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.
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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
I put my hole pay through last night im so angry had stayed away from them for a few months im 21 and since i was 18 have had a slight problem with them. I was doing so well untill yesterday spending my money on things i can show for it rather then blowing it in 2 and a half hours on nothing.
I can say it does definetly destroy lives, i have been gambling since i was allowed into the casino back in 98, and til this day i find myself sucked in over and over again, what can i say... they're sure do know how to make you spend big.
ive lost in excess over a million dollars and i feel the most biost remorse but all to find myself back there again. and now that ive discovered online poker i have wasted so much time and money that it really has taken a toll on my mental health, everyone around me knows, but all they can do is just tell me to stop. they just dont get the true meaning of this demonic addiction.. and those pokies machines, thats where it all began, by winning a $5000 jackpot i was sucked in for life.
i write this letter as i am currently playing online poker and staying at the casino compliments of crown.. as if.
Compulsive gambling is a mental illness (believe it or not) that is inherent in some people and not in others.The only successful treatment is by total abstinence, one day at a time, this can only happen when the individual makes the decision that their lives have become unmanageable (is gambling costing you more then money?) and that he/she needs help and then they must surrender themselves to the care of Gamblers Anonymous where they will have the guidance of like minded people who follow a 12 step program of recovery.
My father was a compulsive gambler and as such he left us in abject poverty and destitute, he died at the age of 93 and his entire wealth consisted of a wrist watch which was worth about five dollars, once again, believe it or not, do you ban all forms of gambling?, I don't know!. Thank you for your valuable time.David
Where do I start? I'm sitting here reeling after a horrible weekend of heavy gambling on poker machines, losing money I can't afford to lose and leaving myself with $0 til payday. "I thought it would pay", " it is due to pay"," it'll come up so I'll invest my last $50 and then I'll be right when I win"....these are things I kept telling myself as I proceeded to lose $2000 this weekend. I'm now distraught, helpless and oh so ashamed. I have so much gambling debt that I can never ever seeing me paying off. Credit cards mAxed out, savings nil, live pay to pay. I keep thinking I'll win big the next time but instead go further backwards. I want to stop, I really do but find it really hard to resist the urge, the draw to the casino and local venues. I can't drive by on a weekend without stopping. I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, but I'm a hopeless gambler, a serious addict. Unfortunately it's destroying my life.. I can't sleep properly, or enjoy friends and family etc as all I do now is worry about my finances. I'm 34yo and feel that I've blown it. All this started because I went to the old casino as a 21yo with family for dinner and luckily won $20,000 on the pokiesnot knowing what I was doing. I got the taste after that. The Worst thing thathappened to me was winning that money. God knows I've put that and much much much more back since then. I hope I find the inner strength to stop. I really do but I'm scared I'm not strong enough to overcome this, which in turn scares me about the future. My concern is the debt.. The personal loans, credit cards etc and the struggle to pay them. If anyone who thinks they are starting to develop a gambling problem, I hope my story, my battle will discourage you from putting one more dollar in a machine. Gamblers are, by and large, losers - just like me :-(
wow. i so relate to you all. im embarrassed and bewildered by my addiction to pathectic pokies1 its like being addicted to a chocolate or toy machine only you get less!!!!my addiction started after my friend died i started playing pokies at local rsl and then 20 bucks went to 50 went to whole wage packets ....you know its wrong but its the thrilll like a hit !! the endorphines that are triggered' at those very clever winning sounds like poof tee ta poof tee ta poof ta ta ta!etc lol!!i go to bed at night with those hypnotic sounds 1!! its subliminal hypnosis and its evil
my wife has lost approx $350,000 over the past 10 -15 years and still cant the damage she has done ,so much so I cannot even buy a haircut.our house is morgaged to the hilt,my super is gone but dosen't realise she cannot see that it is impossible to win and will not seek help.
I know the sudden tragic death of my beautiful mother launched me into chasing my losses at the pokies just one more free spin, then IÍI go I promise to myself, after ive exhausted my card limits I hav to go home only to go back in the morning to "my" machine before someone else wins all of my money!!! Its horible how it gets you! My advise is do what I did I came home last night and confessed to my partner and my brothers that I need help, They didnt judge me they just talked.....We are all feeling the loss, we are just all dealing with it differently..... my way by far the most destructive. It helps to talk and to read others stories, I guess the truth is we are all looking outside ourselves for something that we think will solve our problems...... but only creates more..... I believe I can control this horrible habit, and im starting from now.... Good luck in life (not pokies) to everyone
I have just been to the pokies and everytime i go and come back home i say the same thing, that is it no more. Once again my brain goes into overdrive and thinking i will win the big one. There is no chance that i will win the big one, I have a problem but always seem to hide it and say its someone elses problem. The pokies and casino as put my life in a bad way, i have spend well over $100000 and that money was an inheritance from my dad. I have read most of the stories about other people and say well i know that i will win but the reality is that no i will not ever win. Pokies does destroy life and we all talk about it that is bad. I just feel that i have let everyone down in my family, so i am going to to try to change how and when is the question. The one thing that i cannot understand when i was overseas i was exposed to gambling but did not even gamble and let me tell you it was easy over there, I think that its easier here.
Just wasnted to speak my mind about the pokies, its not worth it but who am i to make that decision when i know i will be back and saying the same story.
