
If you’re a slot machine lover, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a huge variety of these casino games. What’s more, it’s almost impossible to find two identical online pokies. At most, you might find similar concepts, but it’s the small details of each slot machine that determine its RTP — Return to Player — which, for those who don’t know, means the rate of return on the money invested in the online pokies by the player in the long term.
However, the essence of any pokies machine lies not in the details, but in its additional features. Some slot machines have characteristics (also called features) that make them unique and interesting, for example: B. The Jungle Book or Gonzo’s Quest. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to cover the more general characteristics of these very popular casino games that we consider to be the best. In other words, any good slot machine should have the following features!

Winshark

Rated: 10.0
240% up to €2500 + 300 free spins

Lucky Nugget

Rated: 10.0
40 Spins For NZ$1
Bizzo

Rated: 10.0
Bonus package up to 5000 NZD + 150 FS

Boomerang

Rated: 10.0
100% up to €500 + 200 FS
Spin casino

Rated: 10.0
UP to NZ$1000 + 10 free chance to win a Jackpot
CosmicSlot

Rated: 9.97
UP to NZ$6300 + 200 FS

Jackpot city

Rated: 9.95
UP to NZ$1600 + 10 free chance to win a Jackpot
National

Rated: 9.92
100% up to 500 NZD on your first deposit
Casino Friday

Rated: 9.87
$500 BONUS +200 FREE SPINS

Bovegas

Rated: 9.84
Up to $6000
Arcanebet

Rated: 9.83
150% up to NZ$300 + 50 FREE SPINS on Sakura Fortune

BC.Game

Rated: 9.82
UP to 360%

River Belle

Rated: 9.81
Up to NZ$800

Maneki

Rated: 9.79
UP to 333 EUR + 99 FS

All Slots

Rated: 9.70
Up to NZ$1500

Royal Vegas

Rated: 9.70
Up to NZ$1200
Attractive Bonus Round
Let’s start with the obvious. Any online pokies worth its salt should have a bonus round. When was the last time you invested a lot of time in a slot machine that didn’t offer you any additional opportunities to win?
Well, online pokies without bonus rounds are doomed to failure, because players quickly get bored and something is needed to compensate, as is the case with the Starburst online pokie- a slot without bonus rounds, but a very popular casino game due to its attractive graphics and a certain simplicity. However, the bonus round is there to add excitement and uncertainty.
It will undoubtedly be easier to spend hours playing Gonzo’s Quest — the bonus round takes you to another place with elaborate animations and you can win more in the bonus round than in the normal game — much easier than in games like Mega Joker — where the slot only has an additional feature, with a second screen, just like the main screen.
Bonus round with hints

This feature is something special, and it’s hard to find many online pokies with this feature in New Zealand. Diamond Strike and The Jungle Book are some of them. These bonus rounds are defined by winning prizes, for example by selecting three unknown elements on the board. If you select 3 identical elements out of 12, you will win a prize equal to the multiplier of the original bet, depending on the type of element selected.
Casino games with this type of bonus round are very attractive for one simple reason: the players have a real influence here, unlike the normal game where they «spin» the reels. Once you press the «Spin» button on the reels, you can’t do anything. On the other hand, if you choose your prize on the board, you have the illusion that you are not completely powerless in this situation, because you have a choice.
What’s more, your chances of winning a prize are higher, not to mention that this type of bonus round is usually cumulative, which means you can win several prizes in a single spin!
Free Spins and Scatters
Despite being commonplace in modern online pokies, it’s no surprise that these features make the game more interesting, the chances of winning greater and the investment more worthwhile.
For those who don’t know, the scatter symbol is a special symbol that is not a standard symbol in all slots. In fact, the scatter symbol has only appeared more frequently in online slots in recent years.
The word «scatter» itself means «scattering». It is believed to have this name because it doesn’t need to appear on an existing payline to be activated, and because it can usually only appear on a few specific reels, such as the second, third and fourth or the first, third and fifth.

