STARBURST POKIE GAME

By Eve Luneborg

Updated September 20, 2024

If you’re looking for an online pokie that’s easy to understand and offers both thrill, entertainment, and potentially big wins, then Starburst by NetEnt might be the pokie for you. Here, you get to win both ways, and this is especially handy when you get the expanding wild symbol. Find out more about what awaits you in one of the most popular pokies at Australian online casinos.

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Rating:

4/5

PLAY FOR REAL MONEY

Features

Reels/Rows

5/3

Payline

10 (Both ways)

Payout Ratio (RTP)

96.09%

Stake (Min/Max)

0.01/100

Game Developer

NetEnt

Bonus Feature

Yes

Table of Contents

THIS IS STARBURST

Starburst is one of the most iconic online pokies ever made. Even though it’s far from one of the newest pokies around, it’s still one of the most played games at online casinos for Aussie players.

neWhat makes this fairly simple pokie machine special is that you can win both ways and that it offers an expanding symbol and respins. In fact, Starburst by NetEnt was one of the very first pokies with these features.

Starburst stands as a testament to the fact that a great pokie can withstand the test of time. No matter how many advanced mechanics and other bells and whistles new pokies have, classics like Starburst will always claim their place in players’ hearts.

STARBURST – A POKIE CREATED BY NETENT

The game provider that created Starburst back in 2012 is NetEnt, which then was known as Net Entertainment. Back in those days, there were far fewer game providers in the casino industry, and NetEnt was considered the best of the best. Not least due to the release of Starburst, which was the number one online pokie at most online casinos that offered the game – as it is to this day.

NetEnt was a pioneer in game development, and other notable pokie releases include Gonzo’s Quest, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Reel Rush. Their progressive jackpots, headed up by Mega Fortune, Mega Fortune Dreams, and Hall of Gods are among the online jackpot pokies with the largest money prizes in the world.

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HOW TO PLAY THE STARBURST POKIE GAME

Playing Starburst couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is start the game, adjust your bet, and press the spin button. For a faster game, you can activate the quick-spin feature, found in the game settings. It’s also possible to use the auto-spin feature if you’d rather not press a button for each and every spin.

THE MECHANICS YOU’LL FIND IN THE STARBURST POKIE

The mechanics of Starburst were revolutionary back in 2012. Since then, many other game providers have implemented the same mechanics, making them commonly found in online pokies. The pokie itself consists of five reels that show three symbols each.

While playing, you play on 10 paylines, but in reality, you have 20 ways to win in each spin. This is due to the fact that the paylines go both from left to right (which is the standard way in pokies) and from right to left.

To get a win, you need at least three of the same symbol on one of the paylines, starting from the left or the right. A combination of four of the same symbol gives you more, naturally, but the best wins come from five of a kind. Because, if you get five of the same symbol on a payline, it pays twice – once from each side of the payline.

SET YOUR BET IN STARBURST

When Starburst was released back in 2012 it was possible to adjust the number of paylines you played on. This made it possible to only select one payline, and thus you could bet as little as 1c per spin. But, this possibility was removed in an update NetEnt made some 5+ years ago, so now you always play on all available paylines. This makes the minimum bet in Starburst 10c per spin.

As for the maximum bet, that depends on the level you play on, and which limit the casino chooses for the game. The standard, though, is that $100 per spin is the maximum. You get to this bet by choosing the maximum coin value and upping the levels all the way to level ten. You’ll then be betting 100 coins per spin, instead of 10 coins which is used on level one.

STARBURST POKIE SYMBOLS & PAYOUTS

There are only seven standard symbols in the Starburst online pokie. This is fewer symbols than what you normally find in a video pokie, which gives you a better chance to get a winning combination. In addition to the standard symbols, there’s also a wild, and this can replace all other symbols.

Also, note that the symbols in Starburst come stacked, and due to this, you have a great chance to get multiple winning combinations in one spin. Now, let’s have a closer look at the symbols and find out what you can win from them.

