Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways sits at the top of the list on published return, with high volatility and a 2,100x maximum win.
- RTP
- 96.72%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 2,100x
- Lines
- megaways
- Fishing
- Pragmatic Play
Pokie guide · Australia
Online slot machine game: where it works and where it does not
A quiet online slot machine game can still do the job, though not always the job people expect it to do. This page sets out where a low-demand title works, and where it simply does not, without leaning on numbers that cannot be verified.
- 5pokies compared
- 96.72%best published return
- A$5max bet on a bonus
The shortlist
The list, in order of return
The shortlist below is ordered by published return from highest to lowest, and it lists five widely available titles rather than quiet ones, so you can compare the pattern.
Checked on 19 October 2026
Big Bass Bonanza
Big Bass Bonanza is effectively level with it on return and maximum win, but uses ten fixed lines rather than a megaways grid.
- RTP
- 96.71%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 2,100x
- Lines
- 10
- Fishing
- Pragmatic Play
Madame Destiny Megaways
Madame Destiny Megaways gives up a little on return but raises the published maximum win to 5,000x.
- RTP
- 96.51%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 5,000x
- Lines
- megaways
- Mystical
- Pragmatic Play
Gates of Olympus
Gates of Olympus sits just below it on return, with the same high volatility and the same 5,000x maximum win, and no line count listed.
- RTP
- 96.5%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 5,000x
- Greek Mythology
- Pragmatic Play
Sweet Bonanza
Sweet Bonanza has the lowest published return here but by far the largest maximum win at 21,100x, which is what high volatility looks like.
- RTP
- 96.48%
- Volatility
- Medium-High
- Max win
- 21,100x
- Candy
- Pragmatic Play
All of it, in a table
Sort by whichever figure decides it for you.
| 1Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | 96.72% | High | 2,100x | Pragmatic Play |
| 2Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | High | 2,100x | Pragmatic Play |
| 3Madame Destiny Megaways | 96.51% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play |
| 4Gates of Olympus | 96.5% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play |
| 5Sweet Bonanza | 96.48% | Medium-High | 21,100x | Pragmatic Play |
Select a column heading to sort.
What low demand actually changes
Demand for an online slot machine game usually reflects marketing spend, not the game itself. A title that gets little attention is often simply older, or released without promotion, or tied to a theme that does not suit a broad audience. The mechanics may be identical to busier titles from the same studio: the same reels, the same volatility, the same maths behind the screen.
What changes is the support around it. Fewer players means fewer guides, fewer forum threads, fewer streamers. That makes it harder to know in advance how a game behaves across a long session. It does not make the game better or worse, but it does mean the player carries more of the work of understanding it.
Where this kind of game works
A low-demand online slot machine game works when you already know how you want to play. If you prefer short sessions, a simple grid, or a theme that appeals without being everywhere, an unbusy title is fine. There is no queue and no pressure to keep up with whatever is popular this month.
It also works when the game is used as one part of a mixed session rather than the main event. The published return figure, where a game has one, is a long-run average across enormous numbers of spins. A single session can land anywhere around it, so a quieter game is not a safer one. It is just less crowded.
Where it does not work
It does not work as a way to stretch a deposit further. Low demand says nothing about volatility, hit rate or maximum win. A forgotten title can be as harsh as any headline release, and the only figures worth trusting are the ones published for that specific game.
It also does not work as a shortcut past the bonus terms. The partner's published terms apply the same way regardless of which game is open: first deposit carries a 600% cash bonus, daily cashback is 10% of losses, the minimum deposit is US$20, and the maximum bet while a bonus is active is A$5. Pick a game first, then check it against those limits.
FAQ
What readers ask about this
Is a low-demand online slot machine game any different to a popular one?
Mechanically, often not. The difference is usually promotion and player attention, not the underlying maths. Read the published figures for the game itself rather than assuming a quieter title behaves differently.
Does an unbusy pokie pay out more often?
There is no rule that says it does. Published return is a long-run average across a very large number of spins, and any single session can fall well either side of it. Nothing about popularity changes that.
Can I play a low-demand game while using a bonus?
Only if the game is permitted under the terms, and the same bet limit applies: the maximum bet on a bonus is A$5. Check the specific game against the terms before you open it, not after.
What should I look at before choosing any online slot machine game?
Published return, volatility, and maximum win, in that order, plus the bonus conditions if you are playing on one. Where a game has no published figures, treat it as unknown rather than assuming it is generous.