People go out and enjoy life because onces we are gone we have left a whole lot os destruction that our families have to pick up and fix.
Up until 2 weeks ago, I was hopelessly addicted to pokies. They have consumed my life on and off for the better part of 10 years. I decided to get help, as I could not help myself, and I'm currently getting treatment, which I encourage all people with a problem to do. Talking about the addiction with a complete stranger is like a cleansing of sorts and has really helped me curb my gambling thoughts. So much so that I'm starting to believe that I will never again stick another note into those insidious machines that almost destroyed my life. It feels so good not to be a slave to the machine. Set yourself free - do it NOW.
Is almost impossible to win the big one... don't lose your time... and money!!!
Great post!
Viviana
viagens
Reading the above has helped and defiantly told part of my story. I have been addicted to the bloody pokies for just over 12 months, not really big bets but in there a few times a week. I did it when ever I felt down, had spare time or just wanted to escape the world. I have at times lost $500 and went back a week later trying to secure some of it back...how it started was very small $20 outlay wasting time between a meeting, then after a few weeks this turned into a few times a week...then BANG i won a big jackpot, then another within a week as I was playing with the winnings, so betting more came from it. I was hooked like a Murray Cod.
My wife was wondering where I was all the time, how come it took so long to get home and how come I never answered the phone when I was "on my way"...I managed to get the bank statements each time they came and hid them- we both get paid monthly and have a fair bit of disposable income, so it took a while for her to catch on what was happening. She kept saying how did we manage to spend everything again this month? Me! Over 6 months I had blown $5k and didn't see it as a problem because it was my money...I am starting to see it has hurt us as a family a lot more as I am lying and spending time away from them to chase a few hundred dollars...to me it isn't the money, it is more about the thrill and outcome.
My wife knows I am working on the addiction, I have been back a lot since she found out, but have reduced the amount I allow myself to lose...it is a start.
I would try to self inclusion program but meet people with work at these venues for meetings/beers etc...I would hate to be told to leave as I have a gambling problem that no one from my work knows about.
Using this site I am starting today the gambling diary and trying to find another HABIT when the opportunity arises with me.
This has heled heaps just writing it....I want to quit the pokies, they are way to easy to access and bet way too much.
Good luck to everyong else.
40 year old male with an amazing family who should know better.
Im sick of the pokies.last week i blew $1,500 on them won nothing there not getting any better they pay less and the jackpots are a joke ive lost alot of money on them over the last 16yrs around $500,000 i must be crazy i sat in my car and cried last week ive never done that in all of those 16yrs of pokies its made me realize what i have to do and that is keep away no one drags you in there i say goodluck to Everyone.pokies are EVIL.
I have been playing pokies since they came in to Queensland 25 years ago i have lost about 500,000 dollars i still am paying off my house and have personal loans and credit cards i am 53 my husband earns good money and i still owe all this money my husband must love me because he doesnt stop me. I have been suffering this addiction every week of my life i only go once a week and loose everything in 4 hours, then i go home and say i am not ever going back and then next week comes and there i am again. I have been to hypnotist and councellors and still no luck......I wish we could all bound together and stop this once and for all.
Yes I agree....I know someone close to me who plays pokies. She can go the whole night pressing the button the poker machine! Oh, how boring! I spend my time walking around the casino. As If I sit near she think I am a jinx, as she says good vibes and concentration will win a mini or max jackpot.
It that a twisted myth or what? And I often nearly fallen asleep of boredom due to sitting in of a pokie machine and hearing same old sounds over and over again next my mate. She pumps in hundreds of dollars into one machine! She spend alot of time with em, she calls it a HOBBY!!!!! Me, I don't think it's much of a hobby......a hobby that empties your wallet that is!
can someone explain why there is no 'payout percentage' on the machines. Ive come from the UK and work in the gaming industry and the fact that all our machines have to state this fact means that operators are more likely to up the payout of the machine as people will seek out the 'loosest slots'
The odds explained above doesn't really mean anything where as if you were playing a machine that is on a payout of say 90% you know that 'over time' (not allowing for short time play) the venue would be taking 10c for every $1 spin. you could put into a monetry term, every $10 spin you would be giving $1 straight to the operators?
Is there a legal minimum that these machines can be set on? could a pokie machine be legal run paying out 20% for example?
Exploitation
The minimum legislated return to players in Australia is eighty-five percent (The Hill Report, 1995) , so for every $100 fed into the machines, the average return is $85 – an automatic loss of $15. The next bet then is eighty-five percent of the eighty-five percent and so on until there is nothing left. The fact that the return is eighty-five percent does not entail every time a players bets they get $85 back either. Poker machine playing requires no skill; it is purely a game of ‘chance’ (a doubtful label when considering the machines are programmed and how they are programmed). Players therefore have no control over the activity. Instead the machines dictate the play, and are programmed to only return fixed amount that are less than the player feeds in.
ive just been reading all your statements but like some of you that said to set your self a limit there is no such thing cos limits just go out the window yesterday i went out and spent the money that was supossed to be for my daughters day care
i feel ashamed of this taking from my own daughter its just wrong i need help and first thing i and any of you that have memberships of clubs is to get rid of it cos thats the other thing they suck you in with reward points for playing you have to spend $1000 to get a free schooner
ill be doing my best to stay away from the clubs get help and i know my wife will support me who i love very much good luck to you all and thank you for the stories reading these statements really makes you think how silly we are.
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