Star

The multi-coloured star is wild, and this can only land on the three middle reels. Due to this, it’s not possible to get a stand-alone win from the wild. It can only be part of a winning combination together with other symbols. Once you get a wild, it expands and gives you a respin.

BAR

The BAR is a golden planet, and this symbol offers wins of 50x, 20x, or 25x your bet. And, remember, if you get five of them in a row, you’ll get the max payout which is two times 25x your bet, since this combination will pay both from the left and from the right.

7

The second most valuable symbol in Starburst is the red 7, placed on a blue planet. This one pays either 2.5x, 6x, or 12x your bet, depending on if you get 3, 4, or 5 of them on a payline.

Yellow gem

The yellow gem is the most valuable of the gems in this pokie. When getting 3, 4, or 5 of them, you win 1x, 2.5x, or 6x your bet, respectively.

Green gem

The green gem is slightly less valuable than the yellow one, but still counts among the high-paying symbols. You’ll be rewarded with 0.8, 2x, or 5x your bet when you line up 3, 4, or 5 of this symbol in one spin.

Red gem

The red gem has been classified as one of the low-paying ones, but it’s not worth much less than the green one. It pays 0.7, 1.5x, or 4x your bet.

Blue gem

The blue gem is the least valuable gem in the game. You’ll be getting prizes of 0.5, 1x, or 2.5x your bet when you get these ones on a payline.

Purple gem

The purple gem has the same value as the blue, and these are the least valuable gems in the game. You’ll be rewarded with 0.5, 1x, or 2.5x your bet when you line up 3, 4, or 5 on a payline.

FEATURES IN STARBURST VIDEO POKIE

Since Starburst is far from a new release, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that new online pokies tend to have. In fact, there isn’t even a proper bonus game in this pokie. However, that doesn’t mean that there is no excitement, as Starburst is known for keeping players on their toes.

EXPANDING STARBURST WILDS WITH RESPINS

As soon as you get a wild symbol, which is the multi-coloured star, you’re in for a thrill. First, the star will expand to cover the whole reel it lands on, and you can cash in the win this generates. Then, the expanded wilds will stay in place, and you’ll get another spin, which can potentially give you more prizes.

The biggest potential for a win is not when you get one wild, but when you get several. For example, if you get a wild on reels 2 and 3, or on reels 3 and 4, you’re guaranteed a win, since the paylines go both ways. And, if you’re really lucky, you can get wilds on all three middle reels at once, letting you win on all ten paylines, from both sides.

You only get one respin for each spin when you get a star. So if you get two stars on the same spin, you only have one respin. But, if you get one star and then another one on the respin, both stars will stay for the next respin. So by hitting new wilds on respins, you can get a maximum of three respins, if you get one more star for each spin. After that, the Starburst bonus game is over, since there are only three reels where this special symbol can appear. Starburst pokie features

SOUND AND VISUALS IN THE STARBURST POKIE GAME

The audio in Starburst was thrilling and innovative when this pokie was new. However, now, it would rather classify as fairly standard. When you get a winning combination, there’s some sort of happy gem tone to it, and truthfully, the sound is upbeat throughout the game. The most exciting part is when a wild expands to cover a reel because this gives the sound of a shooting star.

As for the graphics, they are colourful, mainly thanks to the yellow, green, red, blue, and purple gems. The background is dark purple, with some small stars flickering in the background. The Starburst game is, after all, a pokie set in outer space.

THE BEST STRATEGY WHEN PLAYING STARBURST

Playing Starburst is always a fun experience, but there’s one thing that makes it even more fun, and that’s winning. To give you the best chance to hit a big win, let’s look at some of the best strategies you can easily use when playing.

TIPS FOR PLAYING STARBURST

In reality, there’s nothing that can help you win when playing Starburst. This is an online pokie, like any other, that runs on a random number generator. This ensures that all game results are completely random and thus, fair. The only thing you can do is rely on luck.

