Glossary of Pokies Terms

Pokies terms
Pokies terms

Pokies terms or pokies terminology is important to understand when you play pokies games at online casinos. Each pokies games or casino pokies or poker games have their own terms. There are different video pokies games to play at online casinos.

  1. 3 reels or 5 reels: 3 reels are classic pokies to play. The reels are what the symbols are placed on, and they spin round each time you press the start button. 5 reels are the modern video pokies games with 5 reels.
  2. Paylines: Paylines are the lines which when made right combinations allow you to make win line. You had to line up matching symbols on this one line to win. Now, you can bet on multiple paylines that form intricate patterns across the reels. You can quickly find hundreds of ways to win on any given spin.
  3. Auto spin: Auto spin is almost found in all of the pokies games. With this feature you can automatically spin the reels.  All you know is to press start button and then press auto spin, select how many spins you wish to automate and sit back, relax, and let the machine do all the “hard work” for you.
  4. Bet Max: Pokies terms like “bet max” refer to the maximum wager you are allowed on any spin.
  5. Bet Min: Pokies terms like Bet Min is the minimum bet requirement.
  6. Bonus features: Pokies now have extra symbols like wilds, scatters, and free spins that can prompt the start of a bonus game. It adds to the excitement and gives you different chances of winning.
  7. Cascading reels: An exciting feature whereby the symbols on a winning line disappear and the reels above drop replacement symbols, which can also create a winning line, all from the same spin.
  8. Expanding Wilds: When a wild symbol drops, it might expand to cover the whole reel, widening your chance of a win.
  9. Fruit pokies: Fruit machine is the name for the pokies games that featured tasty symbols like melons, cherries, lemons, and pears. 
  10. High or Low Variance pokies: Low variance pokies  pay out less but more often. High variance pokies pay out fewer times, but the prizes are generally higher.
  11. Hot and Cold pokies: If a pokies game is currently paying out a lot, it is called hot. But if a game has been quiet for a while, it is cold.
  12. Jackpot: Some pokies keep a percentage of every wager and add it to a progressive jackpot. When it eventually hits, the lucky player wins the lot, sometimes millions of dollars.
  13. Mobile Pokies: These are pokies games that smart techie people have optimized to work perfectly on your mobile or tablet device.
  14. Multiplier: This is a bonus feature whereby your winnings can be multiplied by as much as ten times.
  15. Nudge pokies: Not so popular these days, but nudge pokies allowed the player to press a button to nudge the reels down one at a time. You only had a set number of nudges to get it right and win a prize.
  16. Return to Player: Return to player is a  percentage figure showing how much cash the pokies game pays back. For example, the Gonzo’s Quest pokies has an RTP of 96%, meaning you would get back $96 for every $100 bet. 
  17. Paytable: The paytable that explains what you can win for various symbol combinations or bonus rounds.
  18. Rows: Rows are the number of horizontal lines on the pokies (as opposed to reels).
  19. Pokies tournaments: Pokies tournaments are available at both online or land casinos where players play the same pokies game to see who wins the most cash. 
  20. One Armed Bandit– The one armed bandit is a pokies players slang for a pokies machine.

Glossary of Pokies Terms

Pokies Terms
Pokies Symbols

Following are the glossary of pokies terms as given in the world casino directory:

