Did you know pokies are one of the most popular games at online casinos and at land-based venues. They are played by millions of people each day and there are thousands of pokies to choose from. However, most of the people reading this probably have no idea what we’re talking about.
Perhaps you have seen the word pokie before, and if you’re from Australia you’ll be wondering what all the fuss is about. In this article, we’ll explain what a pokie is, why they are so popular, and how the term came to be. As a quick spoiler, it’s an Aussie term for something in the casino world.
What is a Pokie?
Let’s cut straight to the chase. A pokie is a slot machine! At least it’s a slot machine in Australia and New Zealand. If you’ve ever been Down Under, you’ll know Aussies have a penchant for slang terms, and that’s no different in the online casino realm.
Back in the old days, slot machines were also called “poker machines” in Australia. Taking the “pok” from that term, people in Australia started calling these machines Pokies.
Of course, the slot world has changed since those days of mechanical machines. Even in land-based casinos, most slots have video screens instead of actual spinning reels. Either way, Aussies have kept the term Pokie and even extended it to online slots… everyone loves online pokies!
Why the Slang?
Understanding why Australians turned slots into a slang term means learning a little about the language culture Down Under. People in the country like to change words and give them slang meaning. So, a good day becomes “gd’day” and a beverage such as beer becomes a “bevvie”. So, it is reasonable that a poker machine becomes a Pokie.
What’s more curious is why slot games were called poker machines in Australia. One theory is poker machines (similar to video poker today) that arrived in the country before mechanical slots. They grew in popularity and became known as pokies. When the first slot machines landed in Australia and sat alongside poker machines, it just became easier to call both types of game pokies.
Is a Pokie a Slot?
In Australia and New Zealand, there is no difference between a pokie and a slot machine, whether in a land-based casino or online. However, if you adopt the slang and head to another country, such as visiting Las Vegas, you may get some curious looks if your call the slots “pokies”. Still, we think the word pokie is more fun than slot, so we are going to stick to using pokies?
Other Words for Slots
Australia is not the only country to create a slang terms for slot machines. For some reason, plenty of people around the world have come up with creative names for slots. If you head to the United Kingdom, you will come across the term “fruit machine or fruity”. That’s because classic slots used to have fruit symbols on their reels.
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