Key facts
- One name, three Aristocrat products: the venue machine described by the Federal Court, an online version whose rules Aristocrat Interactive publishes, and Ultimate Fast Cash Dolphin Treasure, a newer game on Aristocrat’s US site.
- In Guy v Crown Melbourne Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 36, the Federal Court dismissed the claim on 2 February 2018.
- The RTP depends on the version: 87.97% on the machine in evidence; 94.94% or 97.32% online, depending on the variation an operator uses.
- The Heart of Vegas app names Dolphin Treasure in its App Store and Google Play listings for Australia; the listings do not say which version.
- Aristocrat does not licence its games to offshore operators, so a real-money Dolphin Treasure at a site that accepts Australians is not an Aristocrat product (why Aristocrat games are not at offshore casinos).
What Dolphin Treasure is
The name covers three Aristocrat products, and each has its own figures. The venue machine was first released in approximately 1997, and Aristocrat has made a number of versions since, the 2018 judgment says. It also notes that Dolphin Treasure Legends, when played in Deluxe mode, has different components and rules and was outside the case. A witness in the case gave Queen of the Nile as an example of a clone of Dolphin Treasure.
| Version | Where it is described | What the source gives |
|---|---|---|
| Venue machine | Federal Court judgment, 2 February 2018 | Reels, lines, symbols, pay examples, the RTP of the machine in evidence |
| Online version | Aristocrat Interactive game rules for Pennsylvania operators | Free-games rules, pay table, RTP by variation |
| Ultimate Fast Cash Dolphin Treasure | Aristocrat Gaming’s US site, marked “For 21+” | Hold & Spin, Super Fast Cash and Big Symbol Free Games; no RTP or line count |
| Heart of Vegas app | App Store and Google Play listings for Australia | The name only; the version is not stated |
How a round works
The venue machine shows 15 symbols, three high and five wide, on up to 20 lines; the only free-games rules we found are for the online version.
| Venue machine (Crown, per the 2018 judgment) | Online version (Aristocrat Interactive rules) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lines and bet | 1, 5, 10, 15 or 20 lines; 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 credits per line | 20 lines for a line cost of 20 credits; minimum bet 20 credits |
| Symbols | 13: nine, 10, J, Q, K, A, turtle, seahorse, starfish, octopus, fish school, treasure chest, sunrise | Shown as pictures in the rules, not named |
| Wild | Sunrise; substitutes for any symbol except the treasure chest | Sun symbol; substitutes for all symbols except scatters, and a win it substitutes in pays double |
| Scatter | Treasure chest; two or more anywhere pay | Treasure chest; 2 to 5 pay in any position, multiplied by the total bet |
| Wild line pays | 4 sunrises on a line: 2,000 credits (the judgment’s example) | 5 wilds: 3,000 credits; 4 wilds: 1,500 credits (wins shown with the bet multiplier at 1) |
| Free games | Not described in the judgment | 15 for 3, 4 or 5 scatters; all wins tripled; can be won again during the feature; same total bet as the trigger game |
Venue column: Guy v Crown Melbourne Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 36, paragraphs 53–59. Online column: Aristocrat Interactive game rules and pay-table images, checked 17 October 2026.
The judgment gives no free-games count or multiplier for the venue machine, so the online rules do not describe it. The same goes for the wild’s doubling, which only the online rules state.
RTP: one figure per version
There is no single RTP: the machine in evidence showed 87.97%, and the online version runs at 94.94% or 97.32% depending on the variation. The judgment says the Dolphin Treasure machines have an RTP of at least 87%, that the exact figure varies between machines, and that rules and pay table stay the same across models.
In theory, 87.97% means 87.97 credits back for every 100 bet over the game’s full cycle. For one configuration, four reels of 30 stops and a fifth of 44, that cycle is 35,640,000 outcomes. Each spin is independent, the judgment notes, and a machine does not become more or less likely to pay the longer it is played. Its volatility was given in closed court and is not public.
Online, Aristocrat Interactive’s configuration uses variation 03 (94.94%) for Caesars and variation 04 (97.32%) for FanDuel, both in Pennsylvania. Venue machines in NSW, Victoria and Queensland must return at least 85% (venue return limits by state).
The Federal Court case
In February 2018 the Federal Court dismissed Shonica Guy’s claim that Crown Melbourne and Aristocrat misled gamblers about their odds of winning on the Dolphin Treasure machine and acted unconscionably. Her case pointed to a fifth reel of about 44 symbols against about 30 on each of the first four. A win of 15 credits on a 30-credit bet was what she called a “loss disguised as win”; the respondents called it a “less than bet” win.
Justice Mortimer found the reel claims not made out and the conduct not unconscionable. On the RTP display the judgment says: “Although I have found the Risk representation is made, I find that at most, it gives rise to some initial confusion or misapprehension.” And: “The making of that representation does not constitute to misleading or deceptive conduct within the terms of s 18 because any initial impression or misapprehension would be dispelled once a gambler starts using the EGM, and or alternatively looks at further information available in the form of brochures on the casino floor.”
The judgment adds that Crown and/or Aristocrat may consider amending the wording on the screen. Whether machine features contribute to gambling disorder it calls an important question, and leaves undecided.
Free play: what exists
Of the three Product Madness apps we checked (Heart of Vegas, Cashman Casino and Lightning Link Casino), only Heart of Vegas names Dolphin Treasure in its App Store and Google Play listings for Australia (17 October 2026); the listing does not say which version. The App Store text lists “MORE HEARTS, DOLPHIN TREASURE and so many more Vegas slots”. We did not open the app’s lobby.
