July 16, 2026
A paytable is the instruction manual for any pokie, and most players never read it. That is a costly habit. The paytable tells you exactly what each symbol pays, how many paylines are active, what triggers the bonus round and whether the game’s top prize is realistic or a lottery-style long shot. On a platform like Richard Casino, where hundreds of titles sit side by side in the lobby, knowing how to scan a paytable in thirty seconds separates players who gamble with a plan from those who tap spin and hope. Read more about this at richard casino.
Australian pokie players are a knowledgeable bunch, but paytables have changed. Modern video pokies can carry 243, 1,024 or even 117,649 ways to win, and the old logic of counting lines no longer applies. This guide breaks down what to look for, in what order, and why it matters to your bankroll.
Start With the Symbol Hierarchy and Payout Values
Every paytable lists symbols from highest to lowest value. Low-paying icons , usually card ranks like 9, 10, J, Q, K and A , pay modest amounts. High-paying symbols, often themed characters or special icons, pay considerably more. Read the numbers as multiples of your line bet, not fixed dollar amounts, because that is how the machine calculates your return.
A useful habit is to compare the top symbol’s payout for five of a kind against your total stake per spin. If that figure is under 100x your bet, the game is leaning toward frequent small wins. If it climbs past 500x or 1,000x, you are looking at a higher-volatility title where dry spells are longer but the ceiling is taller.
On Richard Casino’s pokies range, paytables are accessible from the info or “i” button on every game, and they update automatically when you change your bet size. Check them before your first spin, not after your tenth.
Wilds, Scatters and Multipliers
- Wilds substitute for most other symbols and often carry their own payout for a full line.
- Scatters usually pay anywhere on the reels and trigger free spins , they do not need to land on a payline.
- Multipliers apply to wins and may stack during bonus rounds, sometimes reaching 10x or more.
Check RTP, Volatility and Payline Structure
Return to player (RTP) is the percentage of all wagered money a pokie pays back over millions of spins. Anything at or above 96% is considered solid; 97% or higher is genuinely generous. Volatility is the other half of the picture , high volatility means bigger but rarer wins, low volatility means steadier, smaller returns. Neither is better, but they suit different bankrolls and playing styles.
Payline structure also matters. Fixed-line pokies activate every line whether you like it or not, so your minimum bet is higher. Adjustable-line games let you reduce active lines, but dropping lines rarely improves your odds per dollar wagered.
| Paytable Element | What to Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Top symbol payout | 200x-1,000x+ per line | Signals volatility level |
| RTP | 96% or above | Long-run expected return |
| Ways to win | 243 / 1,024 / 117,649 | Win frequency and hit rate |
| Bonus trigger | 3+ scatters | Determines free spin access |
Use the Paytable to Set Your Bet and Strategy
Once you understand symbol values and the bonus trigger, you can size your bets sensibly. If the bonus round needs three scatters and the paytable shows they land frequently, a moderate bet with more spins is usually smarter than a maximum bet with a short bankroll. If scatters are rare but the free spins carry a 5x multiplier, patience and a longer session make more sense.
Richard Casino runs its full pokies library in your mobile browser with no download, and switching between paytables takes seconds. Build the habit of reading before spinning, and you will make sharper decisions on every game you open.
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