Poker machines, commonly known as gaming machines or pokies, are likely to be the first thing to catch your eye when you enter a casino. They provide tons of visual and mental stimulation to players. This is why they are famously very addictive.
But if you’ve been around people who play pokies a lot, you will no doubt have noticed a trend. It will seem that most people who play pokies just never win. Maybe you’re a pokie player yourself and you’ve wondered a few times why it can be hard to score a win. It might have led you to think, “Is video poker rigged?”
The short answer is no. Not in the way you think, at least. In this guide, we will shed more light on this subject by looking at how poker machines really work. We will dispel the myths and analyse all the government regulations that ensure casinos can’t rig their machines.
How Do Video Poker Machines Work
If you’re wondering, “how does a video poker machine work?” the main thing you need to keep in mind is that they are completely random. Inside the machines are random number generators (RNGs) that spit out random numbers every time you hit ‘Play’. The numbers are not dependent on the numbers that came before or the ones that will come after. This is why you’re not more likely to win the longer you keep playing.
These random numbers determine what the game outcome will be on each spin. So, it’s truly not about what is displayed on the reels. Those are just computer-generated graphics to make the experience more fun for you. Your chances of winning stay the same each time. With each spin, the chance of winning the jackpot is less than one in a million.
Another factor to consider when puzzling over the question, “How do poker machines work exactly?” is the payout percentage or return-to-player percentage (RTP). Australian law requires that pokies have a payout percentage of at least 85%, and most have an RTP of above 90%.
What this means is that you only get back 90% of what you bet. If you put in 10 AUD, you can only get 90 AUD back at best. And the more you play, the more money you lose. Even when you’re lucky, you’re always bound to lose some money.
When put into perspective like this, it’s not hard to see why the question, “Are video poker machines rigged?” comes up a lot. The hard fact is that these machines were designed to make money for the casino owners, not the players. So, frequent losses should neither be unexpected nor surprising. Poker machines are not rigged; they just aren’t designed to favour players.
Myths About Poker Machines
The question, “Is video poker rigged?” is just one of the many confusions that surround those loud, colourful machines. Since it is impossible to tell when a pokie is about to award a win, many people have come up with myths or ‘systems’ that they swear by.
The hard truth, however, is that poker machines are completely random. You will win sometimes, and sometimes you won’t. The machines are designed to make your winnings far less than your losses in the long run, and there’s no system for getting around that.
Here are a few myths you will often hear near the pokies (apart from them being rigged, of course):
- There are ways to ‘work’ the pokies: Some people believe that if you hit the buttons a certain way or touch the machine a certain way, you will win. This is not true because, as mentioned earlier, game outcomes are completely random. Nothing you do can change that.
- The longer you play, the more likely you are to win: Spinning the reels is like flipping a coin. You’re not more likely to get tails if you’ve gotten 5 heads in a row. In the same way, playing for a longer period doesn’t guarantee a certain outcome. It just means you lose more money.
- Some machines are luckier than others: While some machines do have a higher RTP than others, the difference is often not very significant. Realistically, no poker machine lets you win more than you lose in the long run.
- Some people also claim that if a machine hasn’t had a jackpot for a long time, then it’s likely to win. This is not true either because, again, game outcomes are completely random.
Regulations in Place to Ensure Fair Play
The governments of Australia and New Zealand have regulations put in place to prevent casinos from being exploitative. The general law which every state has to follow is the Australian/New Zealand Gaming Machine National Standard. This standard forms the basis on which additional laws are added by state governments.
The National Standard dictates that “a game must always follow a constant set of rules” and that “each event must be independent of previous or future events”. Interestingly, the latter statement means that even if it were possible to predict future wins based on previous outcomes, that would be illegal.
The National Standard is just a baseline. It is up to the States to add in the nitty-gritty details as they see fit. In South Australia, for instance, pokies that accept notes instead of coins are illegal. In New South Wales, gaming machines are not allowed to operate 24/7 and must be shut down for a few hours every day. There are also super specific regulations regarding the game mechanics and the number of free bets allowed for gaming machines.
All this means is that casinos are subject to strict government regulations and simply can’t get away with rigging their pokies. Each gaming machine has to comply with the National Standard and state-specific rules before it can be allowed to operate.
These regulations also help protect Aussie players in the case of a machine malfunction. This is why, whether you’re playing online or in person, you should always choose a licensed and regulated casino.
Tips for Australian Players
The benefit of understanding the nature of poker machines is that it helps you become a more responsible gambler. Treat the pokies as a form of entertainment and nothing more, to prevent yourself from being carried away. It is also important to set limits on how much you spend.
It is unwise to chase your losses because the longer you play, the more money you’re likely to lose. If you’ve been trying to stop playing pokies and it seems difficult, seek help from external bodies like responsible gambling agencies.
Conclusion
The answer to the question “is video poker rigged?” is no. However, pokies are designed to make money for the venue owners. What this unfortunately means for you is that you are much more likely to lose than to win. You rarely get back 100% or more of the money you put in. At best, you end up with about 90% of your stake. So, the longer you play, the more your losses stack up.
This is not to say that you can’t win at poker machines. They aren’t rigged in your favour, but they aren’t exactly rigged against you either. They are just designed to take a good percentage of your money. It is best to view playing pokies as just another type of entertainment, and the money you put in as the price for that entertainment. And remember, it is impossible to predict the outcome of a poker machine.