  • Action– Pokies action refers to all of the pokies machine playing time accumulated by a pokiess gambler. This information is generally kept track of on the players pokies club card offered by most casinos.
  • Annuity Winner– Some pokies machine jackpots are offered in installments over a number of years. The winnings may be collected in one lump sum but there is usually a significant tax when this is done.
  • Basic Pokies– Basic pokies, or straight pokies are pokies machines that have only one single payline and a static jackpot or a jackpot amount that does not change as progressive jackpots do.
  • Bet One– Bet one means that the pokies player only bets one unit or credit per spin of the pokies machine.
  • Betting Units– Betting units are the units used to wager. The value of the betting units is determined by the denomination pokies machine that you are playing. Betting units are the same as credits.
  • Big Hit– Big hit is a pokies reference to hitting the jackpot combination on the pokies.
  • Bonus Feature– Bonus features are offered on many pokies machines in casinos today. Bonus features include wild cards or symbols and free spins.
  • Bonus Multiplier Pokies – Bonus multiplier pokies are pokies machines offering larger jackpots to entice players to bet the maximum number of credits.
  • Carousel– A carousel is a group or bank of pokies machines, usually of a common denomination of betting units, like dollar pokies or nickel pokies.
  • Cashback– Cashback in pokies is a reference to rewards or comps given to pokies club card players.
  • Certified Pokies– Certified pokies are those pokies machines that casinos guarantee have a payout of 98%-100%. These pokies are usually very well marked as such.
Coin dispenser in slot machine
Coin dispenser in pokies machine
  • Coin In / Coin Out– Coin in and coin out refer to the number of credits or units both played and paid out. Coin in are the number of units played and coin out are the number of units won.
  • Coins– Coins for pokies come in many denominations from a penny to five dollars or more.
  • Coin Size– There are some pokies machines that allow the player to vary the amount of money they want to wager in increments of. These machines can be penny pokies all the way up to five dollar pokies.
  • Collect– Collect is usually a button or option on the pokies machine that enables the pokiess player to convert their credits into cash.
  • Comps– Pokies players who are members of the pokies clubs in casinos are generally rewarded with free rooms, meals and other gifts for the amount of pokies machine playing they do.
  • Credits– Credits are what the coins are converted to once they are in the machine. For example, on a nickel pokies machine, when a dollar is inserted into the machine, the player will then have twenty credits on that machine.
  • Denomination– Denomination is the value of each credit played on a particular pokies machine. Dollar pokies are one dollar denomination pokies.
  • Doubles– Doubles (also triples) are usually references to symbols on the pokies machines that when they come up two or three at a time, double or triple the winning amount is won.
  • Fixed Value Pokies– Fixed value pokies are pokies machines where the betting amount and coin size cannot be altered. These pokies machines are one denomination, one coin per spin.
  • Five Liner– A five liner is a pokies machine that contains three reels where players can win on up to five payout lines. There are two diagonal payout lines as well as three horizontal payout lines on a five liner.
Tiki-Torch-free-spins-bonus
Tiki-Torch-free-spins-bonus
  • Free Spin– Free spins are usually offered as a bonus feature on bonus pokies machines.
  • Games Per Hour– On average, pokies players can play about five hundred games per hour on a standard coin operated pokies machine. Depending on the style of pokies machine and the player, the games per hour can fluctuate.
  • Hammer A Machine– To hammer a machine is pokies player slang for playing the same pokies for a long period of time, usually in an attempt to win a large progressive jackpot.
  • Hit and Run– Hit and run refers to a pokies player that plays a single payline pokies at max credit bets for only a few spins, moving on to another pokies machine if it doesn’t payout any credits.
  • Hit Frequency– The hit frequency of a pokies machine is a reference to how often a particular pokies machine pays out on average. The lower the number the better, as a pokies machine with a hit frequency of 3 can be expected to payout on average, one out of three spins.
  • Hold Percentage– Hold percentage is a term referring to how much of a players money the casino keeps. As an example, a 99% pokies machine keeps one dollar while returning ninety-nine dollars back to the player.
  • Instant Winner– An instant winner is an on the spot jackpot rather than an annuity jackpot where the jackpot is paid out over a number of years.
Lightening Link Jackpot Games
Lightning Link Jackpots

