Every pokie spin feels simple – tap the button, watch the reels, hope to land a big win. But behind the lights and animations, pokies are driven by maths and software. Understanding how pokies work in Australia, including RTP, volatility and hit rate, helps players read game info screens properly and manage their bankroll more confidently.
This guide explains these concepts in plain English so you know what they really mean before choosing an online pokie.
All licensed online pokies use a Random Number Generator (RNG). The RNG is software that continuously generates random numbers every millisecond, even when no one is spinning.
This means each spin is independent. Pokies don’t remember past wins or losses, and there is no concept of a game being “due to pay”.
RTP (Return to Player) is a percentage that shows how much a pokie is expected to return to players over the long term.
Games with higher RTP are generally more player-friendly over time, but RTP alone does not describe how often wins occur.
Volatility describes how a pokie delivers its payouts. In simple terms, volatility affects how often you win, while RTP affects how much is returned over time.
Two games can share the same RTP but feel completely different depending on volatility.
Hit rate (or hit frequency) is the percentage of spins that return any payout, even a small one.
Hit rate and volatility are closely related. High-volatility games typically have lower hit rates.
These values shape the overall experience, not the outcome of a single session.
Generally yes, but volatility still affects how your session feels.
No. Licensed games use approved RTP settings.
Not guaranteed. It only affects payout distribution.