Finding the best online pokies for real money in Australia is often difficult. In 2025, the variety of options has reached such heights, both in quality and quantity, that it’s almost impossible for a regular bloke to grasp. Our team has been analysing the market for a while and wants to share our recommendations with all our fellow Aussies. Besides that, we invite you all to play online pokies for real money and for free on this very website. Enjoy!
You can’t play online pokies in Australia without finding a good online casino first, which is also quite a task! New online casinos are popping up daily, as you can guess, most of them aren’t worth a minute of your time. But old-timey casinos also aren’t always a go-to. Management changes, company policy changes, law changes – all of this can affect casinos drastically. Even the greatest casinos aren’t immune to deterioration. So, what are players supposed to do then? Well, you can do a deep search of the market and find the ideal online casino for you. Or you can just follow our advice and play pokies online at the casinos we’ve picked for you!
Pokiesurf, despite not being on the scene for a long time, has already cemented itself as one of the best casinos around. There are, of course, fair reasons for that. Pokiesurf has a huge gaming library with tons of pokies in Australia and other games, like table games and live casinos. The bonus system is well-balanced, there are enough bonuses for you to profit from, without becoming annoying. Cause let’s face it, a pop-up window with bonuses at every deposit just becomes tiring after a while. All transactions are smooth and fast, even the bank transfers! Security at Pokiesurf is also remarkable. There is SSL encryption in place and all the favourite games get through quality control from independent testers regularly. And of course, it’s licensed! We wouldn’t recommend an unlicensed online casino. So, in our humble opinion, Pokiesurf is worth checking out.
Now, let’s move on from the good to the not-so-good. We have a whole process of identifying the bad casinos. There are a lot of criteria an online casino should follow for it to become our recommended website. We don’t want to put anyone on blast, so, here are some of the indicators of a BSD online casino:
There are many more aspects to this issue, but you should be fine following at least these few.
New to this whole shtick? Ah, we get it, we all have been there. Pokies are also known as slots. Yes, the slots are like in the movies about Vegas. Except, we’re talking about online pokies, which are essentially digitized versions of this attraction. You do not need any special knowledge to play online pokies– there are no rules to follow and no guide guarantees the win. You simply set your bet amount, spin the reel and wait for the result. Once you hit the winning combination on the pay line – you win! Simple as that.
Online Pokies have gone a long way from the one-armed bandits of the past, elevating the gameplay and the looks. Online pokies for real money include a whole myriad of variations and types nowadays. Long gone are the days of simply pulling the lever. Now, even the classic slots have something more to them, some gimmick, that may appeal to the players. With that said, let’s move on to identifying the types of online pokies currently available on the market.
Today’s world isn’t really built for sitting around, is it? Whether you’re an active person, always on the move, never set in one place or just working a 9 to 5, we doubt that you’d like to spend hours confined to a chair in front of your PC in your spare time. It’s great if you do, though! Love that for you. But, for the rest of our raiders, there’s another way to enjoy online pokies – mobile pokies!
Mobile pokies are exactly what they sound like, these are online pokies you can play online pokies on your mobile device. Which pokies can you actually play, you ask? Pretty much all of them! Recently major gambling software providers made an effort to make their games accessible for both PC and mobile and 99.9% of all online pokies have been made available on mobile since then. Some casinos offer you a mobile version of their website, which you can access from any browser and some offer specific apps for their casinos. While websites don’t require much attention, we’d like to give a spotlight to mobile apps for different operating systems.
Android users are probably the luckiest when it comes to Pokies Australia apps and casino apps. Android allows for an easier download of apps, as well as an easier creation process. This resulted in many releases made with Android in mind. There are thousands of casino and pokies apps Android users can experience.
What iPhones lack in variety, they compensate in quality. Despite not having many games adapted into apps, the ones that do work on iOS have the best graphics. See, iOS devices have great screen quality and high processing power, which allows them to run pokies in Australia in the best quality possible, especially when compared with Android devices. There are ups and downs for both!
Online pokies for real money are not without fault and it would be unfair to deny it. Players need to make their own informed decisions about games on their own. Here’s a comparative table that shows the ups and downs of online gambling.
With the amount of games on the market, it’s only logical to start asking yourself about the specifics. You don’t want to spend your limited free time being miserable, just because you chose a game that doesn’t suit you. But where do you even start? Well, allow us to help. Here we’ve created a short questionnaire that will help you to decide what type of game will be the best pokies for you. See the quiz below:
Ready? The results are in! If you chose A two or more times, then you’d thrive playing high volatility, high RTP slots and progressive jackpots. The thrill, the big wins, the fast-paced gameplay – you’ll love it!
