What Are Pokies? Names for Slot Machines

We pride ourselves on having readers from all corners of the globe. As a result, a recurring question that we often receive from our non-Australian readers is ‘What are Pokies?’. Being no strangers to the rich culture of gambling in Australia, we’ve decided to tackle this question head-on with this comprehensive guide to everything worth knowing about Australian pokies. So stick around, you might just be amazed by what you’ll learn!
Question marks.
Published on: 17 June 2021

The word ‘pokie’ is an Australian abbreviation of the word poker, however, today it simply refers to poker and slot machines.

In the Land of Oz, many people play pokies in clubs, pubs, land-based casinos, and most recently, in online casinos. Therefore it’s important to fully understand the term a little better if you ever fancy spending some time there and rolling with the locals.

Origins of the Term

You may be reading this and scratching your head in confusion as to why exactly Australians would shorten the already short word of poker and use it most commonly when talking about slot machines. Don’t worry, we were just as confused too!

Linguists speculate that the term ‘pokie’ and its connection to slot machines originates from the early 1900s with the introduction of the very first Australian slot machines. In Australia, the very first slot machines were incredibly similar to the so-called ‘video poker machines’ of the time.

Often these poker and slot machines were placed in the same rooms or directly beside one another in the many pubs and early casinos across the country. Over time it became easier for the locals to refer to both with the umbrella term of ‘pokies’, a word that has retained popularity up to the present day.

A slot machine in a pub.

Pokies Vs. Slots

Perhaps even more confusingly, the term ‘pokies’ has transferred over to the realms of online gambling which has only deepened how interchangeable the term is. Therefore, both online slot titles and video pokerhas a certain sense of character and charm. With many Australians traveling across the globe every year and sharing the curious manner in which they speak, it’s not completely unfathomable that the term could flourish in other parts of the world. Time will tell.

In a similar vein to many of the gaming machines found in various other countries, today most of the pokies in Australia found today use video screens instead of the old-fashioned spinning reels. Speaking of other gambling cultures, let’s take a look at the slang equivalents of ‘pokies’ in other nations.

Pokies in Other Places

In several other English-speaking countries, slot machines are curiously called by many names. Take England for instance and the early days of the original slot machines. Players were rewarded with chewing gum that had a refreshing, fruity taste when they were successful. This paved the way for the eventual inclusion of various fruits as symbols on the illustrated reels of slot machines, thus leading to the marriage of the terms slots and ‘fruit machines’ or ‘fruitys’.

Further north in Scotland, the term ‘puggys’ is often employed to describe slot machines. Although its origins are a little more enigmatic and mysterious than the previous example, the term ‘puggy’ can also refer to bank ATMs.

In contrast, slot games across the pond in the United States of America are affectionately referred to as ‘one-armed bandits’ due to their original levers on the side that players would pull on to kick start the action. Regardless of whatever they call pokies in your native land, it’s crucial that the gameplay itself is fair and randomized, which brings us to the relationship between pokies and the law.

Legalities Surrounding Pokies

You may be wondering about both casino and online pokies and whether or not they are considered legal in the eyes of the Australian Government. The simple answer is that playing pokies in Australia isn’t illegal, however, it is rigorously regulated by the government to ensure player protections in regards to fairness.

Presently, both land and online casinos that feature pokie slots must adhere to the principles of the Interactive Gambling Act which was written in 2001. This 2001 Gambling Act explicitly forbids an ‘unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services to customers in Australia’’ across a medium of other popular betting games such as roulette, craps, and blackjack.

As the world of online betting continues to blossom, it is highly likely that the Australian Parliament will continue to maintain their watchful gaze over the games of chance being offered by casinos to better protect its citizens. In fact, the 2001 Gambling Act was revisited and adapted back in 2017 with tighter restrictions on sports betting and lotteries being implemented.

Cultural Attitudes to Pokies in Australia and New Zealand

Now that we’ve discussed extensively everything about exactly what pokies are and how they’re regulated we like to discuss some thought-provoking stats about the cultural attitudes towards pokies in both Australia and its neighboring New Zealand.

Statistically speaking, Australia has one of the world’s strongest gambling cultures. Did you know that 80% of all adults in Australia gamble either online or in-person? To be even more specific, 4% of Australian adults play pokie slots every week.

Number 7 icons in a slot machine.

This figure is sure to increase in number as casinos that offer pokie slots are increasing in number, which will unquestionably lead to Aussies engaging with them more. If we cast our sights on New Zealand however, we can also detect a growing popularity in pokie machines.

According to the latest figures, there is one pokie machine for every 211 people in New Zealand. Startlingly, the NZ ratio for pokies to people in affluent areas is 1 machine to 465 people, whereas in poorer districts it is 1 machine for every 76 people.

We always advise that you check out the licenses of any casinos you visit beforehand to be sure of their legitimacy and that you also remember to take a break every once in a while. Please don’t be afraid to seek help if you find yourself engaging in harmful gambling behaviors as well as there’s a wealth of support networks out there!

Finally, as we wrap things up, we warmly invite you to check out some our features on the best gambling sites in New Zealand and Australia that feature our personal top pokie picks. Good luck out there!

Australian Slang

Australia is certainly a land with a very colorful history. Thanks to its lively mixture of vocabularies from the Indigenous languages as well as those from settlers from Great Britain and Ireland, the turns of phrase used across the country have always been bursting with intriguing slang words and dialects.

If you’ve ever met an Australian, you might have picked up on the fact that they love to abbreviate conventional English words when they speak or morph their pronunciation entirely. For a bit of fun, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Australian slang terms and what they mean in the list below.

  • Arvo – Afternoon
  • Biccy – Biscuit
  • Dunny – Toilet
  • Lappy – Laptop
  • Mozzie – Mosquito
  • No Wucka’s –No Worries
  • Sangers – Sandwiches
  • Thongs – Flip-Flops

Pretty fun to say, wouldn’t you agree? Taking the abbreviations and diminutive speech patterns are clearly major features in the English language in Australia. So you can see more clearly where the word pokie came from when referring to slot and poker machines.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you go Down Under you never know what you’re going to get, which is why we’ve taken the time to compile below the most commonly asked questions that we regularly receive from our international readers. If you’d like to dive deeper into other fascinating aspects of gambling culture, be sure to check out some of our other exciting in-depth guides to learn more.

What is an Australian Pokie?

The Australian slang ‘pokie’ simply refers to any casual slot machine. If you’ve ever crossed paths with a slots machines in your travels, then you’ve already come across a pokie. Like other machines, the name of the game is to click 'Spin' or pull a lever and wait for good fortune to come to greet you.

What are pokies slang for?

Interestingly, the origins of the word ‘pokie’ can be traced back to the 1900s, when the very first video poker machines stepped onto the scene in Australia. Often it was the case that these poker machines were situated beside slot machines in bars and pubs, thus leading to the locals uniting both games under the same name of ‘pokie’ ever since.

Are pokies only an Australian thing?

While they are undeniably an integral part of Australian gambling, pokies are also enjoyed by the country’s next-door neighbours in New Zealand. In fact, in New Zealand, there is one pokie machine for every 211 people. As Australians continue to travel and spread their influence around the world, it could be that many people will fondly adopt this beloved slang term.

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