How to play online pokies

Online pokies provide both instant thrills and huge potential wins. Read this expert guide covering slot basics, popular pokies and how to play to help you get started at real money casinos.

How to play pokies online

Understanding how online pokies work is essential to maximising your gaming experience. Check out our simple step-by-step guide on how to play pokies and win:

  1. 1

    Visit your chosen online casino and sign in or register an account if you haven’t done so already.

  2. 2

    Browse the games lobby for a pokie that suits your taste and budget. You can check the betting limits by opening the slot’s in-game menu and referring to the paytable.

  3. 3

    Choose whether to play for free in demo mode or wager real cash – you must deposit funds into your account to play for real money. 

  4. 4

    Set your preferred wager amount and how many paylines you wish to play.

  5. 5

    Hit ‘Spin’ to activate the reels! If you’re lucky enough to form a winning combination, you can decide whether to cash out your winnings or re-spin and continue playing.

How online pokies work

You can play thousands of slots online, each with different themes, game mechanics and bonuses. Most pokies have fixed game grids, typically a 5x3 format, and will display various symbols on the reels. After you hit ‘Spin’, the reels rotate to reveal whether you’ve landed a winning combination. Depending on their rarity, matching several of the same symbols can result in some huge payouts.

When playing online pokies, it’s impossible to influence the game’s result, as slots use random number generators (RNG) to ensure the outcome of each spin is entirely random. The RNG guarantees fair gaming and is also part of what makes playing online pokies fun and exciting.

Must-know pokie terms

When learning how to play pokies in NZ, understanding common slot terminology beforehand can enhance your play. Get to know slot lingo with this definitive guide on common words and phrases:

Slot termDefinition
AutoplayA function that allows you to automatically spin the reels without pressing the ‘Spin’ button. Autoplay typically runs for a set number of spins and requires you to select your bet size beforehand.
Bonus featureA specific game mechanic that can potentially increase your payout, such as free spins, multiplier, wilds and scatters.
Free spinsA game mechanic that lets you spin the reels without placing a bet.
PaylinesThe invisible ‘lines’ in a pokie game in which symbols must line up to result in a win and a payout.
PaytableA table that displays essential information about a game, including the number of paylines, symbols, and possible winning sequences.
Progressive jackpotAn ever-increasing prize pool that grows as players wager on that slot until it is won. When a player wins the jackpot, the ‘pool’ will reset and begin building again.
ReelsThe vertical columns on the slot grid which spin to reveal whether matching symbols have landed on a payline.
Return to player (RTP)The theoretical payout rate on a slot game that indicates how much a player can expect to win on average when playing.
VolatilityA measure of how frequently a pokie pays out and the payout size.

Top 5 tips on how to play pokies for beginners

Want to learn how to play slots like a pro? Here are our expert beginner-friendly tips to set you off on the right track:

  1. 1

    Study the paytable to get to grips with how to play online casino slots before placing real money bets. You’ll find information on RTP, symbols, paylines, and more here.

  2. 2

    Play online pokies for free in demo mode to familiarise yourself with gameplay before wagering real cash.

  3. 3

    Look for games with high RTPs, which refers to the amount of money you can expect to win on average when playing an online pokie over a long period.

  4. 4

    Start by wagering small amounts to gauge the size and frequency of your wins before increasing your bets.

  5. 5

    Though pokies are exciting, always stick to your budget and practise responsible gambling. You should never wager more than you can afford to lose.

Types of online pokies

You’ll likely encounter many pokie types when learning to play online slots for real money. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular variations available at the top New Zealand real money online casinos:

Classic slots

Classic slots are your best bet when first learning how to play pokie machines due to their simplicity. Typically comprising fewer reels and paylines, they are an excellent option for beginners and enthusiasts who enjoy straightforward gameplay and nostalgic designs.

Discover our top three classic pokie picks:

  • Couch Potato (Games Global)

  • Cleopatra (IGT)

  • Mega Joker (NetEnt)

Video slots

Video slots are more immersive than classic pokies, making them popular at NZ online casinos. They provide a more interactive and exciting gaming experience through in-game bonuses, gamble features and adjustable paylines.

You’ll find video slots covering various themes, ranging from Irish luck to Ancient Egypt – no genre is too outlandish! These pokies are ideal if you enjoy engaging storylines, premium graphics, and memorable soundtracks.

