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Pokies guide

How to win on pokies: what actually changes your results

There's no trick for how to win on pokies, and anyone selling one is selling something. What you can control is how much a session costs, how long it lasts and when you walk away. This guide sorts the levers that work from the ones that don't.

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What you control

And what you don't
Which spin wins
Nobody: the random number generator
Which game you play
Yours to choose: volatility and features differ
Stake per spin
Yours to choose: sets the cost per hour
Pace and session length
Yours to choose
When you stop
Yours to choose: set it before you start

Each spin's result is set by the game's random number generator the moment you press spin. Everything else in this panel is your call.

The honest answer: no pattern beats the RNG

Every online pokie decides its result the moment you press spin, using a random number generator. The reels, the sounds and the near-misses are the presentation of a result that's already settled. That has three plain consequences:

  • No sequence of bets, stops or spins makes the next result more likely to pay.
  • No game "owes" you anything after a quiet run, and none is "used up" after a big win.
  • Over enough spins, every pokie returns a little less than you put in. That margin is how the game is built.

So "winning" at pokies can only mean two things: getting lucky in a given session, and keeping the cost of the sessions where you don't. The second part is where your decisions count. If you'd like the mechanics first, our guide to how pokies work explains the RNG, RTP and volatility in detail.

Match volatility to your budget

Fair Go puts the average return of its pokies at around 97% Operator claim, across the whole library. It doesn't publish per-game figures, so two pokies can't be told apart on return. They can be told apart on volatility, which is how that return is spread out:

  • Low volatility pays small amounts often, so a budget drains slowly and evenly. Fair Go rates Dr. Winmore low.
  • Medium volatility mixes regular small wins with occasional bigger ones. Fair Go rates Kev's Bush Bonanza medium.
  • High volatility can go dozens of spins with little, then pay big. Fair Go rates Devil's Jackpot high.

The practical rule: the smaller your budget, the lower the volatility you want, so the session lasts long enough to be fun. A high-volatility game on a small budget usually means a short session, and that's the expected outcome, not bad luck.

Bet size vs session length: pure arithmetic

Your stake doesn't change the odds of a spin, but it sets how fast money moves. Take a $100 budget:

  • Spins if every one lost, at $1100
  • Spins if every one lost, at $0.20500
  • 500 spins at $1: total staked$500
  • 500 spins at $0.20: total staked$100
  • Average cost of 500 spins at $1 (at ~97%)$15
  • Average cost of 500 spins at $0.20$3

Wins come back into the balance and get staked again, so a session usually runs well past the first line. But the last two lines are the point: at five times the stake you pay, on average, five times as much for the same number of spins. Lower stakes buy more time, and time is what you're paying for.

If you're playing with a bonus, Fair Go also caps each bet at $10 while you wager it, and bigger bets can void the winnings.

Jackpots: does bet size matter?

Sometimes. Some jackpot pokies pay the top prize only on a maximum bet, and some raise your chance as you raise the stake. Others let any bet qualify. For Aztec's Millions, Fair Go says its progressive jackpot is "winnable at any bet level". For its other jackpot pokies, Fair Go doesn't publish the rule, so read the game's paytable before you assume anything.

Either way, a jackpot is a long shot by design. Raising your stake past your budget to "qualify" turns a small chance into an expensive one. Our jackpot pokies page lists what Fair Go publishes for each game.

Myths that cost money

These beliefs are common, and each one costs real money because it changes how people bet:

  • "This game is due." A long run without a feature doesn't bring one closer. Chasing a "due" game is how a session's budget becomes two.
  • "Avoid a machine that's paid out recently." The next spin on it has exactly the same chance as any other spin.
  • "Late night (or payday) pays better." The random number generator doesn't know the time or the date.
  • "That near miss means it's close." Two jackpot symbols and a third just off the line is a losing spin that looks exciting. It says nothing about the next one.
  • "Switching games resets my luck." Every spin on every game is independent, so moving around changes nothing except the volatility you're playing.

Set a win limit and a loss limit

The one strategy that reliably protects you is deciding, before the first spin, when you'll stop:

  • A loss limit: the amount you're prepared to spend. When it's gone, the session's over, with no top-ups.
  • A win limit: a point where you bank the result. If your balance doubles, say, cash out at least the original amount.
  • A time limit: pokies are fast, so put a clock on it. Phone screen-time settings can lock your browser.

Help is free, confidential and open 24/7. In Australia, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. In New Zealand, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655. More options are on our responsible gambling page.

Pokies with a published volatility rating

Fair Go rates three pokies for volatility: Dr. Winmore (low), Kev's Bush Bonanza (medium) and Devil's Jackpot (high). Aztec's Millions is the jackpot game Fair Go says any bet can win.

How to win on pokies: FAQ

Is there a trick to winning on pokies?
No. Each spin's result comes from a random number generator, and no betting pattern, stop button or timing changes it. What you can control is your stake, your pace and when you stop.
Are there better times to play pokies?
No. Online pokies don't pay more at night, on weekends or on paydays. The random number generator produces the same odds at any hour.
Do bigger bets win more?
Bigger bets win bigger amounts, not more often. On most pokies the chance of a win is the same at any stake, and the average cost rises in step with the bet. Some jackpot games have bet-size rules, which the paytable states.
Which Fair Go games have the best published odds?
Fair Go doesn't publish an RTP for individual pokies, only an average of around 97%. Its best published figures are in video poker: 99.78% for Aces and Eights and 99.54% for full-pay Jacks or Better, both Fair Go's own figures, assuming perfect play.
When should I stop playing?
At the limit you set before you started, whichever comes first: your loss limit, your win limit or your time. Stop straight away if you're chasing losses or playing with money meant for something else, and talk to a free help line if that keeps happening.

Facts checked 8 October 2026 · page updated 9 October 2026