Similar Online Casino Versions of Classic Australian Pokies
Pokies are more than just fun games to play; for Aussies, these popular pub and bar machines rank right up there with surfing, cricket, and fishing.
Australia has more pokies per person than any other country in the world, with nearly 200,000 machines. That’s almost one machine for every 114 people. The only countries that have more are casino-tourist destinations like Macau and Monaco.
Despite the popularity of offline poker machines, the numbers show that their use is declining. However, that’s more because of stricter tobacco laws rather than a lack of interest. In fact, 2020 saw online gambling in the country increase by 67%.
Unsurprisingly, many Aussie players are looking for virtual equivalents to their beloved pokies. That’s why we’ve decided to pair up some of our favourite Australian offline casino games to online casino titles that’ll have you spinning for hours.
100 Pandas, IGT
This pokie features an Asian theme with a beautiful bamboo forest background and the titular pandas on the reels. IGT launched it in 2013, and it’s become one of the most popular slot games in Australia.
It’s a 5×4 game with 100 paylines, stacked wilds, scatters, and a free spins bonus game. The betting range also allows players with smaller budgets to take a few spins without spending too much.
However, as a medium volatility pokie with an RTP range between 93.04% and 96.52%, you’ll probably need to fork out a few coins to score any remarkable wins.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
If you’re looking to spend a little more time in classic bamboo forests, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Panda Paradise brings expanding symbols and cascading wins to the table, while Bamboo Rush gives you the option to risk and double your winnings.
Finally, you have Panda’s Fortune, which offers the closest match to the IGT pokie theme, including a yin-yang bonus symbol, free spins, and panda wilds.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
If you’re looking for an online pokie with similar mechanics and features, you’ll likely enjoy 100 Cats. The game is remarkably similar to IGT’s, featuring 100 paylines, a “Cats Family” scatter, and stacked wilds. It’s almost like EGT replaced one animal with another and called it quits.
Best Match
We recommend Spinomenal’s Terracota Wilds. With an Asian theme, free spins, bonus game, multipliers, scatters, and wilds, it’s an excellent option for players who want to enjoy an online game that’s as close to 100 Pandas as it gets.
Queen of the Nile, Aristocrat
As the name implies, this Australian pokie is all about the stunning Cleopatra and the riches of her Egyptian kingdom. The first machines were reportedly released in 1997, making it one of the first titles released by Aristocrat. That said, it’s as popular today as it was then.
The 5×3 pokie has a good bet range and 20 paylines. However, the low RTP and medium volatility mean that it’s still relatively rewarding. It also features free spins, wilds and scatters and a double-or-nothing gamble feature.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
Cleopatra was rumoured to be the most beautiful ruler in history, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are so many online pokies dedicated to her memory. More accurately, there are dozens of Egyptian-themed games that tempt you into trying your luck by featuring the stunning ancient ruler.
Pragmatic Play’s classically styled Ancient Egypt offers expanding symbols, free spins, scatters, wilds, and bonus games while featuring a similar layout and bet range. Unfortunately, it only has ten paylines which, combined with its medium to high volatility, means it’s not for everyone.
Tom Horn’s Cleopatra’s Secret, on the other hand, has a similar layout but offers 25 paylines, a gamble feature, free spins, and multipliers.
There’s also the cartoony Cleopatra’s Diary from Fugaso and the more modern Book of Cleopatra by StakeLogic.
Playson’s Legend of Cleopatra has a unique layout and pays both ways across 100 paylines. Finally, you have Amatic’s Enchanted Cleopatra, with 243 betways, a wide bet range, free spins, multipliers and scatters.
As you can see, there’s no lack of Cleopatra-themed Eygptian-style pokies from which to choose.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
If it’s the mechanics of the game that you enjoy rather than the theme, you can still find several online pokies to enjoy. Betsoft’s Quest to the West has a similar look and feel, but with an Asian theme instead.
The layout is also 5×3, and it offers 25 paylines rather than 20. It also has a higher RTP, a medium variance, and a good bet value range. You’ll also get to enjoy sticky wilds, respins and locking wins.
Other online pokies with similar features include iSoftbet’s Gold Digger and Cash Camel and Burning Classics from Booming Games. Any of these games will have you spinning the reels for a few hours as you relax as home.
