Every pokies player in Australia has faced that moment: the reels spin, symbols land, and you are not entirely sure whether the result was a win worth celebrating or a near miss. The paytable is the answer sheet. It tells you exactly what each symbol pays, how many you need to line up, and which combinations trigger the game’s headline features. Learning to read it properly takes only a few minutes and can meaningfully change how you choose and play a machine. Check out additional details at Gamdom pokies.
Australian pokies, whether at a pub, club, or online casino, all follow the same basic logic. Symbols are ranked by rarity, and the rarer the symbol, the larger the payout. Understanding this hierarchy is the single most useful skill a player can develop.
Understanding Symbol Hierarchy and Payout Values
Paytables typically list symbols in descending order of value. At the top you will find the premium symbols, often themed characters, logos, or wilds. Below them sit the mid-tier icons, and at the bottom are the low-paying card symbols: 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A. A common structure sees the lowest card symbol pay around 5x your line bet for five of a kind, while the top symbol can pay 500x or more.
Wild symbols deserve special attention. In most games they substitute for all regular symbols to complete a winning line, and many machines also pay for five wilds on their own, often at the highest rate in the entire paytable. Some titles include expanding or sticky wilds that can cover an entire reel during free spins, dramatically increasing the number of winning combinations.
Scatter symbols are the other key category. They usually pay in any position rather than on a fixed payline, and landing three or more typically triggers free spins or a bonus round. The paytable will state exactly how many scatters are needed and what the trigger awards, sometimes with a multiplier attached.
- Premium symbols: highest payouts, rarest to land
- Mid-tier symbols: moderate payouts, more frequent
- Card symbols: lowest payouts, most common
- Wilds: substitute for others and often pay top rates
- Scatters: trigger bonuses, pay anywhere on the reels
Reading Paylines, Bet Sizes and Return to Player
The paytable also defines how wins are calculated. Payouts are usually expressed as a multiple of the line bet, not the total bet. If a symbol pays 20x and you are betting $0.50 per line across 25 lines, that win is $10, not $500. This distinction trips up plenty of players, so check whether the table shows credits, coins, or a direct currency figure in AUD.
Payline direction matters too. Most Australian pokies pay left to right only, starting from the leftmost reel. A few pay both ways, which doubles your chances but is reflected in slightly lower individual payouts. The paytable always states the direction clearly.
| Symbol Type | Typical 5-of-a-Kind Payout | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Top premium | 500x line bet | Very rare |
| Mid premium | 100x line bet | Rare |
| Card symbol | 5x line bet | Common |
| Wild | Up to 1,000x line bet | Very rare |
Finally, look for the Return to Player percentage, usually listed in the info or help screen rather than the paytable itself. Legally regulated Australian pokies must publish an RTP, and most land between 85% and 97%. A higher figure generally means better long-term value, though variance still determines short-term results.
Practical Tips Before You Spin
Open the paytable before placing a bet, not after. Confirm the wild and scatter behaviour, note the minimum symbols required for a win, and check whether the maximum bet unlocks any additional features. A couple of minutes of reading gives you a far clearer picture of what the machine actually offers, and that knowledge is worth more than any lucky charm.
