Have you ever heard the word ‘pokies’ and wondered what it meant? Pokies is another term for slot games. It is mostly used in countries like Australia and New Zealand as an abbreviation of ‘poker machines’.

But what exactly are pokies? How do they work? How can you start playing pokies? Read on to find out more.

What is the origin of the word ‘pokies’?

As mentioned above, pokies refer to slot machines and slot games. The term itself is short for ‘poker machines’.

The term appeared in Australia and New Zealand during the 20^th century. Soon enough, it became the default term for slot games and slot machines.

Why did this word become popular? Because Australians and New Zealanders are particularly fond of diminutives.

They have created a lot of new terms by abbreviating words.  For example, to say a ‘barbecue’ they say a ‘barbie’. Instead of ‘breakfast’, they will say ‘brekkie’. And for a mosquito, they will say ‘mozzie’.

A linguist called Anna Wierzbicka argued that Australians and New Zealanders have introduced these diminutives in their English to reflect their own cultural values and collective identities. According to her, these diminutives make locals seem less formal and friendlier than British people. They help locals distinguish themselves from their former colonizers.

These new words have apparently helped Australians and New Zealanders come to terms with the English language by making it their own.

In some ways, they have reinvented UK English in order to bring their own identity and culture to it.

How do pokies work?

Slot games can be played at a land-based venue or online. They are always played on a slot machine. Depending on the venue, this slot machine can be physical or virtual. Nowadays, online slot games are particularly popular.

What are the rules of pokies?

Pokies, or slots, are very easy games to learn because they are luck-based. Players will need to rely on their luck when playing. The game starts when players insert coins or deposit virtual credit into the slot machine. The machine will then start up.

Players will then need to press on the machine’s button or pull its lever. This can vary from machine to machine. The button, or lever, will activate the machine’s reels. These reels will spin before stopping.

Players will know whether or not they have won depending on the symbols they land.

The symbols will usually vary from one pokie to another. Some games might have wild symbols or bonuses that unlock an extra round or a reward.

In other words, some games have additional features and surprises along the way.

Players can find the largest selection of pokies here and compare the different hidden features in these games.

New players should note that not all pokies are the same. For example, there are different slot machines on the market.

It is worth knowing what slot machine you will be playing on before starting a game. The rules and the mechanism will vary from one category to another.

Here are some of the main slot gaming categories:

Classic Slots

Classic slots, also known as single coin slots, are the most traditional pokies. They are commonly found at land-based gaming venues.

They are usually played with a single coin or token that players have to physically insert into the machine.

Video Slots

Video slots are arguably the most popular slots on the market. As their name suggests, these games do not feature physical reels.

Their reels are fully virtual. Because of these slots’ virtual aspect, they are mostly found at online casinos.

That being said, many land-based casinos have also embraced video slots. Their video slots are basically classic slots but with virtual reels.

Multi-line Slots

Multi-line slots are also very popular pokies. They are known for their high number of paylines and original winning combinations.

Progressive jackpot slots are new types of slots that offer bigger jackpots. Many of them also offer multiple additional prizes.

The best way for a player to find out which type of pokie they prefer is to try a number of different pokies. There are many different games within each category.

Players can start by picking a game with a theme that they enjoy. They can also pick a game that they think has some entertaining bonus features and wild symbols.

If money is an issue, players can start by trying out free games online. Most online casinos have a ‘free games’ category.

‘Pokies’ should no longer be a mystery after reading this article. Now that players know what pokies are and how to play them, they can start their slot gaming journey.