How to Play Starburst: A Complete Guide for Australian Players
Starburst's been around for years, and there's a good reason why. NetEnt created something genuinely enjoyable here—a pokie that doesn't overcomplicate things but still delivers enough features to keep you engaged. If you're new to this game or just want to brush up on the mechanics, this guide walks you through everything you need to know.
Understanding the Game Layout and Paylines
Starburst runs on a 5-reel, 3-row grid. That's five columns and three rows of symbols spinning together. The game features 10 paylines, which means there are 10 different ways to form winning combinations across the reels.
In my experience: here's the clever bit: Starburst uses both-ways pay. Normally, winning combinations read left to right. With both-ways pay, you can also win reading right to left. This doubles your chances of landing a win on any given spin. In the game you'll see the paylines displayed clearly, and understanding them helps you anticipate where wins might land.
Each payline connects symbols across the five reels in a specific pattern. Match three or more identical symbols along a payline, and you've got a winner. The more matching symbols you land, the bigger your payout.
Setting Your Bet: Finding Your Comfort Zone
Before spinning, you'll need to choose how much to wager. Starburst offers flexibility here. The minimum bet sits at just A$0.10 per spin, while the maximum reaches A$100.00. That's a massive range, which means whether you're playing cautiously or going all-in, there's a stake for you.
- For beginners: Start with A$0.10 to A$0.50 per spin. This lets you play longer and learn the game without burning through your bankroll quickly.
- For regular players: A$1.00 to A$5.00 per spin is a solid middle ground. You'll see decent wins without excessive risk.
- For experienced players: Anything from A$10 and upwards works if you've got the budget and understand the variance.
From my perspective: adjust your bet by using the bet controls in the bottom left corner. You'll see plus and minus buttons—tap or click to increase or decrease your stake. Once you're happy with your bet level, you're ready to spin.
How to Spin: Your Basic Gameplay Options
Three ways to get the reels moving. Each has its purpose.
Single Spin: This is the standard approach. Click or tap the big spin button, and the reels rotate once. You'll see the result immediately. This method gives you full control—you decide when each spin happens and can adjust your bet between spins if you want.
While testing I noticed: Autoplay: Want to sit back and let the game run automatically? Select Autoplay, choose how many spins you'd like (usually between 10 and 100), and the reels spin without you touching anything. You can stop Autoplay at any time. This is handy for longer sessions, but remember you're still wagering real money on every spin.
Quick Spin: Some versions of Starburst include a Quick Spin option that speeds up the animation. The reels spin faster, results appear quicker. If you like a brisk pace, this keeps things moving.
In my testing, I found single spins work best when you're learning. You've got time to watch what happens and understand each feature as it triggers.
Symbols and Their Values
What surprised me: starburst keeps the symbol set relatively straightforward. You'll see gemstones, bars, and sevens. Each symbol has a different payout value.
The highest-paying regular symbols are typically the gemstones—think rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Land five matching gems across a payline, and you'll pocket a solid win. The lower-paying symbols are the bars and sevens, which appear more frequently but pay less when they hit.
The exact payout amounts depend on your bet level. Bet A$1 and land five rubies? You'll win more than if you'd bet A$0.10. The paytable shows you precise values for every combination at your current stake.
The Wild Symbol and Expanding Wilds Feature
I found that: the Wild symbol is where Starburst gets interesting. It's typically a glowing star—hard to miss. The Wild substitutes for any other symbol to complete winning combinations. Land a Wild next to four matching gems, and the Wild acts as the fifth, completing the win.
But there's more. Starburst features expanding wilds. When a Wild lands, it expands to cover the entire reel. This is genuinely powerful. An expanded Wild on reel three, for instance, now matches with symbols on either side, creating multiple winning combinations from a single spin.
What surprised me during my testing was how often expanding wilds trigger respins. Here's how it works: if a Wild expands and creates a win, you get a respin with that Wild locked in place. If another Wild appears during the respin, it expands too, and you get another respin. This can chain together, and I've seen four or five respins in a row, building wins rapidly.
Respins: Building Your Wins
After several test spins: respins are essentially free spins triggered by expanding wilds. You don't pay for them—they're included in your original spin.
Here's the sequence: you spin, a Wild expands on one or more reels, and you win. The game automatically awards a respin. The expanded Wilds stay locked in place while the other reels spin again. If you land another Wild during the respin, it also expands and locks, and you get another respin. This continues until a spin produces no new Wilds.
The respin feature is what gives Starburst its potential for bigger payouts. A single spin can turn into multiple respins, each one a chance to add more winning combinations. I've seen modest initial wins turn into substantial payouts through consecutive respins.
Playing Starburst on Mobile Devices
In my testing: starburst's fully optimised for mobile. Whether you're using an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet, the game works smoothly. The layout adapts to your screen size—buttons resize, the grid scales, and everything remains accessible.
Touch controls are intuitive. Tap the spin button to spin, swipe or tap the bet controls to adjust your stake, and use the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) to access settings, paytable information, and autoplay options.
One thing I noticed: mobile play feels snappier than desktop sometimes. The animations are smooth, and respins trigger quickly. If you're playing on the go, you'll have no trouble keeping up with the action.
During my hands-on test: mobile play also means you can set your session limits more easily. Most platforms let you set deposit limits, loss limits, and time limits directly through the mobile interface. Use these tools.
Practical Tips for Playing Starburst
- Check the paytable before you start. It shows all symbol values and explains the features clearly.
- Set a budget before you play and stick to it. Decide how much you're willing to lose, and stop when you reach that limit.
- Autoplay can eat through your bankroll quickly. Monitor your balance if you're using it.
- Expanding wilds and respins are the game's main feature. They're not guaranteed, so don't expect them every spin.
- The both-ways pay feature means you're getting more winning combinations than a standard pokie. It's built into the RTP, so enjoy it but don't rely on it for consistent wins.
Starburst's a solid pokie that rewards patience and sensible bankroll management. Play within your means, understand the features, and you'll have a genuinely entertaining experience.