The same listing says: “You must be 18+ to access this game. This game does not offer gambling or an opportunity to win real money or prizes.” Coins are sold as in-app purchases, and the App Store marks the app “Contains Loot Boxes”. Aristocrat offers no demos to Australian players and does not distribute its games as browser pokies here, as our guide to free Aristocrat pokies explains. What other free pokies are, from casino demos to social apps, is in our free pokies guide.
Where the real game is playable
Online, we found the game at licensed US operators (Pennsylvania rules, 17 October 2026). In Australia, the venue machine is the version on record.
| Way | What we found | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| Australian venues | 38 Dolphin Treasure machines on the Crown Casino floor as at 16 November 2016; no current figure in our sources | Federal Court judgment, 2 February 2018 |
| Heart of Vegas app (virtual coins) | Named in the App Store and Google Play listings for Australia; version not stated | Store listings, 17 October 2026 |
| Caesars Palace Online (real money, US) | Game page “Dolphin Treasure (L)”; its Game Rules link opens Aristocrat Interactive’s Pennsylvania rules | Operator page, 17 October 2026 |
| FanDuel, Pennsylvania (real money) | Aristocrat Interactive’s configuration for FanDuel, Pennsylvania lists the game (variation 04); FanDuel’s own site not checked | Aristocrat Interactive configuration, 17 October 2026 |
| BetMGM (real money, US) | Game page for Dolphin Treasure by Aristocrat | Operator’s statement, 17 October 2026 |
| Ultimate Fast Cash Dolphin Treasure | Product page on Aristocrat’s US site, marked “For 21+” | Aristocrat Gaming, 17 October 2026 |
Such operators require you to be physically in the state or province and do not accept Australian accounts, our guide to where Aristocrat games are playable notes. What Australian law says about online pokies is in our guide to the law.
Safer play. Gambling Help Online is free and confidential, 24 hours a day, on 1800 858 858 and at gamblinghelponline.org.au. BetStop, at betstop.gov.au, is the national self-exclusion register for licensed Australian wagering; it does not cover online casinos. Set a limit before you play, including in social casino apps. You must be 18 or over. More contacts are on our support resources page.
Dolphin Treasure FAQ
Can you play Dolphin Treasure pokies online for real money in Australia?
ACMA says: “The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal for gambling providers to offer some online services to people in Australia.” Among the banned services it lists online casinos (our guide to the law). Aristocrat does not licence its games to offshore operators, our Aristocrat guide explains. Online, we found Dolphin Treasure at licensed US operators (Pennsylvania rules, 17 October 2026), which do not accept Australian accounts, the same guide notes. A real-money Dolphin Treasure at a site that accepts Australians is not an Aristocrat product.
Is there a free Dolphin Treasure pokie?
With virtual coins: the Heart of Vegas app names Dolphin Treasure in its App Store and Google Play listings for Australia (17 October 2026), without saying which version. The app does not offer gambling or real-money prizes, sells coins as in-app purchases and is for players aged 18 or over. Aristocrat offers no demos to Australian players.
What is the RTP of Dolphin Treasure?
It depends on the version. The machine in the 2018 court case showed 87.97%, and the judgment puts the Dolphin Treasure machines at a minimum of 87%. Aristocrat Interactive’s online rules give 94.94% or 97.32%, depending on the variation an operator uses. Venue machines in NSW, Victoria and Queensland must return at least 85%.
What was the Dolphin Treasure court case about?
Shonica Guy alleged that Crown Melbourne and Aristocrat misled gamblers about their odds of winning on Dolphin Treasure and acted unconscionably. The Federal Court dismissed the claim on 2 February 2018 in Guy v Crown Melbourne Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 36, finding that the RTP display could cause some initial confusion but was not misleading or deceptive conduct.
How do the free games work in Dolphin Treasure?
In the online version, 3, 4 or 5 scatters award 15 free games, all wins in them are tripled, and the feature can be won again during the free games, according to Aristocrat Interactive’s rules. The 2018 judgment does not describe free games for the venue machine.
Sources and method
- Federal Court of Australia, Guy v Crown Melbourne Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 36, judgment of 2 February 2018 (Mortimer J), read 17 October 2026; paragraph numbers are the judgment’s own
- Aristocrat Interactive, game help for Caesars, Pennsylvania: Dolphin Treasure rules, pay-table images, RTP by variation, and operator configurations for Caesars and FanDuel, Pennsylvania, checked 17 October 2026
- Aristocrat Gaming, Ultimate Fast Cash Dolphin Treasure (US), checked 17 October 2026
- Heart of Vegas on the App Store (Australia) and Google Play (Australia); Cashman Casino and Lightning Link Casino listings on Google Play (Australia) and Lightning Link Casino on the App Store (Australia), checked 17 October 2026
- Operator pages, checked 17 October 2026: Caesars Palace Online, Dolphin Treasure (L); BetMGM, Dolphin Treasure
- Return-to-player floors in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, checked 11 October 2026: NSW Government, GambleAware NSW: poker machines; Victorian Government, RSG online glossary; Queensland Government, gambling winning odds
- Law: Australian Communications and Media Authority, About the Interactive Gambling Act (last updated 21 August 2026)
- Credits back per 100 bet is arithmetic from the stated RTP; the cycle figure is the judgment’s
Written by: Helene Berner · First published: 18 October 2026 · Last updated: 18 October 2026