About Lightning Link Pokies

  • Jackpot- A pokies terms that is very popular that is jackpot. It is the top prize a pokies machine can payout.
  • Line Bet– A line bet refers to the activated paylines on multiple payline pokies machines. Usually max bets must be played to activate all the paylines on these kinds of pokies machines.
  • Linked Progressive Jackpot– A linked progressive jackpot or wide area progressive is two or more pokies machines whose progressive jackpots are linked.
  • Loose Pokies-Loose pokies is a reference that refers to how often a particular pokies machine pays out. A loose pokies machine can be expected to win more often than a tight pokies machine.
  • Multi-line Bonus Pokies Machine– A multi-line bonus pokies machines are pokies that offer more than one payline. Some multi-line bonus pokies have as many as fifty paylines.
  • Multiplier– Multiplier refers to a bonus pokies machine feature where payouts can be multiplied up to ten times on a bonus win.
  • Payback Percentage– Payback percentage is a reference to the amount of money a pokies terms means should return to pokies players over a period of time.
  • Payout– The payout is the amount won for a winning combination on the pokies machine.
  • Primary Jackpot– The primary jackpot is the highest payout prize that a player can win on a particular pokies machine.
  • Progressive Pokies – Progressive pokies have a jackpot that continues to grow until it is won.
  • Reel Stop– A reel stop is one single position on the reel of the pokies machine.
  • Reels– The reels are the disks that spin inside the pokies machine window with the symbols on them. By matching the appropriate symbols, pokies players can win money.
RNG of Games at casinos
RNG of Games at casinos
  • RNG or Random Number Generator– The random number generator is another famous pokies terms which is a computer program that selects the pokies machine results at random from all the possible sequences.
  • Scatter Pay- Pokies machines with the scatter pay bonus feature have specific symbols on the reels that payout no matter what other symbols are with it.
  • Select Lines– Select lines are the number of paylines selected on the pokies machine.
  • Short Win– A short win is pokies terms used when a player hits a large jackpot with very little playing.
  • Signature Pokies– Signature pokies are the casinos own brand of pokies machines.
  • Pokies Club – Pokies clubs are member programs that casinos offer to pokies players where prizes and rewards are offered in exchange for playing the pokies. The more you play, the more comps you receive.
  • Pokies Host– The pokies host is an employee at the casino who is there to assist in serving customers as well as handling pokies club member issues.
  • Pokies Schedule– The pokies schedule or pay table is the winning payout combinations and their payout amounts posted usually on the front of the pokies machine.
  • Pokies Talk– Pokies talk is pokies player slang for the trading of pokies information between players and pokies hosts.
  • Pokies Testing- Pokies testing is a reference to a form of player evaluation of a pokies machine where the player will play an entire roll of coins to determine the ratio or percent of payout for that machine.
  • Pokies Drop– Pokies drop refers to the amount of money played through a pokies machine.
  • Pokies Hold– Pokies hold refers to the amount of money that a pokies machine does not pay back as wins.
  • Spin-The spin button or pulling the lever on the side of the pokies machine activates the spinning of the reels to determine if you won or not.
  • Symbols– Symbols are the different illustrations on the various pokies machine reels. These symbols include cherries and dollar signs as well as sevens and money bags. There are many different symbols on pokies machine reels today.
Ticket in Ticket out machines
Ticket in Ticket out machines
  • TITO : Ticket In / Ticket Out– TITO pokies machines will print a ticket with the winning amount on it when players cash out a machine. The player can then insert that ticket into another machine and play with it there.
  • Total Bet– The total bet pokies terms is the number of credits played on a machine at one time.
  • Two Liner– A two liner is a reference to a pokies machine that has two reels where players line up three symbols and win, but line up six symbols and win double the original win.
  • Up / Down Pokies Cycle– The payout percent of a pokies machine fluctuates at any given time because the average payout percent is calculated over a long period of time. The up / down pokies cycle refers to the fluctuations that occur during that period of time.
  • Virtual Reel– Virtual reel technology is what enables the RNG (random number generator) to randomly select more non winning combinations than winning combinations without having to add extra reels or larger reels. In effect, the odds of winning had to be decreased in order to offer larger jackpots and the virtual reel was the solution that the pokies machine developers came up with.
  • Wager Management– Wager management is a method of managing your pokies playing bankroll. Breaking your gaming bankroll into smaller amounts for a specified number of gaming sessions and cashing out while your ahead.
  • WAP or Wide Area Progressive– Wide area progressives are pokies terms use for pokies machines that are located in different casinos that have the progressive jackpot linked together. As players play these pokies machines in the different locations, the jackpot increases in each machine.
  • Wild Symbol Pokies- Wild symbol pokies have wild symbols that will substitute for winning symbols in the event that they land in their place.

