Understanding pokie terminology is essential for anyone serious about online slots. From RTP to bonus rounds, each term holds valuable insight into how games function and how to approach them strategically. Whether you’re chasing a progressive jackpot or managing your wager on a Megaways pokie, this guide breaks down all the important features and keywords you need to know.
RTP (Return to Player) & RNG (Random Number Generator)
RTP stands for Return to Player. It’s a percentage that shows how much money a pokie is expected to return to players over time. For example, a 96% RTP means you might get back $96 for every $100 wagered.
RNG is the Random Number Generator that powers every online pokie. It ensures all results are completely random and fair—every spin is independent of the last.
Paytable & Paylines
A paytable lists symbol values, special features, and potential payouts. It’s your blueprint for how the game pays and which symbols are most valuable.
Paylines are the patterns on which matching symbols need to land for you to win. Some pokies have fixed paylines, while others let you choose how many lines to activate with each spin.
Wild Symbol, Sticky Wilds & Expanding Wilds
A wild symbol substitutes for regular symbols to complete winning combinations.
Sticky wilds stay in place for multiple spins, often during a bonus round.
Expanding wilds grow to cover an entire reel, increasing your chance of hitting a win.
Scatter Symbols & Bonus Symbols
Scatter symbols typically unlock bonus rounds or free spins regardless of their position on the reels. Landing enough scatters usually leads to the most lucrative features.
Bonus symbols are often needed to trigger game-specific bonus rounds or entry to special modes like pick-and-win games.
Bonus Rounds, Freespins & Re-Spins
A bonus round is a special game mode triggered by bonus or scatter symbols. It often includes freespins, multipliers, or extra wilds.
Freespins let you spin the reels without using your balance while still being eligible for real wins.
Re-spins give you an additional spin without resetting the game board—especially useful after a win or when trying to land more bonus symbols.
Cascading Reels & Hit Frequency
Cascading reels remove winning symbols and replace them with new ones in a single spin, allowing for multiple wins from one wager.
Hit frequency refers to how often the game pays out. A higher hit frequency means more regular (but often smaller) wins.
Volatility & Wagering Requirements
Volatility measures how risky a pokie is. High volatility games pay less often but have bigger win potential. Low volatility games offer frequent but smaller payouts.
Wagering requirements are conditions tied to bonuses. You must wager your bonus amount a certain number of times before withdrawing any winnings.
Autoplay & Wagers
Autoplay lets you set the pokie to spin automatically for a set number of rounds. While convenient, it can quickly deplete your bankroll if not used with care.
A wager is the amount of money you bet on a single spin. Higher wagers may unlock bigger bonus rounds or increase the payout multiplier in some pokies.
Megaways, Multipliers & Progressive Jackpots
Megaways is a game mechanic where the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin, creating thousands of potential winning combinations.
Multipliers increase your payout by a specific factor—often found in bonus rounds, freespins, or cascading wins.
Progressive jackpots grow every time someone plays. A small part of each wager goes into the prize pool until one lucky player wins it all.
Final Thoughts
These terms form the backbone of your pokies knowledge. Understanding how bonus rounds trigger, how wilds behave, and what your wager really means in a game is key to improving both your strategy and enjoyment.
Want to see how these terms apply in real games? Check out our Verified Casino Reviews or explore Popular Slot Game Types to apply your glossary knowledge in the wild.
SlotCatalog – Slot Game Features and Mechanics – In-depth explanations of features like cascading reels, Megaways, volatility, and more.