What Are Pokies and Why They’re Popular in Australia
While North America and Europe get all the press for online casino play, many overlook that Aussies also enjoy the chance to play online casino games of chance. Oh yes, Aussies do have that gambling spirit and seem to have a particular fondness for slots.
If you live outside of the “land down under,” it’s likely that you are not familiar with the word “pokies.” If you were to ever visit Australia or New Zealand, knowing what that word means might be helpful. With that in mind, let’s discuss pokies and why they are so popular in Australia.
About Casino Gambling in Australia
Outside of Australia and New Zealand, the world knows very little about their casino gambling communities. It’s a bit complicated. While the gambling laws of these areas fall under the control of the states and territories, there are federal laws that seek to control both retail and online gambling. More on that in a minute.
For general gambling regulation, Australia’s four current regulatory bodies are:
- Liquor & Gaming NSW and the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority – New South Wales
- Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission – Victoria
- Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation – Queensland
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Wales
Why does understanding Australia’s gambling infrastructure matter? Because it is complicated. It’s also ever-changing. Visitors would be well-advised to read up on this stuff to avoid legal issues in a country that strictly enforces federal and state laws.
To be clear, the law permits retail casino gambling in Australia. About 12 brick-and-mortar casinos are operating down under, largely located close to major cities that rely heavily on tourism.
Online Casino Gambling Regulations
Online Casino Gambling? The federal law in question is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). The IGA currently prohibits the following gambling activities:
- Online casino table games, poker, and video slot machines (pokies)
- In-play sports betting – online sportsbooks are legal in some states
- Online lotteries
- The use of credit facilities to fund gambling activities
Yes, the IGA prohibits online casino gambling. Authorities also make efforts to stop offshore casino gambling. Of course, there are plenty of motivated iGaming fans who will usually find a way to do what they enjoy doing.
What are Pokies?
In America, players call retail and online slots games “one-armed bandits/slots”. Canadians go with “slots,” while Europeans still seem to fancy the term “fruit machines/slots.” In Australia, locals refer to slots as “pokies.”
The origin of the term pokie is quite interesting. In years gone by, Aussies loved to play poker machines that could be found in retail casinos and bars. Given the Aussies’ propensity for trying to shorten terms, the country universally adopted the word pokie. The term “brekkie” for breakfast is another example of how they love to play with words.
Over time, Aussies used the term pokie to include any kind of electronic gambling machine. You have to admit that it’s a cute word that makes electronic gambling devices seem harmless.
Why are Pokies Popular in Australia?
Across the aforementioned 12 or so retail casinos operating in Australia, there are an estimated 200,000 pokie machines in operation. That’s a lot of casino floor space that is being allocated to pokie players. Note: The casinos in New South Wales account for almost 50% of these machines.
Annual revenue from land-based pokies is an estimated $14 billion, with about 13% of the Aussie population contributing to that amount.
Yes, online pokie play via offshore casinos is illegal. However, it’s something that’s seldom enforced due to a focus on more serious criminal activity. For the Aussies who are willing to take the risk, playing online pokies has become extremely popular.
Would it shock you to learn that Australia has the largest per capita population of retail slot machines in the world? It’s true, a testament to having so many available pokies for such a small population of people. The average Aussie seems to be mesmerized by spinning reels and the “sights & sounds” of a typical pokie. They also seem to fancy having a chance to claim big jackpots while only having to make small wagers. For what it’s worth, New Zealanders seem to have the same affinity for electronic machine gambling.
The Evolution of Online iGaming Access in Australia
Recognizing that online casino gambling is technically illegal in Australia, the lack of enforcement opens the door for avid pokie players to use offshore iGaming sites to do what they love to do. The recent growth in popularity of online casino gambling among Aussies can be attributed to the younger generations who love the convenience of being able to play pokies and table games from the comfort of home or the local coffee shop.
Surveyed players give the following reasons for wanting to play pokies online:
- Saves on the expense of travel to a retail casino
- Popular pokies are available 24/7/365
- Younger gamblers like to gamble privately
- Players get access to a bigger variety of pokies
- Online casinos often offer extra perks like welcome bonus packages
- Online pokies often include extra interactive bonus features
- Online pokies are available anytime, day or night
- Online players can accumulate VIP benefits
Given all of the aforementioned benefits, it becomes easy to understand why Aussie pokie enthusiasts like online pokies.
Preferred Online Pokie Options for Aussies
Aussie pokie players are equal-opportunity casino gamblers. They typically like the same kinds of pokies that slot players in Europe and the USA enjoy. That includes standard slots, branded titles, and progressive games, where the potential jackpots can reach seven figures. Yes, Aussies love to play pokies with their favorite mobile devices.
From a nuance perspective, Aussie pokie players enjoy games created around popular themes like wildlife, sports (especially basketball, rugby, and Aussie Rules Football), ancient mythology, nature, and pokies that delve into Aussie culture.
When it comes to favored software providers for online pokies, one will find the usual suspects. Software giants like Playtech, Microgaming, and NetEnt are always offering pokies/slots and table games for the benefit of Aussie online casino gamblers. Games from popular software developers like Yggdrasil, Betsoft, Play’n Go, Real Time Gaming, and Pragmatic Play are also available from one online casino operator to the next.
The Future of the Market and Demographics
While online casinos are technically illegal in Australia, there is evidence that the laws could soon be changing. The simple truth is that online casino play is too lucrative to ignore. The fact that the country can boast of up to 200K retail pokie options indicates that this is what Aussie casino enthusiasts want. If they can get access to such casino games from home, they will surely support having that access.
Here’s some demographic information related to Aussie pokie players:
- Men make up 60% of the online casino population
- Pokies are favored in the following age range – 35 and 54 years
- The average playing session is about 30 minutes
- Younger players strongly prefer online access over retail casino gambling
Summary
Unlike America’s vast retail casino community (casinos available in up to 40 states), the retail casino community in Australia is quite small. Sure, the nation’s twelve retail casinos can boast up to 200K pokies, but access is limited to players who want and are willing to travel.
The time is fast approaching for Australian lawmakers to face the inevitable. Today’s pokie enthusiast wants online access. This is a clear signal that it’s time to change the laws down under, and give the citizens the access they want. A new online gambling age is dawning in Australia.