The best thing about playing pokies – at least for those new to this type of gaming – is that it really couldn’t be easier. Everything is automated and all you really have to do is pop in the money and hit the button to see what comes your way. Despite what you might be told there are no tips, tricks or tactics that work when it comes to making a spin and hitting a win – a first-timer has just as much chance as a seasoned veteran.

Pokie Buttons

Button layouts differ quite a bit from machine to machine, but more often than not follow the same basic pattern. The order of the button can change, but will for the most part control the same functions.

Upper Row

On the top row of the buttons you’ll find the all-important collect button – this is what you’ll need to press to withdraw any money you have in the machine at the time. When you press it, your winnings will either clatter into the coin hopper or be brought to you by an employee – it all depends how big your win was!
Along with the collect button there are also five buttons that control each line’s credit. Some of the buttons also double-up to be used when the gamble-feature is available to you.

Lower Row

The first of the bottom buttons can be used to exit the gamble feature and take the amount of money already won. In addition, the same button operates the reserve function, which basically puts the machine on hold for three minutes to allow for things like bathroom breaks or trips to the bar.
The following five buttons are used to control lines per spin. Hitting any of these buttons will prompt the spinning of the reels. In most cases, the last and the first of these buttons will be used to choose black or red for the gamble feature.
The gamble button can be hit after any win to start the feature that could see you double your winnings, or lose the whole lot.

Note…!

Knowing what the buttons do is only half of the story of course, as you have to know what you’re supposed to do with them. You have to first select how much to bet per line using the top buttons of the machine, then press the button underneath in accordance with how many reels you want to spin.

To Gamble or Not?

Each and every time you hit a win, you’ll be presented with the option of going for the double-up gamble feature. This is a bonus round you can play for five rounds and take your winnings to much higher levels, or to the contrary lose the lot.
You can choose red or black to double the winnings you’ve already stacked up. If you manage to hit five doubles in a row, you will see the amount you won in the first instance increased by a massive 66-times. A suit on the other hand will see your win increased four-fold, so if you are lucky enough to get five suits in a row, what you won first time around will be increases 1024 times over!
The odds are always neutral with these gambles and the house has no advantage – it’s a 50/50 split. However, you must remember that 50/0 means you stand just as much chance of losing as winning.
There are plenty of other type of double-up bonus rounds that work differently to the one explained above, but all follow the same principles.