Online Pokies vs Pub Pokies: RTP, Rules and Risks Compared
Pub and club pokies (electronic gaming machines, or EGMs) and online pokies use the same basic technology: a random number generator decides each outcome, and a paytable sets the prizes. They differ in four practical ways: the return to player each is set at, the speed and access of play, the legal framework, and the protections you have if something goes wrong.
This page is part of our online pokies guide. For a wider comparison of online and venue gambling, see online vs land-based gambling.
The Comparison at a Glance
| Aspect | Pub and club pokies | Online pokies (offshore casinos) |
|---|---|---|
| Return to player | Queensland: 85% to 92% over the machine’s lifetime; Victoria: minimum 85% for hotels and clubs | Typically 94% to 96.5% at default settings; lower versions exist |
| Legal status | Licensed and regulated by each state and territory | Offering them to Australians is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 |
| Regulator | State regulators (e.g. Liquor & Gaming NSW, VGCCC, OLGR in Queensland) | Foreign licensing body, if any |
| Availability | Venue opening hours | 24/7 on phone and computer |
| Typical features | Hold and spin, linked jackpots, free games | Free spins, cascades, Megaways, clusters, bonus buys |
| Maximum win | Limited by machine settings and jackpot | Up to 100,000x or more in some games |
| Cash handling | Cash, TITO tickets, venue rules | Card, PayID, e-wallets, crypto via the casino |
| Player protection | Venue staff, self-exclusion, state complaints process | Casino tools only; no Australian dispute resolution |
Return to Player: The Numbers
Queensland’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation states that gaming machines must return between 85% and 92% over their lifetime, with casinos setting the upper limit, and that a machine usually operates for 3 to 4 years and about 1 million turnovers (Business Queensland). Victoria reduced the minimum RTP for hotel and club machines from 87% to 85% in 2014. Other states set their own minimums.
Online pokies from major studios list higher defaults. Examples from our reviews: Gates of Olympus 96.50%, Book of Dead 96.21%, Starburst 96.08%. Casinos can choose lower certified versions, sometimes as low as 90% or below.
| Setting | House edge | Expected loss on A$1,000 turnover |
|---|---|---|
| Pub machine at 85% minimum | 15% | A$150 |
| Pub machine at 90% | 10% | A$100 |
| Online pokie, reduced 94% version | 6% | A$60 |
| Online pokie at 96.5% default | 3.5% | A$35 |
The minimum is a legal floor; individual pub machines can be set higher within the allowed range. Machines do not display their exact RTP the way online game rules do.
Speed and Turnover
RTP is only half of the cost. The other half is how much you bet. Queensland’s guidance gives an example: 1 cent on 25 lines is 25 cents per spin, and at 20 spins a minute that is A$5 a minute or A$300 an hour. Online games can be played faster, on several tabs, at any hour, and with bonus buys that cost 100x the bet in one click. A lower house edge does not guarantee a lower loss if turnover is much higher.
Legal Framework
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits providers from offering real-money online casino services, including online pokies, to people in Australia. The ACMA enforces the Act, including by asking internet service providers to block illegal gambling and affiliate sites; see ACMA-blocked sites. Licensed Australian online operators may offer sports and race wagering, but not casino games. The casinos Australians use for online pokies therefore operate offshore under licences such as Cura?ao or Anjouan. For the full picture, read is online gambling legal in Australia.
Pub and club pokies are licensed per venue under state law, with caps on machine numbers, bet limits, cash input and venue opening hours that vary by state.
Protections and Dispute Options
| Situation | Pub / club | Online offshore casino |
|---|---|---|
| Dispute over a payout | Venue manager, then state regulator | Casino support, then licence body (outcomes vary) |
| Self-exclusion | State and venue self-exclusion programs | Casino’s own self-exclusion; BetStop covers licensed Australian wagering providers, not offshore casinos |
| Spending limits | Varies by state | Casino deposit limits; see setting limits |
| Payment problems | Not applicable | Depends on the casino’s terms; see KYC verification |
Game Design Differences
Pub machines in Australia are dominated by hold-and-spin and linked-jackpot games such as Aristocrat’s Lightning Link family. Online pokies cover a much wider range of mechanics: Megaways, cluster pays, bonus buys and very high-volatility games with caps above 50,000x. The online hold and win category is the closest to the pub experience; Money Train 2 adds modifiers to the same respin format.
Which Costs Less?
Per dollar wagered, online pokies at default settings cost less than pub machines at their legal minimum. Per hour, the answer depends on stake and speed. A player who bets A$1 per spin online at a 96% game for two hours at 500 spins per hour turns over A$1,000 and expects to lose about A$40. A player at the pub betting A$0.50 per spin at 20 spins a minute for two hours turns over A$1,200; at an 88% machine that is an expected loss of about A$144.
Neither environment is a way to make money. For practical habits that reduce losses in either setting, see pokies tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
On RTP, usually yes. Queensland requires gaming machines to return 85% to 92% over their lifetime, and Victoria’s minimum for hotels and clubs is 85%. Online pokies from major studios usually run default settings of 94% to 96.5%. But online play is often faster and longer, so total losses can still be higher.
Offering real-money online casino games, including online pokies, to people in Australia is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The Act targets providers. The ACMA enforces it, including by asking internet providers to block illegal sites. Australians who use offshore sites have no Australian licence or regulator protecting their account.
Yes. Both use random number generators, and each outcome is independent of previous plays. Land-based machines are approved under state rules; online games from major studios are certified by independent test labs for the markets they are licensed in.
Queensland’s regulator states that the chance of winning the top prize, playing maximum lines, ways or patterns, is about 1 in 7,000,000.
Pub and club pokies operate under Australian state law, with venue responsible gambling obligations, self-exclusion programs and state regulators. Online casinos used by Australians are offshore, so protections depend on the foreign licence and the casino’s own tools, and Australian complaint bodies have no authority over them.
Gambling is for adults 18+. If pokies, online or in a venue, are causing harm, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.