Playing the pokies
What are the chances of winning on the Pokies?
The pokies are simply a form of entertainment. However, sometimes people play the pokies for the wrong reasons, often spending more money or time than they can afford. If you think that you can beat the pokies, think again. You cannot change the fact that the odds are stacked against you.
The longer you play a poker machine, the more likely you are to lose all the money you have put in the machine.
The poker machine is the winner.
Think about these facts:
- Each poker machine has a computer program. Pokies are programmed so that in the end the machine will win. Nothing you do changes that
- Pokies are not designed to provide you with extra income. They are designed to make profit for others
- Like other forms of entertainment, you pay to play the pokies. The more you play, the more you pay
- You can't influence the machines. Nothing you do can influence the machines
- The outcome is independent of previous plays. If there is a win, you get paid credits. If not, the poker machine waits for the button to be pressed again
- The machine is never ‘due' to payout. You can never predict how each play will end. None of these factors makes a difference:
- The last time the machine paid out
- Anything you or anyone else does to the machine
- How much you bet or how many lines you play
- How long you have been playing
- Past and future plays
- The time of day
Poker machines are programmed to pay out less than you put into them, so the odds are you will lose.
Losing money this time doesn't increase your chances of winning next time. You may have smaller wins but over time you can expect that these will not cover what you put in.
When playing a game like Black Rhinos, to have a 50 per cent chance of getting five rhinos, playing one line at a time, it would take 6.7 million button presses and cost nearly $330,000.
| Prize value in credits | Chance of a prize in a single play line (including scatters) |
|---|---|
| One chance in | |
| More than 500 credits 200 to 499 credits 100 to 199 credits 50 to 99 credits 20 to 49 credits 10 to 19 credits 5 to 9 credits 1 to 4 credits |
10,198 2,669 1,458 450 246 106 53 10 |
| Prize type in Symbol Combination | Chance of combination occurring in a single play line |
| One chance in | |
| 5 of a kind 4 of a kind 3 of a kind 2 of a kind |
4,784 490 45 9 |
At these odds you have to play seven games in a row to have a 50:50 chance of winning four credits. But you have to play more than 7,000 games in a row to have the same chance of winning 500 credits. In the end the machines will win.
The poker machine always has the advantage.
WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING the pokies, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN CONTROL IS YOU.
Rate this page
Comments Disclaimer
You're now in the public comments section of this page. Please do NOT post personal questions for Gambler's Help service professionals as they do not moderate or reply to questions here. This content comes from other people visiting the site and cannot be vouched for. Also please do NOT give feedback on the site here. A reminder: By using this Web site you are accepting the terms of the Department of Justice Privacy statement.
Comments
I have found this site very helpfull & would like to thank you for these facts
Thankyou for posting some odds on poker machines. After wasting thousands of dollars, and seeing friends waste more I think that pokies have ruined the lives of thousands of people around australia and the world. BAN POKER MACHINES. Maybe people will spend their money on real entertainment and we might see some iceskating rings re open or sports and hobbies florish.
An Angry looser.
I'm not having ago at anyone because i believe that there are just not enough resources for people like me with bad gambling problems, however these odds mean nothing to me, i've won big money and i've lost a scary amount more. My brain doesn't care what the odds are all it cares about is winning and if i can be there on that right time the machines will pay.
Thats the thought process of me, a gambler who worked with these things as a younger man and now long out of the game and proffessionally employed my brain chooses to ignore all the heartache i've seen these things cause and the amount of money i would have to pull out of these things every night.
It frustrates me that i read the information above and it means nothing to me........... i want that info to disgust me to make me sick, but honestly it's jjust jiberis because i knnow in the hat ofth momen i wonthink of h odds! What do we do, i know thereare people reading tis either agreeing or thinking i'm messed up but deep down you know this is how we gamblers think.
I want help....i need help!
you are 100% right (ABOVE) i am at the start of a gambling problem where it's starting to affect my marraige and my kids and i wish to god that this isn't happening to me but i feel it and im trying to stay away.
i wish this info had an effect but it doesn't so im researching the internet and trying to hear other peoples stories of heart ache and im hoping that sinks in cos im yet to find an positive feedback on them...no stories saying...i won my mortgage...i won my kids college fund...so far its all negative and to be honest thats good news for me cos i know where im headed and before i lose it all i wanna come out on top...by working and keeping my money.
Good luck to all problem gamblers i never thought id be one of you but i am and i understand.... may your next paycheck stay with you....XXX
I found this website very helping. My future is very promising now that i have obtained this information cheers
I agree with bowchamp now that i know that gambling not only affects my life but it also affects the people i love. Stay true
i completly agree with Mr bowchamp i know it is affecting the ones i love but im just waiting for that hit that will get me out of this god for saken part of town. im such a let down to my parents and my kids think im a loser what can i do?
maybe you are victims of poker machines, if the first time you think it's only for entertainment but after that you will turn into addition, it's one of causes of homelessness and so on.therefore,poker machines should be banned right now
its all about luck people cant blame society for them to play people in todays society are always quick to blame everything but them selves people need to work out there prioteries and set limits.if you cant afford it dont play. I do admit it is a bit of fun but it has not taken control of my life i have better things to do than just sit in front of a machine
My Dad has wasted thousands of dollars on the Pokies. All the while I supported the family, paid for the bills, groceries & phonebills. That money should have been used for my education or even a deposite for a property.
My hatred for him is immence yet I try not to, as it is the addiction that is the problem not him.
If you are addicted and reading this; YOU deserve a lot better. Give your hard earned money for your childrens education or to the blind institution. They will send good wishes your way! the people who own pokies, laugh at you, EACH TIME.
its strange iknow the probabilty of winning big on the pokies are very very slight,but,when i sit in front of that machine another world opens to me.i tell myself to watch myself so far as amount i can lose.after a while that goes out the door at times anger can set in asituation arises where by I CAN BEAT THIS MACHINE,wrong,wrong,wrong.then you walk out of the club no money to pay those certain bills,no money for food,rent,smokes,so you have to wait till next pay day,and,guess what,you start all over again.lately i have reduced my betting to minimal outlay,and,only take in a certain amount of monies to cover,meal,drinks,and the magic flutter i find that i enjoy playing them this way,i hope this comment can help others thank you b.b.
i'm only 18yrs and started goin with my mum to the pokies, that was the only thing she wanted to do, then after a while i started goin by myself figured go there for a few drinks after all i was working, but then week by week i was scrapin by, bills were pilling up and i figured this is no fun if every week i feel down, so i stopped i think my mum has an addiction though, she just refuses to tell anyone its plain obvious when she borrows off me a day after her payday, suggestion on helping my mum would very much be appreciated
Post new comment
Comment Rules
People who want to post comments on problemgambling.vic.gov.au are going to have to follow certain rules. Not all forums are like that, but this one is.
No swearing at all, no insulting individuals or groups, no libel, slander, no lying, no fabricating, no ethnic slurs, no religious bigotry, no threats of any kind, no vulgar humour and no insulting comparisons. Discourse and debate is encouraged but all comments should be polite and civil. This is a public space so please behave and write accordingly.
The Department of Justice reserves the right to remove posts it deems break any of the rules or the spirit of the rules and reserves the right to block individuals from commenting. Language filtering programs will be used to block certain words as will human moderation of all comments too.
Comments should be limited to the topic of the content above. This is not a place for private conversations, no matter how harmless.
Very important: if you see a comment that you feel is inappropriate, let us know by clicking on the 'comment complaint' or 'report this complaint' button.