prime example of Betsoft’s top-tier craftsmanship in pokies development.

Set across 5 reels and 3 rows, this Ancient China-inspired pokie follows a similar style to some of Aristocrat’s Lightning Link pokies, featuring Hold and Win bonus mechanics, in-game jackpots, expanding reels, bonus buy options, and more.

I started with 50 auto spins for a total of A$37.5 to see how the base game performs and whether any of the top features trigger.

Now, the main game is full of excitement, with stacked mystery symbols, wilds, and high-value symbols like golden koi fish, Buddha, and golden turtles, which deliver fantastic payouts when 3 or more match on the reels.

One major difference compared to other pokies here is the paylines. Ultimate Golden Dragon Inferno has 243 fixed paylines paying from left to right. This, combined with its balanced medium-high volatility, gave me great returns in the base game at fairly regular intervals, usually between 3 and 5 spins.

After the bonus round didn’t activate during auto-play, I paid A$60 for 6 bonus symbols. The bonus round begins with 3 spins, and new symbols reset the spin count. What makes this Hold and Win feature unique is that it divides the game layout into 4 parts, expanding the grid to up to 10 reels and 6 rows, with lots of sticky bonus symbols, each worth real money ranging from A$0.75 to A$6.

All bonus symbols that land on the grid stay in place for the whole round. By the last spin, the values of all symbols combined to a total of A$87, giving me a A$27 win.

• RTP: 95.78%
• Volatility: High
• Max Win: 14,000x
• Reels: 5
• Paylines: 5
• Where to Play: Richard Casino

This five-reel, five-payline pokie by Playson features fruit symbols, blending styles of both classic and more modern online video pokies. But don’t let the setup deceive you. The features and add-ons in this game can significantly enhance gameplay.

I must have played about 2,000 spins to get a clear idea of the payouts and features. I played small, at A$0.8 per spin, and the payouts were surprisingly good relative to my bet size. The thing is, it pays every 5-10 spins on average, which makes sense given the game’s high volatility.

However, the bonus features are far from a long shot. After about 50 spins, I got 6 golden clover bonus symbols and a Collect symbol to activate the bonus game. This is the game’s best feature, where only bonus, multiplier, and Collect symbols land. Multipliers range from 1x up to 10x, and all new symbols reset the spins to the original 3 re-spins.

The round ended after I ran out of re-spins, but thanks to the multipliers and Collect features, the total winnings came to approximately A$60, while I spent about A$40 to trigger the bonus round.

I triggered the bonus round a few more times before finishing the review, and each time it paid out more than I had spent to activate the feature, except once. The multipliers did a great job here, with every new multiplier landing on a cell that already had one, increasing the overall multiplier.

• RTP: 95.9%
• Volatility: Medium
• Max Win: 12,000x
• Reels: 5
• Paylines: 25
• Where to Play: Rolling Slots

Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 is more than just a money-winning game. It boasts excellent visuals, and its design and ambient sounds enhance the visual appeal of the exciting payout engine and features.

With a bonus game, bonus feature, and three jackpots in play, I set aside about A$1,000 to test it properly. I admit: I spent around A$600 and won about A$900. The bonus didn’t trigger after 100 spins, so I paid A$100 with a A$1 bet pre-spin to trigger six bonus symbols with multipliers, which stayed in place for the duration of the round.

This bonus is similar to the one in Ultimate Golden Dragon Inferno: Hold and Win, which is a good thing. The bonus round started with 3 respins and divided the screen into four grids, with 10 reels and 6 rows.

The first grid contained the original bonus symbols that activated the round, and once 3 more bonus symbols appeared, the next grid was unlocked. This process continued for all grids, and to unlock the remaining ones, you needed to land a minimum number of bonus symbols on active grids, and each bonus symbol resets the respins to 3.

The multipliers from all bonus symbols were summed for the final payout. Initially, I just broke even, but after the second and third purchases, I won about A$300 more than I spent. The point is, even if the bonus doesn’t trigger on the first try, I recommend giving it at least one more shot to score a bigger payout.

• RTP: 95.9%
• Volatility: Medium-high
• Max Win: 12,000x
• Reels: 5
• Paylines:25
• Where to Play: Bizzo

In some respects, Thunder Eagle: Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 is the same as Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 and Ultimate Golden Dragon Inferno: Hold and Win. To begin with, it features a special bonus game that splits the screen into four parts, creating four grids with up to 10 reels and 6 rows.

This time, I also needed a minimum number of bonus symbols on the active reels to unlock the second, third, and fourth grids. The six bonus symbols that triggered the bonus game stayed in their positions, with multiplier values, and each new bonus symbol awarded a new round of re-spins.

I got lucky and unlocked all four grids after more than 20 spins, thanks to the frequent landing of bonus symbols. I filled out the first grid completely with bonus icons, and that’s when the magic happened. When a grid is entirely filled with bonus symbols with no empty boxes left, it boosts the multiplier values of all bonus symbols on all active reels.

I purchased the bonus game for A$100 and won about A$256. Booming Games is the developer behind this game, so it’s easy to see the similarities with Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000. However, I noticed one minor difference: improved base-game wins. I often won more than my current wager when 4 or more matching symbols linked up, which is why I set a slightly higher wager per spin this time: A$1, in an effort to secure better payouts.

• RTP: 95.74%
• Volatility: Medium-high
• Max Win: 5,000x
• Reels: 5
• Paylines: 5
• Where to Play: All Star Casino

Energy Joker: Hold and Win has a familiar vibe and look compared to some other slots I’ve listed here, but it stands out with those sweet multipliers in both the regular game and the ‘Hold and Win’ bonus round. Slots with accumulating multipliers and special Collect symbols usually offer some of the most satisfying payouts.

To get started, I wanted to dive into the main game, setting up about 150 auto-spins at A$0.60 each. That high volatility was immediately noticeable, within the first 20 spins. Base-game wins come around every 5–11 spins, but that shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing. Remember, high-volatility games pay out bigger wins, just less often.

When those wins did land, they were at least 2x my bet in most instances. Since there was no Buy Feature, I focused on chasing the bonus game the old-fashioned way: by hunting for six bonus symbols, or a mix of bonus and Collect symbols randomly. I hit the auto-spin button and let it run. I also activated Turbo Spin to try to speed up the path to the bonus game.

The waiting game started. Spin after spin, the game did its job, landing some solid payouts with those high-value joker symbols and bonus symbols. However, 50 spins in, I still couldn’t get the required number of bonus and Collect symbols.

I kept going, and finally, after nearly 100 spins, the desired symbols appeared. I started with 3 respins. The Hold and Win reels showed only Collect, bonus, and multiplier symbols, and granted 3 more respins every time one of these symbols landed.

The only downside to this otherwise fantastic pokie is the sporadic win frequency, despite the wins being above average. The returns were decent enough to keep me afloat and actually didn’t drain my budget, but I had to wait for the bonus game to make it worth the effort, and it was.