Best Match
If you love Queen of the Nile, why not stick with Aristocrat and opt to play the sequel? QOTN 2 has similar graphics and gameplay, but has additional paylines, a wider bet range, and offers higher wins. The RTP is also decent, but you’ll have to contend with higher volatility as well.
Royal Diamonds, Ainsworth
Royal Diamonds is another popular classic casino game in Australia. Royal Diamonds is a 5×3 reel pokie and has 25 fixed betting lines. The theme is all about diamonds and jewels, as the name implies, and the royally bedazzled symbols all reflect that.
There are multipliers, scatters, wilds and multipliers, but the pokie also features a free spin bonus game where you can choose the mode of reward. For example, you can choose ten free spins that come with a 5x multiplier or go for 20 and a 2x modifier.
Although the game has a classic design, the volatility, various features, and a max RTP of 96.63% makes it a very appealing game. Even with its lower bet ranges, a little luck can still result in wins that pay up to 3,000x your stake.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
If it’s royal and bejewelled reels you’re after, you won’t have to search for long. Diamonds are an immensely popular theme for online pokies, as are glinting jewels and sparkling riches. Luckily, most of them also have a classic look and feel.
You could try out Royal Jewels from DLV or take a spin on the rewarding and thrilling Gold King from Play’n Go. With its deep purples and encrusted gems, Barcrest’s Jewel in the Crown is also a good theme match.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
Many online games have similar gameplay mechanics, including multipliers, wilds, scatters and bonus games. Weight of the Gun by Lady Luck Games is a great option. It also features a 5×3 layout, a bonus game, free spins, scatters and wilds.
BetConstruct’s Billionaire Toys is also a good option. With 20 paylines, 5×3 layout, bonus games, free spins, wilds, and an additional wheel game, you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of fun chasing those big rewards.
Best Match
If it’s Royal Diamonds you love, you’re in luck. After all, why would you want to play a substitute when you can play the real McCoy?
That’s right; Ainsworth finally released an online version of this pokie in 2020. The layout, symbols, and gameplay are all just like the original, although some of the animations feel like they’ve been improved.
Indian Dreaming, Aristocrat
Indian Dreaming is a 5×3 reel game with nine paylines and 243 ways to win, making it one of the more popular pokies released by Aristocrat. Initially released in 1999, you’ll still find the machine in most pubs and bars across the country.
Despite the retro look and feel, the Native American theme and immersive sound effects combined with thrilling features make it a rewarding game to play. You can get as many as 45 free spins with three or more buffalo scatters.
You can get additional spins thanks to the dream catcher symbols, and there are even random multipliers. If you’re looking for an online pokie to fill these wild shoes, you might have to do some digging. Luckily, we’ve already done that for you.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
The west has always promised gold and riches, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so many games feature Native American and Wild West themes.
If you enjoy the classic look and 5×3 layout of Indian Dreaming, you might like to give Wolf Hunt and The White Wolf a few spins. Both feature wilds, scatters, free spins and a similar variance. However, Game Art’s Wolf Hunt has more paylines.
You should also consider Booming Games’ Howling Wolves or Pragmatic Play’s exciting Bronco Spirit. Both have beautiful native themes, including tipis, pipes, hatchets, drums and hunters.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
If you like Indian Dreaming’s mechanics, there are a few other slots you can try. Girls with Guns is a pokie from Microgaming that also has 243 ways to win, free spins, scatters, and wild. It also has a good RTP.
Another good option from Microgaming is Untamed Crowned Eagle. Aside from also featuring the 243 mechanic, it also has substitution symbols, scatters, wilds, multipliers and free spin rounds.
Finally, we have Twin Spin from NetEnt. It has 243 lines that pay both ways, but with the locked reels and wilds, you’ve still got the chance to hit a max win that’s 1080x your stake. With a max bet that goes up to 125, that’s a surprisingly good jackpot to hit.
If you want to take things to the next level, try Twin Spin Megaways. There are 117,649 ways to win, with free spins, multipliers, scatters, wilds, and synchronising wheels.
Best Match
Realtime Gaming’s Rain Dance is probably your best match here. Although it doesn’t have the 243 ways to win, it has a similar theme, look, feel, and mechanics. It’s a 5×3 reel pokie with a good betting range, RTP, and 20 paylines.
