Special features that are frequently found in online slots for real money. They increase your winnings by the given amount when activated.
The Definitive Guide to Real Money Pokies
Real money pokies have come a very long way since Mr Charles Fey invented them back in 1894. Over the years since then, they’ve become synonymous with brick-and-mortar casinos but they’re pretty much everywhere these days. In 2024, you’ll find them in airports, pubs, and shopping centres. Pretty much wherever you and your desktop, smartphone, or tablet happen to be!
Online pokies for real money are a player favourite the world over but are particularly beloved by New Zealand players. This vibrant sector of the iGaming industry buzzes with exciting bonus rounds, fantastic free spins, and themed games of all shapes and descriptions.
This article serves as an introduction to the world of real money pokies for beginners. But it will also have information for seasoned players as well. Once you get a better idea of what these games have to offer, you can bet your bottom dollar your experience of them will vastly improve.
Mobile Pokies Real Money
Our Real Money Pokies Criteria
Our expert team has vast experience with gambling of all kinds and we’re very passionate about pokies. When we’re selecting online pokies for real money for our NZ readers, we take care that only the very best games show up on our pages. We approach pokies the same way we do online casinos: only the cream of the crop is worth our time in 2024.
One of the main factors we consider is the overall quality of the graphics and audio effects. The ultimate purpose of playing real money pokies online is to win a bit of extra money, yes. But the process should be enjoyable as well. We ensure that the game functions flawlessly across multiple platforms and that there’s no lagging or freezing to contend with.
We go over the interface because being able to control the game properly is very important. Modern online pokies real money games allow players to customise parameters each time they spin. And many allow for Autoplay and Turbo modes to be triggered. We check that these are in place and that betting is easy to do no matter what size screen you’re working with.
We also make note of what kind of special features the developer has put into place. These can be in the form of Multipliers, Scatters, and Wild symbols or as bonus mini-games within the main real money pokie. We ensure that you’re fully prepared for whatever the title offers long before you’ve made your first wager.
The Most Popular Real Money Pokies
In 2024, over a hundred years since the first one-armed bandit became available, there are hundreds of truly outstanding online real money pokies. And more are being created by the world’s most excellent developers all the time. It can be tough to keep up. Our experts rounded up this group of games if you’re wondering what to play next. They should not be missed.
Although it was released some time ago, in 2006, Microgaming’s Avalon has stood the test of time. The Arthurian theme is beautifully brought to life and there are several exciting features that players will get a kick out of. It’s a low- to medium-volatility real money pokie with an RTP of 96.01%.
In Cleopatra, IGT invites NZ real money online pokies players to discover the secret of Ancient Egypt through the eyes of one of the most fascinating politicians of all time. With 5 reels and 20 paylines, Cleopatra is a medium variance slot with an RTP of 95.7%.
Mega Moolah, the Millionaire-Maker, is one of the most famous slots online for real money of all time. And with good reason. This title has paid out the equivalent of NZ$2.78 billion to date, with the equivalent of NZ$204 million+ being put in players pockets in 2024 alone. There are four Progressive Jackpots in this safari-themed real money pokie and who knows? You might be the next big winner!
Queen of the Nile by Aristocrat is another great slot online for real money featuring the Ancient Egyptian theme. First released in 1997, the fact that it’s still ranking on pokies lists tells you something about its quality. It is a medium variance title with an RTP of 94.88%.
Where’s the Gold is another fabulous release from Aristocrat and has also been around the block some, debuting back in 2003. Enjoy a treasure hunt featuring free spins, Multipliers, a juicy jackpot, and Wild and Scatter icons. It’s a medium variance real money pokie with an RTP of 95%.
Biggest-Ever Real Money Pokies Wins
There are many more millionaires in 2024 thanks to real money online pokies. And while everyone hopes for a spot in this group, players always like hearing about how someone else struck it big.
Mega Fortune is a classic title with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 25 paylines by NetEnt. In 2011, a Finn spent the equivalent of 71c and took home an amount equal to NZ$34.22 million. That same year, a Norwegian playing Arabian Knights, another slot online for real money by this developer, won what equates to NZ$24.65 million.
Microgaming’s Mega Moolah dominates this category once again, proving why it’s such a highly esteemed real money pokie.
In 2015, a soldier named Jon Heywood entered the record books when he won the then biggest-ever online real money pokies payout. Heywood’s 36c bet on Mega Moolah saw him laughing all the way to the Guinness Book of World Records after he pocketed NZ$28.3 million. In 2019, a UK player wagered what works out to just over NZ$2 and won a little over NZ$16 million as a result.
Not only do these winners give us all hope, but they also go to show that you don’t need to bet big to win big when it comes to online real money pokies.
How Real Money Pokies Payouts Work
Online pokies for real money all feature what is known as a Return to Player rate. This is the theoretical amount players stand to win over time. It is an important factor when it comes to figuring how payouts work.