Aristocrat pokies terms can be found here

Keno pokies terms

Keno Game At Online Casinos
Keno Game At Online Casinos

Following are the Keno pokies terms used when you play keno games

  • Aggregate Limit: The total amount of money liability a casino has during any one game of Keno.
  • Balls: Used in Keno to pick the winning numbers on a given game. They are numbered 1-80.
  • Bankroll: The amount of money a player has to bet on Keno or any other game.
  • Bet: Amount of money wagered on a single game of Keno.
  • Combination Ticket: A Keno ticket that has several different bets on it.
  • Conditioning: Slang name for the terms and conditions of a particular game variation at a brick and mortar casino.
  • Draw: Name for the numbers drawn in a single game of Keno.
  • Free Play: A Keno game pokies terms that does not include a wager. Many online casino offer this type of game as a “practice” or “demo” game.
  • Hit: Occurs when one of your marked numbers comes up in a Keno draw.
  • House Edge: A mathematical number that represents the number of wagers that the house can expect to win over time. In Keno, the amount is typically 20-30%.
  • Payoff: The amount of money won by a player who has numbers that hit.
  • Progressive Jackpot: A large sum of money that can be won by a player if they played the max amount of numbers, and every one of those numbers hit.
  • Split Ticket: Ticket that has more than one group of numbers played separately on it.
  • Ticket: Piece of paper with a player”s selected numbers marked off.
  • Wager: An amount of money placed on a single game of Keno.
  • Way Ticket: Keno ticket with multiple bets.

Pai Gow Pokies terms

Pai gow from RTG
Pai gow from RTG

Following are the Pai Gow pokies terms

  • Fortune Side Bet – This is a side bet that pays based on 7 cards. There’s an Envy Bonus side bet, too. The house edge is 7.77%.
  • EZ Pai Gow Poker – This is a commission free variant. If the dealer has a queen high pai gow hand, the hand will push. There are 4 side bets for players, too. The joker may or may not be fully wild.
  • Pai Gow Mania – This is a variant with 2 side bets. The house edge is 3.86 percent, or 4.48 percent with the 7-card side bet.
  • House Edge – This refers to how often the casino will win over the long run. For example, a 10 percent house edge would theoretically mean that for every $1 you spend, you will get 90 cents of it back (over the long run).
  • Banker – The banker is last to act. Their hand plays against the players. If the banker is a player, they can usually set their hand however they want. If it’s a co-banker or the casino, then they have to set the hand according to the casino’s house way rules.
  • Dragon Hand – Empty seats are referred to as dragon hands. This hand may be offered to players, and the first player to accept it, gets to play it. It will be like playing two separate hands (similar to blackjack). It comes with the upside of seeing more cards, and getting an idea of what the dealer may or may not have.
  • House Way – The casino rules that specify how a dealer / banker must set their hands.
  • Commission – This is the fee the casino takes and is how they make their money. Most casinos take a 5 percent fee for winning pai gow poker hands.
  • Progressive (Jackpot) – This is a side bet. The jackpot grows every time players make the side bet (and miss). It pays out when a player makes the winning combination. This can be thousands, sometimes millions of dollars.
  • Jokolor – This is a side bet on the outcome of the joker/other cards being the same color.
  • G3 Bonus – This is a side bet. The house edge varies between 3 and almost 8 percent. There is a progressive jackpot bet.
  • Copy Hand – When the player’s hand is the same as the dealer’s. Often the banker / dealer wins ‘copy hands.’
  • Foul (Hand) – When a player screws up setting their hand, such as making their front hand bigger than the back hand. Online nothing happens – in a live casino this is a foul, and often will result in the player automatically losing their initial wager.
  • House Advantage – See house edge.
  • Joker – This is the 53rd card in the deck. In standard pai gow games, this is a semi wild card that can complete straights, flushes or be ace highs. In some casinos or variations, the joker can be fully wild.
  • Push – When both the player and banker have one winning hand (of two). The bets are returned (no one wins), and (most times) no commission is taken from the player.
  • Minor Hand – A name for the front (2-card) hand.
  • Hand Behind – A name for the back (5-card) hand.
  • Hand in Front – A name for the front (2-card) hand.

