All countries have their own slang, but some push it to such a great extent that foreigners, even those speaking the language, are often bewildered and literally unable to understand the subject of a conversation. This happens in some regions of England and Ireland, in India and China, where the territories are so vast that people from some states literally cannot understand cohorts from the another. Of course, Aussies are known for their passion for shortening every word that they can, and the term “slots” has suffered the same fate.
Pokies are just slot machines, mate! Well, for those who aren’t familiar with the lingo, there is no difference between a regular slot machine and a pokie – they’re literally the same thing. The name itself is likely just a shortened version of “poker machine.” Although a true origin of the word “pokies” is unknown, we believe this explanation is accurate. You may say that there is a significant difference between what we now call Video Poker and a regular slot, and you’re right. Even more, back in the day when the name “pokies” started gaining popularity, slots weren’t like they are today.
Slot machines of the early XX Century were crude, three-reel metal beasts, and the only difference between them was the amount of payouts and the symbols themselves. No wilds, no scatters, no multipliers, no bonus games, no free spins, and absolutely no animation. In comparison to playing these ancient monsters, developing a sophisticated strategy for a video poker game was a great thing to do. Eventually, poker machines became so popular that “playing pokies” started to mean any kind of one-armed-bandit-involving activity. Even the Internet casinos offer good Australian online pokies, instead of online slots.
As slots started to become more exquisite and complicated, they prevailed over poker machines, and by 1990, when the Australian government allowed owners to put pokies into pubs and clubs, regular slots already were the new black – but the old name remained.
You’d better not try this trick anywhere else, because in all other countries people prefer such words as “slots” or “one-armed bandits,” except for England, where they use the oldish term “fruit machines,” and Scotland, where slots are known as “puggys.”
The gaming industry is, without any doubt, one of the most profitable industries in the world, and people owning casino businesses are always somewhere in the Forbes Top 10. Casino operators make millions of dollars in a blink of an eye and always live their best lives because, well… they actually can! The casino business […]
Everyone loves stories about world-class poker superstars who seem to possess a secret skill that can help them effortlessly raise millions of dollars overnight. Yet, when you meet someone for the first time and say “Hi, I’m John, a poker player,” the reaction you get could well be a totally negative one! People tend to […]
A new trend that has to do with loot boxes, which are available as part of many games, has produced a lot of hype in the past two years. Why do these in-game items cause so much controversy? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of video game rewards, so we can learn what it is […]
You’ve probably heard about standard American, European, and French Roulette. But haven’t you forgotten about another important one — a crazy game of chance that can’t be played at any casinos, Russian Roulette? This brutal yet entertaining (for some) form of roulette doesn’t involve a classic roulette wheel. Instead, the game is played by spinning […]
If you love gambling and have been to a land-based casino at least once, you may have thought about becoming a dealer. Playing the same game but from the opposite side, while communicating with other players, sounds like a dream job, right? A dealer is a straightforward job, and you will be the heart and […]
On Monday September 14, MGM announced that it plans to open its first smoke-free casino at the end of September, when Park MGM will finally reopen its venues to players and tourists. The resort comprises around 2,990 rooms and various restaurants, and it’s set to be reopened on September 30. The venue has been closed […]
Online gambling has undoubtedly taken a place of true supremacy over the casino industry during the pandemic. And the reason for that is quite clear: online casinos are more accessible, and you can always count on some encouragement from the casino administration to help you boost your game. However, this digital revolution has only been […]
The large selection of online gambling sites out there can make players somewhat puzzled, and give them a feeling of uncertainty about making the right choice of casino. Each online gambling venue offers its own conditions, games, and various bonuses, of course; but the most important thing is the reliability of the casino and the […]