Video pokies are always evolving and all players should be kept up to date with ins and outs of each game. The basic layout of a video pokie never changes, however the inner workings are sometimes a little different. Here is a definitive run down of the how video pokies work:
Pay lines
The number of pay lines a video pokie is vitally important to how the game looks, feels and plays. The Payline runs across the Pokie screen and across all reels in either a horizontal, diagonal, or zig zag pattern. If a player bet son a payline, it becomes active. If the symbols that make up winning symbols appear on an enabled payline, you win that round and the payouts that come with it. Pay lines can range from just 1 all the way up to 100!
Auto Play
This is an automated feature that allows players to sit back and enjoy spin after spin with moving a muscle. Most pokies allow for players to determine the amount of auto play spins the game will pursue before returning to the standard click and spin setup. If players are lucky enough to trigger a bonus feature during the auto play period, normal practice will resume.
Wilds
Virtually all video pokies feature a Wild symbol of some sort. These are a special symbol that substitutes for all others within the standard game, allowing for extra winning opportunities. Stacked Wilds are essentially wilds that cover the entire reel when hit, making any surrounding symbols liable to be included in a winning line. Frozen Wilds stay in place when hit, regardless of their placement on the reels.
Scatters
Scatter symbols are usually the most lucrative symbols in each video pokie. They can come in all shapes and sizes, triggering sizable payouts when two or more are present anywhere on the reels. In most cases, the scatter symbol is the key to accessing the pokies main feature round, usually when 3 or more are hit.
Gamble Feature
The gamble feature is always a fan favourite as it allowed smaller wins accumulated during the reel based game to become huge in a very short space of time. Every win is eligible to take part in this bonus feature, no matter how small. The most common setup utilised for this type of game is for players to choose the next card shown by choosing either red/black or the corresponding suit. The level of difficulty determines the payout rates here, with 2x and 4x awarded for colour and suit respectively.