While it’s never going to be 100%, because online casinos need to stay in business, this number generally lies between 90% and 98% for slots online for real money. A much higher RTP than land-based pokies provide, with their percentage hovering at around 70%.
What this number means is that, if it’s an online real money pokie with an RTP of 96%, theoretically it will pay out 96c for every NZ$1 spent. This is calculated over the long term, however, so it’s not going to apply to every wager you place.
It’s important to look at the volatility of the real money pokie before you play too. This is how to tell how the title pays out. Highly volatile pokies pay out less frequently but in bigger amounts. Low variance games pay out more often, but the rewards are smaller. And medium volatility pokies mix these two factors up.
We recommend playing low-variance real money online pokies when you want to play for longer periods. Keep highly volatile games for when you’ve only got a few moments to spare.
Another, not directly related, factor to keep in mind when considering payouts is how quickly you’ll be able to cash out your online real money pokies winnings. The first thing you’ll need to do is meet the wagering requirements for any bonuses you’ve used.
Then you’ll need to look at the withdrawal limits in place at the site you’re playing at. There could be daily, weekly, or monthly caps. We advise checking this information before you even start playing.
If you are lucky enough to strike it lucky while playing a Progressive Jackpot real money pokie, the brand may not pay the full prize out in one fell swoop. Check the Terms & Conditions so you know what to expect.
It also depends on what banking method you’ve elected to use for your online pokies real money gameplay. In 2024, ewallets get processed very quickly, in between an hour and up to three days, for example.
But bank transfers and card withdrawals may only be available up to five working days after you request your winnings. This information will all be available at the site, but if you’re struggling to find out, reach out to a New Zealand online casino customer support representative. They’ll be able to tell you what to expect.
Tips to Win Real Money Pokies
The first thing we recommend our readers do is to place the maximum bet allowed for the real money online pokie. But without exceeding their budgets. This is the best way to maximise winnings if the odds are in your favour.
A betting budget is a non-negotiable when it comes to online pokies for real money, as well. Work out what you can safely afford to lose on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and don’t ever spend a penny more. This way, you can always relax and have fun, avoid throwing good money after bad, and running into problem behaviour.
Make sure you know how the real money pokie works before you play it. Read the rules, note the best-paying symbols and bet according to the game’s limits. If possible, play the pokie for free first. That way there are no surprises.
And always be on the lookout for NZ online casino bonuses updated for 2024. Make sure you’re using them to your best advantage. The help they offer can go a long way.
The Best Real Money Pokies Bonuses
Instead of the comped rooms, drinks and meals on the house, and the tickets to shows that land-based casinos offer their players, online brands provide bonuses. This is arguably a better deal because it gives you the means to extend your online slots for real money gameplay.
Deposit Bonuses
These promotions give New Zealand players a reason to sign up at a site and frequently take the form of multiples of however much money is being deposited.
Many brands offer to match well over 100% of your deposit and will tell you what the cap is. So, you may see a 150% Match Bonus up to NZ$600, for example. If you deposit NZ$600, you’ll start playing real money pokie NZ$1 500, but if you deposit NZ$700, you’ll still only receive an extra NZ$900.
Free Spins
Free spins let you play particular online pokies real money at no cost, and you’ll generally be able to hold onto whatever winnings you accrue. These may be subject to a cap and will generally have a wagering requirement for you to meet. Free spins are often part of package deals like Welcome Bonuses.
Loyalty Bonuses
It’s not just about new players in the iGaming industry. In 2024, it’s obvious that returning players are just as valuable. Online players who remain loyal to a single brand will reap rich rewards. Most operators have some kind of rewards programme in place, whereby you get points, for example, for each bet you place on real money pokies.
Once you’ve accrued enough of these, you’ll be able to exchange them. You may be able to access quicker payouts or receive gadgets. You may get tickets to all-expenses-paid vacations, acquire a personal account manager, or be invited to exclusive tournaments. And all this from simply playing online slots for real money!
No Deposit Bonus
These offers allow you to play games without putting any of your own money on the line. You’ll probably be able to keep your winnings in this case too. But the wagering requirements are frequently higher, around 50X.
Welcome Bonus
What better way to get real money pokie players’ attention than by rolling out the red carpet in the form of real money rewards? That’s the thinking behind Welcome Bonuses. These offers are usually pretty generous. They can feature free spins in combination with other special deals like Match Deposit Bonuses.
Real Money Pokies FAQ
The lines in your pokies game. These can be straight or zig-zagged and you’ll usually need a minimum of two, in some cases three, matching symbols to land on these to receive a payout.
Sometimes referred to as a payout table, this is a list of the payout information for each online slot for real money symbol in the pokie game and the bet increments.
These are online pokies real money with a prize pool that increases steadily over time every time the title is played anywhere on the network. This can extend outside New Zealand, making the rewards enormous.
An algorithm that ensures that online slots for real money results are totally unpredictable on each spin. This updated technology used by developers in 2024 guarantees game fairness.