Discover our top three video pokie picks:

  • Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt)

  • Reel Rush (NetEnt)

  • Book of Dead (Play’n GO)

Progressive jackpots

Progressive jackpots use a different mechanic to online pokies. There are two types: standalone and networked progressive jackpots. Standalone progressives accumulate a prize pool from bets placed on that particular game, whereas network progressives collect wagers from linked online slot machines.

Network progressives tend to have the biggest jackpots. One of the most popular progressive jackpot networks, Mega Moolah, has awarded eight-figure payouts multiple times. There have been five winners in NZ in the last five years, with one player taking a jaw-dropping $13,615,861 home in 2020!

Discover our top three progressive jackpot picks:

  • Mega Moolah (Games Global)

  • Hall of Gods (NetEnt)

  • Jackpot Giant (Playtech)

Penny slots

Penny slots are some of the most budget-friendly pokies on the market. If you’re a casino newbie or budget bettor, penny pokies offer great value gaming, as you can spin the reels for as little as $0.01. Even though they’re more affordable, these slots are still entertaining and boast similar features to video slots.

Discover our top three penny pokie picks:

  • Buffalo (Aristocrat)

  • Golden Goddess (IGT)

  • Blaze of Ra (Push Gaming)

Megaways slots

The Megaways reel modifier mechanic was pioneered by leading software developer Big Time Gaming. These fun and complex pokies typically feature six reels, but as the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly from spin to spin, there are more ways to win. You can find Megaways titles that offer up to 470,596 ways to win on every spin!

Discover our top three Megaways picks:

  • Monopoly Megaways (Big Time Gaming)

  • Rainbow Riches Megaways (Barcrest)

  • Legacy of Ra Megaways (Blueprint Gaming)

Slot symbols explained

As you learn how to play slots and win, you’ll realise that pokie symbols produce different rewards depending on the type. Familiarise yourself with the most common symbols and what they indicate below:

Standard symbols

These symbols usually comprise icons like fruits, BARs, bells and card numbers. They often feature in traditional slot games like Mega Joker and are sometimes used as low-paying symbols in video pokies.

Wild symbols

Wilds can substitute for any other symbol on the grid (except the scatter) to boost your chances of landing a winning combination. They are often the highest-paying symbols in slot games and can multiply your winnings considerably.

Scatter symbols

Scatters can trigger bonus features, multiply your winnings, and even substitute for a wild, depending on the pokie. Refer to your chosen slot’s paytable to learn how the scatter symbol functions for that game.

Bonus symbols

You’ll want to take advantage of bonus symbols when learning how to play slot machines, as they can help deliver big wins. If you land three or more symbols on an active payline, you’ll trigger a bonus game and unlock features such as free spins, boosters and spin-the-wheel-type prizes.

Multiplier symbols

These exciting symbols multiply your winnings by a set amount to increase your payout. Some of the best online pokies in New Zealand offer multipliers of over 100,000x, like Bonanza Megaways and Dead or Alive 2.

Playing pokies online vs. at land-based casinos

Though there are many advantages of playing online pokies over slot machines at brick-and-mortar casinos, here are a few pros and cons to help you weigh up your options:

ProsCons

✅ Playing online is more accessible and convenient

❌ Can be more addictive and lead to unhealthy gambling habits

✅ Chance to claim generous casino bonuses and promotions

❌ Less of a social gaming atmosphere

✅ Bigger game selection

❌ Need to register an account to play at online casinos

✅ More flexible stakes and higher payouts

✅ Can play on the move at mobile casinos

Gamble responsibly

Learning how to play slots online and spin the reels can be exciting, but it’s also important to maintain healthy gambling habits. Our top-rated real money online casinos in NZ have strict responsible gambling policies to protect players.

You can access problem gambling resources and self-help tools such as limit-setting and time-outs at all our recommended sites. If you, a friend, or a family member need professional support, these organisations offer a wide range of services:

Safer Gambling

  • Freephone: 0800 654 655

  • Free text: 8006

Problem Gambling Foundation

The Salvation Army Oasis

  • Free phone: 0800 530 000

Check out more pokie guides

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Courtney Payne-Audsley
Courtney Payne-Audsley
Verified expert
Global content writer

Courtney has an extensive background in creative and commercial writing across numerous iGaming verticals. As a self-professed lover of pokies, Courtney is passionate about the casino and gambling industries. While her writing covers a wide range of topics, slots and bonuses are arguably her favourite gambling subjects.

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