Video Pokies

Pokies make up the vast majority of casino games at Aussie sites. Despite being similar in gameplay, these games are varied, offering a myriad of different themes, in-game bonuses and mechanics, making them a lot of fun.

New pokies are also released almost daily, which means there’s a lot to consider when picking which to play. Discover some of the best Aussie pokies out there, as well as what to consider when playing pokies and the best bonus features to make use of.

Written by: Christofer Johansson

Last Updated: 24 August 2026

Features of Online Video Pokies at Casinos in AU

As we mentioned, video pokies are pokies with a ton of additional features. These are typically bigger and better than classic pokies, which tend to be limited. Below, we take a look at some of the more exciting features found in these games.

Wilds

This is one of the staples when it comes to video pokies. Wilds can replace other symbols on the reels, making this a solid bonus to have. If matching symbols aren’t touching on a payline, but a wild lands in between, this can create matching symbols and thus a win for you. Some games have taken the wild and boosted it too, offering walking, nudging, sticky or expanding wilds into their games, making it even more exciting as they offer additional benefits when they land.

Scatter

Alongside the wild, the scatter is the other most common in-game bonus for pokies. Typically, you need at least three to land on the paylines for this to award its bonus, which is typically to activate the free spins or re-spins. Some games, the scatter activates other bonus features as well, while others require at least six scatters for a game bonus to be triggered.

Cascading reels

Made popular by NetEnt, cascading reels have undergone a number of iterations depending on the provider. Also known as tumbling reels, falling reels or avalanche reels, this is where the winning symbols are removed from the grid, causing the remaining symbols to fall and fill up the gaps. This can result in repeated wins without you needing to spin the reels again. Typically, it will continue until no new matches are made.

Special symbols

Multipliers

Boosting payouts is one of the best ways to get a big win in a video pokie, and this is where multipliers come in handy. They can land at random on the reels or be part of a bonus game. Some games have them collect in an additional sidebar as you play, releasing them later on. However, they appear, multipliers can really make a difference between a small or big win.

Types of Video Pokies

Video pokies aren’t all the same, though they are different to classic pokies. In contrast to the three-reel classic games, video pokies have at least five reels, more paylines and a variety of different themes, bonuses and animations. On top of that, there are even different types of video pokies to consider, and we’ve outlined some of them here.

Megaways

The result of a game mechanic from Big Time Gaming, Megaways reels have taken the video pokie world by storm. They first appeared in 2016 and have since been incorporated into a wealth of different pokies since then. The Megaways engine means that the number of paylines in a slot can change on each spin. Impressively, this can result in hundreds of thousands of ways to win on a single spin, boosting the chance of getting a winning combination.

Cluster

Another innovative game mechanic revolving around the paylines, cluster pokies don’t have the symbols matching on a payline. Instead, you match the symbols in groups or clusters. You will need to match at least five, and they must be touching each other on the reels for it to count. This gives it a bit of a different gameplay and feel when compared to more traditional video pokies.

Bonus Buy

This type of video pokie lets you jump past the slow part of actually waiting for the bonuses to drop, and gives you the option to buy them directly. There’s a cost, though, and this is typically 50x to 100x your bet. However, jumping past the slow part to the bonus rounds where the big wins can be had, can often pay off.

Tips for Playing Video Pokies at Aussie Casinos

When you play a video pokie, there are some things you can consider to give yourself the best chance at a win. We’ve outlined some of these below.

Pick a high RTP pokie. This is because the return to player rate (RTP) indicates the theoretical win rate of a game. The higher the RTP is, the better your chances are of scoring a win. Pokies have a wide range of RTPs, so we recommend you choose a pokie with an RTP of at least 96%
Choose your volatility carefully. All pokies have different volatility levels and choosing the wrong one for your budget can really impact your gaming. Low volatility pokies pay out small amounts, but they are consistent and regular. High volatility on the other hand, pays out big, but the wins come infrequently. Consider your bankroll and what it can handle before choosing which pokie to play.
Utilise free spins. Finally, it’s a good idea to use any free spins to test out games. It’s a good way to see what you like in a pokie and what you don’t. You can also use free cash bonuses to test out pokies too, or use a match deposit bonus to boost your bankroll when playing online.

Playing Online Video Pokies

Video pokies come in all shapes and sizes, which make them a very fun casino game group to play. There are tons of different themes ranging from comedic or horror to mystical and movie-based. Additionally, all of these pokies come with huge variations in their in-game mechanics, which makes it easy to choose a different game each time.