In some games, the scatter symbol is the only symbol that is not replaced by the wild symbol, as there are no prizes associated with the scatter symbol in some casino games. Now, what the scatter symbol does depends on the game, but its most common function is to activate the bonus round. This means free spins or a special game round, but not both. The scatter will usually only activate the free spins when both features are present in the game.
Now, when it comes to the free spins themselves, the reason is simple: they are not only important, but also a feature that players should look for if they want to end the game with a big bonus.
First of all, as the name suggests, free spins are free. Anything can happen during these free spins, and in real money games, anything offered for free is welcome.
Secondly, many games have huge multipliers that only apply to the free spins. Once again, we highlight the Gonzo’s Quest slot, which is one of the most famous online pokies in the gambling industry and one of the best (if not the best) from developer NetEnt. For example, the Gonzo’s Quest slot has a progressive multiplier feature during the free spins, where each «winning» spin has a multiplier of up to 12 times the original bet!
Thirdly and finally, the free spins are almost always cumulative. This means that additional free spins can be acquired during the free spins. In some slots, such as Wild Shark, this is not as impossible as it sounds. Because with this slot, players can win 5 more free spins when a single scatter symbol appears on the third reel. If this doesn’t sound like playing real money games with less risk, then there’s no other way!
Multipliers
As mentioned above, multipliers are very important, of course, not just during the free spins. In many slots, multipliers are activated on every spin, or simply in the corresponding game mode.
For example, the Jungle Books slot has 5 different game modes that can be combined to form 25 different possible game modes. One of these game modes applies multipliers to certain bets, and these multipliers are cumulative.
So when a feature has the potential to increase your winnings by up to 12 times, you can be sure that you’re winning big.
Wild Symbol
Last but not least, there are the Wilds. The concept of the Wild symbol has a long history, originating from the Joker in American and French decks, which online pokies were traditionally inspired by.
It has become standard to permanently add this symbol to modern online pokies. Nowadays, there’s hardly a decent slot without this feature and it’s easy to see why.
The Wild symbol can replace any other symbol on the reels, even the symbol that awards the player a jackpot. This means that the chances of a big win are doubled, as there are several symbols that pay out for the symbol that substitutes for the Wild.
Conclusion
The future of slots lies in innovation. In order to innovate, slot developers and producers are always testing and introducing new features to make their games unique. It’s perfectly possible to believe that, from now on, any online pokies that doesn’t have its own unique features will almost objectively be at a disadvantage in terms of fun, playability and interactivity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Pokies in New Zealand
The most attractive features in online pokies include bonus rounds, free spins, scatters, multipliers, and wild symbols. These features enhance gameplay, increase the chances of winning, and provide a more engaging experience.
A bonus round in online pokies offers additional opportunities to win beyond the regular gameplay. It usually includes special animations and can be more lucrative than the main game, adding excitement and depth to the player’s experience.
In some slots, such as Diamond Strike and The Jungle Book, bonus rounds with hints allow players to influence their luck by choosing from hidden options on a board. Selecting matching items can result in winning a multiplier of the original bet.
Free spins are crucial for extending gameplay without additional bets. These spins often come with multipliers and the chance to re-trigger more free spins. They are especially valuable as they increase the chances of a substantial payout without extra investment.
Scatter symbols trigger special features like free spins or bonus games. They do not need to appear on a payline to be activated and can appear on specific reels. Scatters are key to unlocking the most exciting elements of a game.
Multipliers increase winnings by a specified factor. They can be found in regular spins or bonus features and can significantly enhance the payout from a winning spin.
Wild symbols help form winning combinations by substituting for other symbols, including those that award jackpots. This increases the chances of hitting a high payout.
Innovation in online pokies is crucial for providing a unique, engaging, and enjoyable gaming experience. Features like intricate bonus rounds and interactive elements keep the gameplay exciting and can significantly influence a game’s popularity and longevity.