If you chose B two or more times, then 5 and 7 reel slots and video slots are the best pokies for you. You can also play non-progressive jackpots if you want to spice things up a bit.
If you chose C two or more times, then it’s better to choose some video slots and classic slots. Just a calm, relaxing gambling, with not much risk to your wallet.
The time of simply spinning the reels is long gone and today’s games endlessly compete for excitement, adding more and more to the base game. This leads to games having many features, in an attempt to spice up the gameplay. But for the new Australian pokies players, all these scatters and wilds can come across as confusing. So, here’s a table that explains all the different features pokies Australia may have.
Feature |
Explanation |
---|---|
Autoplay |
Autoplay allows for a player to simply sit back and watch, while the slots play themselves. Set a bet size and then the slot game will do the rest for you. |
Bonus Rounds |
Bonus rounds are added to diversify the regular gameplay. Once you hit the right combination or get a scatter symbol, you are transported to a separate mini-game, where you can win extra credits, free spins, multipliers or even jackpots! |
Cascading reels |
A dynamic feature, that removes the winning symbols from the real and replaces them with new ones, falling from above, adding a possibility to win several times in a row. |
Expanding symbols |
Once an expanding symbol is placed on a reel, it covers multiple positions close to it, making it more possible for a winning combination to appear. |
Free Spin |
Unlike the free spins bonus offered by a casino, free spins in-game only appear if a certain symbol combination appears. This awards the player a predetermined amount of spins to use in-game. |
Multipliers |
Often combined with other features like free spins, multipliers boost your winnings once you activate the right combination. Multipliers can substantially boost your winnings. |
Scatter Symbols |
These special symbols trigger bonus rounds, free spins and even interactive mini-games! Scatters can appear anywhere, unlocking the feature right away! |
Wild symbols |
Wild symbols can transform into any other symbol on the board, increasing your potential for the win. There is a variety of Wilds, like sticky wilds that stay in place for several spins or expanding wilds that can cover a whole reel. |
Most of the features require a combination to activate. We recommend looking up the combinations before starting playing online pokies, they’re usually all stated in the information menu of the slot you’ve picked.
You probably have your own definition of the best pokie game. Your preferences are as valid as anyone else. That said, some slots are just subjectively the best for their genre. Here we’ve compiled a list of top pokies in Australia in their own separate categories.
All of these slots are the best in their own category of slots. If you want to test a new kind of pokies, that you haven’t played before – test one of these bad boys out!
Now, if you’re in it to win it, there’s no better way to do it, than playing online pokies with high RTP. RTP indicates the percentage of money returned to Australian players on average. The higher the RTP – the bigger your chances to win something substantial. So, here are our top high RTP pokies picks for you :*High RTP does not guarantee a win right away. This is a percentage on average and it only means that most players get their money back. So, don’t get discouraged if they don’t work out right away.
Ever Wondered why Pokies are named this way? It’s really simple, actually. The first ever fully functional slot Machine was introduced in 1963 in Chicago. It was called “Money Honey”, a truly revolutionary invention of that time. It quickly became popular in casinos around San Francisco and Las Vegas, starting a new era of casino gambling. However, when these machines came to Australia, they were often grouped with other casino games, specifically poker tables. So, they became known as “Poker machines”, which later turned into “Pokies”, the same way barbeque was turned into Barbie.
It was 1996 when everything changed. This year, “Cash Splash”, the first ever online pokie was invented by Microgaming. Since then, there have been so many developments in the industry that it’s almost impossible to navigate anymore. Nowadays, land-based casinos in Australia are still up and running, but more and more people started to prefer playing online casino games from home, thanks to the availability of the internet.
If you’ve never played before, that’s fine! We’re happy to walk you through this process. There’s nothing to sweat about, we promise.
First, you need to find a casino website that fits you. For the sake of brevity, let’s say you’ve chosen our top pick – Pokiesurf. There you can click the “Sign up” button and follow the instructions on the screen to create an account. Afterwards, in your profile, you’ll have to choose your preferred payment method (bank transfer, e wallets, pre-paid card etc.) and make a deposit.
Now that you’re loaded with cash, you can pick a game to play. Choose any that you like from our recommended list or simply follow your heart! You can try it out beforehand or jump right into action!
Once you’re in, click the information button on the screen or at the menu and read about the symbols, combinations and multipliers in that particular game. That can help you to build a strategy and lead a more informed game.
Adjust your bet size at the menu or on the main screen. Afterwards, you can start playing online pokies in Australia!
Once the reels stop, you’ll see what you won. It may take some time to win something great, so don’t give up after a few failures!
