Pokie is a term that is exclusive to Australia alone. No wonder Aussies even have a distinctive pet name for the video poker slots and machines, considering that they consume this kind of gambling more than any other country.
Pokies was a name that was originally used widely for poker machines that were widespread across Australia. Aristocrat and other companies in the industry introduced a wide variety of slot machines over the years that are now sharing the same nickname.
Compared to other poker players across the world, Australian players are known to lead in playing more pokies. In fact, gambling machines can be legally installed even outside of the country’s gambling facilities.
Only 0.3 percent of the world’s population is housed in Australia. So, it an interesting fact that 18 percent of all pokies are Aussies.
Australia is currently battling a severe addiction to pokies. About 8 percent of Australians in 2015 suffered from pokies addiction. This is a very troubling number in every aspect.
The huge number and ready availability of gambling machines is what might be causing pokies addiction in this part of the world. It is unlikely that addiction is caused by the existence of these machines.
Yes, online and land-based pokies are, no doubt, a popular pastime in many parts of the world. However, they are usually considered a plague on society in Australia.
We want to take you through what pokies are and how their work, as well as the reasons behind Australia’s addiction to them.
Pokies Meaning
The term pokies, as we have already mentioned, is nickname for poker machines. These are the simplest form of betting machines available. They quickly became favored and preferred by the Aussie gamblers.
The Aristocrat Leisure is the Australian slots manufacturer that introduced the first pokies. Founded in 1953, Aristocrat Leisure is still the largest supplier of pokies to gambling facilities across the entire Australia.
Today, there are about 200,000 gambling machines across Australia. Even though only a small portion of these machines are actual poker machines, the local players still call them all pokies.
What Are Pokies
The term pokies is widely used in modern-day clubs and pubs across Australia to refer to the various video gambling or slot machines installed there. These facilities are home to all sorts of gambling machines, ranging from the complex modern video slots to the actual poker machines.
The slots available today in Aussie casinos are simple three-reel classic slots with just a single payline, poker games, and modern slots with several playlines.
The Australian gambling market is dominated by these slot machines, which make up for the country’s biggest part of gambling industry. Australian players loose about $14 billion every year to these machines. So it’s important to look for the best paying online pokies Australia when approaching the game.
While pokies beat each individual Australian for a yearly average of $1,000, they are very popular across the country, particularly in New South Wales.
Even though these machines offer through a variety of sounds, animations, and graphics designed to entice the players, the popularity of pokies is due to the entertainment value that they offer. Aristocrat Leisure and other manufacturers were taken to court many times over these tactics, but they continue with all the practices that worsen the Australian pokies addiction.