Every pokie, video poker machine and table game on a modern platform carries a paytable , the document that tells you exactly what each symbol or hand pays and how often. Most players skim straight past it, but reading a paytable properly is one of the few genuine edges you can give yourself before spinning a single reel. On crypto casinos like Gamdom Australia, provably fair Originals publish their payout data openly, which makes it easier than ever to compare games before you commit your bankroll in AUD. For more details, visit gamdom australia.
This guide walks through the structure of a paytable, the numbers that actually matter, and the traps that catch casual players.
What a Paytable Actually Tells You
A paytable is a breakdown of winning combinations and their relative payouts, usually expressed as a multiplier of your stake. In a standard five-reel pokie, the top symbol might pay 50x for five of a kind, while low-value symbols return 2x or 3x. The paytable also lists special features , wilds, scatters, free spin triggers , and explains how they interact with the base game.
The most useful figure is rarely printed in bold: return to player, or RTP. This is the percentage of all wagered money a game returns over millions of spins. A pokie with 96.5% RTP gives back $96.50 for every $100 staked across the long run. Anything above 96% is considered strong; anything below 94% deserves scrutiny.
Variance matters just as much. A high-volatility game might pay 5,000x but hit that combination once in 200,000 spins. A low-volatility game pays smaller amounts far more often. Neither is better , they suit different bankrolls, and the paytable is where you find out which one you’re dealing with.
- Symbol payout values, from lowest to highest
- Number of matching symbols required per win
- Wild and scatter behaviour
- Free spin multipliers and retrigger rules
- Stated RTP and volatility rating
Reading Paytables on Different Game Types
Pokies are the simplest format. Video poker is more demanding , a Jacks or Better paytable shows the full return for every hand, and a 9/6 machine (9 coins for a full house, 6 for a flush) returns roughly 99.5%, while a 8/5 version drops to about 97.3%. That single difference costs more than most welcome bonuses are worth.
Table games use a different logic. Blackjack paytables state whether the dealer hits soft 17, whether blackjack pays 3:2 or a stingy 6:5, and how many decks are in play. A 6:5 payout on blackjack increases the house edge by roughly 1.4% compared with the standard 3:2 , a substantial shift over a session.
Roulette paytables are fixed by the wheel, but not all wheels are equal. Australian players should note that single-zero wheels carry a 2.7% house edge, while double-zero versions jump to 5.26%. Live dealer lobbies at Gamdom list both, so checking the wheel before you place a chip is worth the ten seconds it takes.
| Game Type | Key Paytable Metric | Strong Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Pokies | RTP | 96%+ |
| Video poker | Full house / flush return | 9/6 |
| Blackjack | Blackjack payout | 3:2 |
| Roulette | Zero pockets | Single zero |
Practical Habits Before You Spin
Open the paytable before your first bet, not after a losing streak. Confirm the RTP, note the highest-paying symbol and check whether the maximum win is capped. Some titles limit wins to 5,000x regardless of what the reels show, and that cap belongs in your decision-making.
Compare three or four games in the same genre. A difference of 2% in RTP sounds trivial until you apply it to a few hundred spins. Then check the bonus terms , rakeback and free spin offers at Gamdom Australia stretch your play further, but only if the underlying game pays fairly to begin with.
Finally, treat the paytable as a screening tool rather than a prediction. It tells you what a game returns over millions of spins, never what the next spin will do. Read it, choose well, and set a limit before you start. That combination is the closest thing to a strategy the maths allows.
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