Despite being a high volatility game, the free spins, jackpot, respins, scatter symbols and wilds still make playing it worthwhile.
Big Red, Aristocrat
It’s always nice to take a few spins on a pokie that embodies the outback, and that’s precisely what Big Red does. With dingoes, crocs, kangaroos, boars, and desert background, it perfectly captures the wild feel of Oz.
Created by Aristocrat, the game has a 5×3 layout, five paylines, a reasonable RTP and medium variance. You’ll also encounter free spins, scatters and wilds, as well as substitution symbols and a gamble feature. With a lot of luck, you could get up to 255 free spins.
So, what do you do if you can’t enjoy a few hours at the local pub to spin the Big Red reels? You try out a few online alternatives.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
Interestingly, Aussie-themed pokies seem to be quite popular, and if you’re looking to enjoy a few online spins, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Realtime Gaming’s Red Sands has quite a few similarities in both theme and gameplay mechanics. It has 20 paylines, a 5×3 layout, free spins, jackpots, respins and substitution symbols. Naturally, you’ll also encounter a kangaroo symbol.
Red Roo is a Lightning Box title, and this pokie goes as far as actually adding Oz as a symbol to the reels. There are 1,024 ways to win, and if you add in the multipliers, scatters, wilds, and free spin rounds, you’ve got quite the winning combo.
Booming Games contributes the 4×4 Boomerang Bonanza, EGT has Kangaroo Land, and Ainsworth has Kanga Cash Extra. Even so, there are dozens of other kangaroo, outback, and Oz-themed poker machines to choose from, so don’t be afraid to explore a little.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
Big Red is a very simple, classic 5×3 pokie, and its medium variance, above-average RTP, and various features make for relaxing yet thrilling gameplay. If you’re looking for an online game that can give you a similar experience, we’ve got you covered.
First, there’s iSoftBet’s Book of Immortals. Featuring a similar layout, RTP, classic look, ten paylines and a low-medium variance, it measures up in all the right ways. Additionally, you’ll get to enjoy bonus games, substitutions, free spins, scatters, wilds, and symbol swaps.
Next up we have Microgaming’s Untamed Giant Panda. In addition to featuring similar gameplay, you’ll also get to take advantage of the 243 ways to win. Booming Games’ Lava Loca, on the other hand, has 20 paylines but has exciting expanding symbols to go with its thrilling theme.
Best Match
Although it’s not an exact match to Big Red, we think Roo Riches by iSoftBet is the best alternative online pokie. It also has a 5×3 layout, and there are ten paylines.
You can win up to x2,000 your stake; combined with an RTP of 97.66%, additive symbols, scatters, free spins, wilds, and a buy feature, you’ll find a lot to enjoy while playing this pokie. The best part is how closely the theme matches Big Red.
Aside from the titular Roo, you’ll also spot dingoes, crocs, and eagles. You might even catch a glimpse of the Uluru bonus symbols. If that doesn’t capture the soul of the outback, nothing will.
Wild Ways, Aristocrat
Safari themes are quite popular when it comes to pokies, so it’s no surprise that you’re likely to find Aristocrat’s Wild Ways in many pubs, restaurants and land-based casinos. With a simple design, 5×3 layout and 243 ways to win, it shouldn’t be surprising that most Aussies love to spin these reels.
Symbols include crocs, zebras, hungry-looking hippos and tigers. There are also wilds, scatters, and multipliers, as well as free spins. If you’re looking for similar themed online pokies, we’ve got a few recommendations to get you started.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
Do you want to go on a safari adventure? If you’re not too picky, you’ll have dozens if not hundreds of online pokies from which to choose.
Wild Pride from Booming Games is a low variance game with a 5×3 layout, ten paylines and several exciting features. If you’re not disturbed by the neon purple background clashing with the green symbols, you should have a great time spinning the reels.
For something a little classier, try Majestic King from Spinomenal. In addition to its beautiful design, you’ll get to enjoy free spins, several bonus games, stacked symbols and multipliers. It’s one of the most stunning and enjoyable safari-themed online pokies.