However, looking at it from a bigger picture point of view, Starburst is a great pokie to help you win when playing at real money casinos. Actually, it should be one of your top choices whenever you’re playing with a bonus on your account. And why is that? It has to do with it’s volatility, which we’ll get into next.

STARBURST – THE POKIE’S RTP AND VOLATILITY

The volatility in Starburst is low, which means that you’ll win often, although the prizes you get will perhaps not be very big. In the long run, this will ensure that your bankroll stays quite consistent, without too large drops or jumps. Basically, a low-volatility pokie will let you play for a long time with your bankroll. And, as mentioned in the section above, this is why it’s a great game to play when wagering a bonus. Your chances of completing a wagering requirement are always higher on a low-volatility pokie.

96.09% is the applicable RTP in Starburst. This is quite good, as it’s within the upper level of what’s considered normal in an online pokie. Just note that some casinos might offer a higher or lower return to player percentage, as it’s possible for some operators to choose which RTP they want to offer in selected games.

PLAYING STARBURST AT MOBILE CASINOS

You won’t have any issues playing the Starburst pokie while using a mobile phone. Actually, Starburst was one of the first pokies to be made to play on a mobile. Back in the day, the mobile game was called Starburst Touch, and ‘Touch’ was the attribute added to NetEnt’s pokies that could be played using a smartphone.

However, things have changed, and the game has been upgraded to use HTML5, and is therefore accessible on all devices.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE STARBURST POKIE GAME

Starburst has stood the test of time, and that’s no surprise to anyone who loves great pokie games. It has speed, frequent wins, and exciting game features. Mainly, though, it’s the potential for big wins without too much risk that attracts most players. Not to mention that it’s also a highly promoted game at many online casinos. It’s one of the pokies most frequently used for bonuses and promotions where you can get your hands on casino free spins.

No matter how many years pass, or how many new game mechanics other game providers release, Starburst will always be one of our favourite games. The simplicity of the game also makes it a great pokie for newbie players.

Starburst Pokie FAQs

Can I play the Starburst pokie for free?

Yes, you can definitely play Starburst for free. The game has a demo version, and you can find this at all online casinos that offer NetEnt games. In demo mode, you can play for free for as long as you want. It’s a great way to gauge the winning potential and how the game works before betting real money.

Is there a bonus game in the Starburst pokie?

There isn’t any kind of classic bonus game, like free spins or pick-and-click in Starburst. But, there is a bonus feature that offers thrills, excitement, and the potential for big wins. The wild symbol expands to cover the whole reel and then gives you a respin. If you’re lucky, you’ll get multiple wilds at once, and thus you’re in for a big prize. And, keep in mind that the paylines pay both ways in Starburst by NetEnt.

What is the betting range in Starburst?

The betting range in Starburst by NetEnt starts at 10c per spin and goes all the way up to $100. You bet 10 credits per spin, one for each payline. You then adjust the coin value and the level you want to play on to get to the specific bet you wish to play with.

What is the RTP in the Starburst pokie?

The standard RTP in Starburst by NetEnt is 96.09%. This is a fairly good return to player percentage, as it’s well within what’s considered normal in an online casino pokie. Just note that some casinos choose to offer a higher or lower RTP for specific games. To make sure, check the game rules at your selected casino.

Who made the online pokie Starburst?

The Starburst pokie was made by NetEnt, although they were called Net Entertainment back then. It was in 2012 Starburst was first released, and it has been a player favourite ever since.

Eve Luneborg

Sub-editor & Casino Content Maestro

Eve Luneborg has been a dynamic presence in the online casino industry since 2014, starting at a burgeoning casino in Malta that has now become a leading gambling site. Initially a support agent, she progressed to handling payments and training new staff on processing withdrawals and KYC documents.

In 2016, Eve transitioned from casino operations to become a writer in the iGaming industry.