50 Lions
50 Lions leads the list on published return at 96.79% with medium-low volatility and the smallest ceiling of the five at 600x.
- RTP
- 96.79%
- Volatility
- Medium-Low
- Max win
- 600x
- Lines
- 50
- African
- Aristocrat
Pokies · Australia
New pokies online: five that hold up, and why
New pokies online arrive constantly, and most of them are variations on something already on the shelf. This page looks at what the published figures say about five titles, and what a bonus term actually does to your balance.
- 5pokies compared
- 96.79%best published return
- A$5max bet on a bonus
The shortlist
The figures, side by side
Below are five titles ordered by published return to player, from the highest figure on the list down to the lowest, with volatility and maximum win shown alongside.
Checked on 19 October 2026
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways sits just behind at 96.72% return, high volatility and a 2,100x maximum win across megaways lines.
- RTP
- 96.72%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 2,100x
- Lines
- megaways
- Fishing
- Pragmatic Play
Big Bass Bonanza
Big Bass Bonanza is published at 96.71%, high volatility, the same 2,100x ceiling and ten fixed lines.
- RTP
- 96.71%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 2,100x
- Lines
- 10
- Fishing
- Pragmatic Play
Madame Destiny Megaways
Madame Destiny Megaways returns 96.51% on a high-volatility profile with a 5,000x maximum win.
- RTP
- 96.51%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 5,000x
- Lines
- megaways
- Mystical
- Pragmatic Play
Gates of Olympus
Gates of Olympus has the lowest published return here at 96.5% and the highest ceiling alongside Madame Destiny at 5,000x.
- RTP
- 96.5%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 5,000x
- Greek Mythology
- Pragmatic Play
The whole list, in one grid
Sort by whichever figure decides it for you.
| 150 Lions | 96.79% | Medium-Low | 600x | Aristocrat |
| 2Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | 96.72% | High | 2,100x | Pragmatic Play |
| 3Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | High | 2,100x | Pragmatic Play |
| 4Madame Destiny Megaways | 96.51% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play |
| 5Gates of Olympus | 96.5% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play |
Select a column heading to sort.
What the return figure actually tells you
A return to player figure is a long-run average across an enormous number of spins. It describes the machine, not your session. A title published at 96.79% can take your whole starting balance inside an hour and still be behaving exactly as designed, and a title published at 96.5% can hand back a run of wins that makes the lower figure look wrong. Neither outcome proves anything about the game.
What the number is genuinely useful for is comparing titles on paper before you commit a cent. A spread of under one percentage point across five games sounds trivial, but it compounds over a long run of play. Pair the figure with volatility and you have a rough picture: a low-volatility title pays smaller and more often, a high-volatility title pays rarely and can pay large, which means longer dry spells.
Volatility changes the shape of a session
Volatility is about the ride, not the average. Four of the five titles on the shortlist are published as high volatility, which in practice means balance swings that feel disproportionate to the bet size. If you sit down expecting steady small returns on a high-volatility game, the session will not match the expectation, and that mismatch is where most of the frustration comes from.
The exception on the list is published as medium-low, with the smallest maximum win of the five. That trade is the whole point of the rating. A lower ceiling and gentler swings suit a shorter session, while the four high-volatility titles carry bigger ceilings and far more time between meaningful pays. Neither shape is better; they just ask for different bankroll discipline.
Where the bonus terms bite
A large first deposit percentage is the headline, and cashback on losses is the quieter line that gets read last. Both come with conditions, and the condition that matters most here is the maximum bet allowed while a bonus is active. A cap that sits below your normal stake does not just slow your play, it can put the bonus and any winnings from it at risk if you ignore it.
Read bonus terms before you deposit, not after a win. The order of operations is the thing people get wrong: they deposit, play at their usual stake, hit something, then discover the cap. A cashback percentage is also calculated on losses, so it does nothing to soften a winning session and it does not make losing neutral.
Judging a new release without playing it
You can learn a lot from the specification plate alone. Return figure, volatility rating, maximum win and line count are published before anyone spins, and they narrow the field faster than any review. A title published at 96.7% with a 2,100x ceiling and high volatility is a different proposition from one published at 96.79% with a 600x ceiling and medium-low volatility, regardless of theme or artwork.
What the plate cannot tell you is how the features feel, how often they land, or whether the base game holds your attention. That part is taste, and taste is not measurable. Use the figures to shortlist, then accept that the rest is a judgement call about what you enjoy, made with money you can afford to lose.
FAQ
Quick answers before you decide
What does RTP mean on a new pokie?
It is the long-run average return per unit staked, published by the game maker. It is not a prediction for your session, and a session is not the long run.
Is a higher maximum win always better?
No. A big ceiling usually comes with high volatility, which means longer stretches without a meaningful pay. It suits a larger bankroll and a longer session.
Do bonus terms affect how I can bet?
Yes. A bonus usually caps the stake you may place while it is active, and breaking that cap can void the bonus and its winnings. The cap here is A$5, well below many players' usual stake.
Can I compare new pokies by their figures alone?
You can shortlist them, because return, volatility and maximum win are published in advance. Two games with similar figures can still feel very different in play, so the plate narrows the field rather than settling it.