If you’re looking for a few more ways to win, you could take a spin on Playson’s Mighty Africa or iSoftBet’s Jumbo Stampede, both of which have 4096 ways to win, free spins, scatters and wilds.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
One of Wild Ways’ most popular features is how many ways you can win. Combined with the low bet limits and rewarding free games, you don’t have to empty your pockets to score a few extra coins from a couple of spins. Unfortunately, this isn’t a common combination when it comes to online pokies, and your choices are somewhat limited.
First up is Thunderfist, a cartoony Asian-themed slot from NetEnt. Featuring the same layout and multiway wins as Wild Ways, it also has free spin bonus rounds, multipliers, scatters and wilds.
Another option would be Microgaming’s Alaskan Fishing pokie. It’s a great gameplay match for Wild Ways, featuring bonus games and symbols, free spin multipliers and, lest we forget, 243 ways to win. Combining an above-average RTP, medium variance and high win potential, there’s certainly a lot to enjoy here.
Best Match
Your best option would be Microgaming’s Untamed Bengal Tiger pokie.
It features almost all the different gameplay mechanics that makes Wild Ways such a great game to play, including 243 ways to win, low bet limits, free spins, scatters, wilds and more. Additionally, the forest theme gives off similar thrilling and adventurous vibes.
If you’re willing to give up your African safari for an Indian jungle journey, you’ll love what the game has to offer.
More Chilli, Aristocrat
More Chilli is such a popular pokie that Aristocrat released a sequel called More More Chilli. It’s not the most creative name, but both games have earned their place as much-loved and very enjoyable titles.
The design is simple, with a basic 5×3 layout and 25 paylines. Despite its basic, classic look, there are several exciting features. In fact, it was the first free multi-reel game when it was released in 2007.
There are bonus games, free spins, scatters and wilds that can help you increase your wins. The best part is collecting chillies. With enough of them, you can add up to four different reels to the screen, which means big wins for you.
With so much to love, how could you possibly find an online alternative? Let’s take a look at a few options below.
Recommended Games With a Similar Theme
Get ready to spice things up with several exciting chilli and Mexican slots.
Diablo Reels is a 3×3 classic pokie with a Dia de Muertos theme and reels filled with wilds, symbol stacks, scatters and multipliers. You can also earn free spins and respin bonus games.
For something a little more modern and lighthearted, there’s Chilli Fiesta from Platipus. This pokie has a 5×4 layout, cartoony symbols and 40 exciting ways to win. You’ll quickly get caught up in the music as you look out for chilli scatters and cactus wilds to drop.
If you’re looking for something a little different, try out iSoftBet’s Chilli Chilli Bang Bang, or GameArt’s Chilli Quest. Both promise fun gameplay and have the potential to pay out big rewards.
Recommended Games With Similar Gameplay
While Betsoft’s Chilli Pop sounds like it would be more of a theme rather than gameplay match, that’s not the case. The pokie focuses more on various types of peppers, although the titular chilli does make the occasional appearance.
What does make it such a fun game is the cascading wins, cluster pays, respins, multipliers, and changing reel sets. It also has exciting bonuses that make it worth playing.
Alternatively, you can go in the complete opposite direction and try out Ice Fruit from BetConstruct. It also has a 5×3 layout, but this time you’ll be trying to defrost delicious fruity treats while trying to enter rewarding bonus games and chasing big wins.
Best Match
Finding the perfect online pokie to match More Chilli isn’t an easy feat. The closest we could find is EAgaming’s Chilli Hunter, and you’ll quickly recognise a familiar character wearing his sombrero and waving around two pistols. That’s right; our favourite hombre is joining us in this spicy game.
The pokie also features a 5×3 layout, Mexican theme, bonus games, free spins, and more. With a wide bet range, fun music and the opportunity to win up to x8,000 your wager, you won’t be bored.
Conclusion: Swapping Offline Pokies for Australian Online Casino Magic
Aussies love pokies, and it’s a pity that most of the best Aussie games haven’t properly made the transition to online gaming yet. Luckily, Australian online casino sites are filled with alternative options that can keep us entertained for many enjoyable hours.
Hopefully, we’ve given you lots of thrilling options to try. However, if you still feel a pokie-shaped hole in your life, don’t be afraid to explore. There are hundreds of thousands of different games available online, so don’t be afraid to poke around and find one you love.
391 articles