When you’re looking for a good slot to play, the first thing to look for is good software providers. Companies with good reputations rarely produce anything subpar, so you won’t have to look up specific games to learn whether they’re worth it. You can simply look at the provider and proceed!
Microgaming is the grandparent of all the different online slots. We’ve already mentioned it, but they were the first developers to come up with online slots. They’ve made history and continue to stay on top of the casino game even 30 years later.
If you paid attention, you might have noticed that many top games on our lists of recommendations are made by NetEnt. They’re pros in creating high-paying internet pokies, with stellar graphics. Definitely give this Scandinavian company a try!
Games by Play’N GO would surprise you with their quality. They’ve been leading the charts for a while now, with iconic titles like Book of Dead, Reactoonz and Moon Princess. One cool unrelated fact is that Play’n Go are also an official partner of Formula 1!
Starting from 2011, Btg has been climbing up the ranks of gambling software developers like a pro athlete. From the start, they were set to revolutionize the scene and did so in 2016, when they first introduced ground-breaking mechanics of Megaways slots!
Are there any patriots here? Cause Aristocrat is an authentically Australian company, founded in Sydney! According to their website, they’ve been running their gambling business since the 1950s and were one of the first companies to introduce a 5-reel slot machine back in 1979! If there’s anyone who’s qualified in Aussie pokies – that’s Aristocrat.
Thinking about having a night of gambling, but not sure whether to go out or stay in? That’s valid! Both gambling at a casino and at home have their own downsides and benefits. Each deserves their time of day. But, we personally believe online gambling to be objectively superior. Why? Let’s see below:
Besides all that, not everyone can allow themselves to go to a casino. For many people, this is an image-crushing hobby that may affect their work and livelihood. And even for people without this concern, online gambling is still way more convenient, excluding the time spent on the commute, the money spent on gas, food and drinks and the need to uphold appearances. While fun, land-based casino gambling is simply more bothersome.
Let us preface everything said here with a simple fact: There’s nothing you can do that will guarantee you win. All the casino games are games of chance and, therefore are completely random and unpredictable. The tips we offer are here only to make your time playing online more efficient and structured.
Don’t jump into games blind. Try them beforehand! It’s simply annoying to jump into playing only to realise you hate the gameplay. Just save yourself the hassle. You can also use some no-deposit bonus Australia or even use your free spins to play, if you’re unsure of the slot you’ve picked, but don't want to waste time playing online pokies without stakes.
Playtable is a list of different combinations you can get in the game and what they do in the game. It’s better to learn everything beforehand, that way you’ll be prepared for what the game throws your way.
The House always wins. That’s a tale as old as time. It is true that even the best online casinos have an advantage over their players. The term used to describe this is the “House Edge”. The edge is usually pretty low at modern online casinos, but you still need to pay attention. Look up the game’s RTP beforehand to see how much you can actually hope to make out of the game.
It’s vital to limit yourself. Some people work better with time limits, some only allow a specific amount of spins to be played before stopping and some have a monetary limit. Any limit is good, as long as you have a way of checking yourself.
Another minor suggestion would be to try out classic slots. Many people overlook them as they’re on a less exciting part of the casino gamers' spectrum. But if you want to make your time’s worth – there’s probably nothing better than classic slots.
Online casinos offer a huge range of bonuses to their players. It’s a way to promote the website and its offers, which is mutually beneficial to both players and the casino itself Here’s a list of the most popular and often used bonuses in the online casino sphere:
Well-structured pokies casino bonus system usually indicates a good level of service and reliability for the online venue. It’s also important to note, that the bonus features you should pay the most attention to is the Welcome bonus offer, as it is often the most beneficial for players, serving as a first kind gesture from the casino to entice players to stay. Most bonuses only activate after depositing a minimum deposit into your account. The minimum deposit for different bonuses may vary.
Real Money pokies games is the term used for all slot games that you can play with money. The games themselves need a deposit to activate, as you will need to bet a set amount of money for the reels to spin. Almost all Aussie pokies are real money pokies, with the addition that in some cases your money would first be transformed into coins or tokens to play with.
Free Pokies, in opposition to real money pokies do not need the player to make a deposit before playing the game. Most, if not all online pokies in Australia have an option to opt out of playing, by loading up a demo mode. However, Aussie pokies games exist that have no option for money deposit.
It’s a matter of personal taste, really. If you’re in for a nice calming time, where free online pokies and imaginary prizes – go for it! It’s a really nice way to spend your time with no harm to yourself or your wallet. It is, admittedly less exciting, but hey, to each their own! Choosing to play for Real Money is also a fine option. The risk rises immediately as you place a real money bet, making the game way more thrilling. Additionally, you may even get more money than you started with! Just the very possibility of winning money can be a dealbreaker for some people.