Sic Bo Pokies Terms

Sic Bo game play
Sic Bo game play

Following are the Sic Bo Pokies Terms

  • Any Double – A wager that two of the three dice will match; also known as Any Pair.
  • Any One Number – A wager that a specified number will appear on at least one of the three dice.
  • Any Pair – Same as Any Double.
  • Any Triple – A wager that all three of the dice will match.
  • Betting Limits – The minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered at the table.
  • Big – A wager that total of the three dice will be between 11 and 17.
  • Birdcage – A game played with three dice that is similar to Sic Bo, but with far worse odds; also known as Chuck-a-Luck or Grand Hazard.
  • Cage – A device in which the dice are tumbled or shaken before being rolled; also see Cup and Shaker.
  • Chips – Tokens used to represent money at a casino.
  • Chuck-a-Luck – An American game similar to Sic Bo; see Birdcage.
  • Combination Bet – A wager that two of the three dice will match two numbers specified by the player; also known as a Pair Match.
  • Cup – For games of Sic Bo that do not use a Cage or Shaker, a dice cup may be used to mix up the dice.
  • Dai Siu – An alternative name for Sic Bo, meaning “Big Small.”
  • Dice – The three cubes, numbered on all sides with pips from one to six, used to play Sic Bo.
  • Dice Face – A wager that one or more of the three dice will show a specific number.
  • Double – A wager that two of the three dice will show a specified number; also see Any Double.
  • Even – A wager that total of the three dice will equal an even number.
  • Grand Hazard – A British game similar to Sic Bo; see Birdcage.
  • Hi-Lo – A version of Sic Bo commonly played in the Philippines.
  • Layout – The markings on the table that show where bets should be placed.
  • Lose On Any Triple – A rule that states all small and big bets lose when a triple is rolled.
  • Lucky Dice – Alternative slang name for the game of Sic Bo.
  • Odd – A wager that total of the three dice will equal an odd number.
  • Pair Match – A wager that two of the three dice will make the pair selected; also known as a Combination Bet.
  • Re-Bet – To repeat the previously made wager(s).
  • Sic Bo – The name of this Chinese dice game, which literally translates as “dice pair.”
  • Shaker – A device that looks a bit like a snow globe, used to mix up the dice.
  • Small – A wager that total of the three dice will be between 4 and 10.
  • Spin – Refers to when the cage is set in motion, whether shaken in a cup or rotated in a cage; wagers must be placed prior to this action.
  • Tai Sai –  An alternative name for Sic Bo, meaning “Big Small” or Precious Dice”
  • Three Dice Total – A wager on the sum of the pips on the upward faces of all three dice.
  • Three Single Number Combination – A wager that all three dice will come up three numbers specified by the player.
  • Total – Same as Three Dice Total.
  • Triple – A wager that all three dice will show a specified number; also see Any Triple.
  • Two Faces – Same as a Combination Bet; a wager that two of the three dice will match two numbers specified by the player.
  • Yee Hah Hi – A variation of Sic Bo played in Macau, which has no numbers on the dice; instead, symbols are used

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *