Anyone that spends time on an Australian casino website will no doubt have noticed the word “pokie” being used. You may be wondering why this word is used instead of the words “slot machine”. The fact is there isn’t any difference between pokies and slot machines. The word pokie is just a nickname for this type of machine.
The origin of the word pokie
The word pokie is derived from the words “poker machine”. Many people love to shorten words, and this is the case when it comes to the words: poker machine. This brings up another interesting question. Why were slot machines originally called poker machines? The fact of the matter is that no one knows for sure.
There is a theory that states that in the early 1900s, one of the very first casino games was a poker machine. This machine is what many people would ordinarily call “video poker”. When slot machines became more popular, they were placed next to the poker machines. However, it was simply easier to call all of the machines pokies.
The name “pokie” has stuck and it’s likely that slot machines in Australia will always have this name. They don’t offer any better odds of winning, and they don’t work differently. They simply have a different name.
Casinos and pokies
Slot machines or pokies are comprised of a specific number of reels. Some machines have three reels, while others have six. Pokies that can be found online can have a range of themes and symbols. In addition, there may be more than 2000 different pokies in any online casino. This offers a lot of variety to each player. Land-based casinos, however, have a lot less. They are limited by how large the building is.
If a land-based casino wants to add more pokies, they may need to remove some older ones. Online casinos do not have this problem. They are only limited by those who run the website. This means there is a real potential for many different pokies to be found on each online casino.
Pokies and poker
Pokies tend to differ from poker and other games found in a casino. This is because strategy and skill are not required to play. Pokies are basically a game of chance. There is no clear way to win, it’s all down to luck. The symbols that are shown are completely random.
Each pokie uses sounds in addition to symbols to ensure that playing is an attractive prospect. You’re made to think that you’re only a few symbols away from the big win. This is what keeps a lot of people playing.
Can you be certain of a win?
It would be nice to think that there is a sure-fire way to win on a pokie. However, there are never any guarantees. Most of the time, you’re dealing with a game of chance rather than strategy. However, there are a few things you can do that could help to boost your chances of winning:
- Understand the return to player (RTP) rate – This rate, which is given in a percentage, shows your chances of winning. The higher the percentage, the higher your chances of winning are.
- Wait until someone else has played – When you wait, you are more likely to win. This is because with some types of games, the more they deposit money, the higher the win could be. Therefore, it can be worth waiting.
- Always use your free spins – Always use any free spin you are given. They can be quite lucrative for you, so make sure that you use them.
There is no such thing as a certain win when it comes to the world of slot games. This is one of the reasons why they are so much fun. When you play them, you will need both luck and skill.
Different names around the world
Pokies and slot games are the same. They can be played in exactly the same way, they just have different names. Names of things are often based on the geographical location. For example, in England, slot games are often called “fruit machines”. In Scotland, they can be called “puggies”. However, these aren’t the only names that slot machines are given. They are also known in many other countries as “one-armed bandits”.
