Pokies vs Slots: Why Aussies Call Them Pokies and Not Slots

If you’re new to gambling in Australia, you’ve probably heard people talking about pokies and wondered, what does that even mean? Don’t worry, it’s just the Aussie slang for slots. In Australia, slots are called pokies, and it’s a totally normal word to use, even in casual conversations. It might sound a bit strange at first, but hey, that’s just part of the Aussie charm!

In this article, I’ll break down the meaning of pokies in a way that’s super easy to understand. Let’s get into it!

What Are Pokies?

Pokies is the Aussie term for what the rest of the world calls slot machines, and they’re a big deal down under! These fun machines are made up of reels (the vertical columns that spin) and paylines (the lines where symbols line up to win). 

You’ll find all sorts of colorful symbols spinning around, from fruit to lucky sevens. And when the reels stop, if you’ve got matching symbols on a payline, you win! It’s all about that mix of luck and excitement. 

While pokies are pretty similar to the slot machines you’d find in places like Las Vegas or New York, Aussies just love calling them pokies. 

Pokies have colorful symbols, like fruit and lucky sevens, spinning around.

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Why Aussies Say Pokies Instead of Slots

There’s a simple reason why Aussies call slots “pokies”. When slots first arrived in Australia, it didn’t have the classic spinning wheels but looked more like video poker with glass screens. So Aussies decided slots were close enough and started calling them all pokies.

One theory behind the origin of the term pokies stems from the old days when all slot machines were coin-operated. Players would insert coins into the machine, and if they hit a winning combination, coins would spill out. 

Some believe the meaning of pokies comes from players poking or prodding the machines. They did this in an effort to encourage the coins to spill out. This added a bit of superstition and playful interaction with the machine. This hands on connection, combined with the thrill of winning, gives pokies their distinctive appeal.

Plus, Australians also love shortening words, it’s just their style. They found that saying poker machines took too long, so they trimmed it down to pokies. Now, the term covers everything from classic slots to online pokies and even poker games. It’s just one of those Aussie quirks that make their slang so unique!

Slot and poker machines were placed together, so Aussies call them pokies

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Slot Machine Slang from Around the World

Slot machines go by all sorts of quirky nicknames worldwide, and each one tells a little story about local culture! 

• In the UK, they’re fondly called Fruit machines, thanks to their classic fruity reel symbols. 
• Meanwhile, Scotland takes a playful turn with Puggys, a word that’s as unique as their accents. 
• In America, the nickname One-armed bandit became popular back in the day when pulling a lever was how you played and it earned the name by emptying wallets faster than you’d expect. 
• Over in Japan, things get flashy with Pachinko machines, which combine gambling with high energy ball games. 
• Italians stick to a no nonsense approach, calling them Slot machines or Macchine da gioco. 
• While French sometimes get fancy with Vidéo poker gratuit for free poker style games.
• And Europe? Well, they’re known for their dry humor. You might hear terms like Money eating machines or Cash guzzlers. Let’s be honest, that's not wrong!
• But Australians aren’t the only ones with a creative streak. In New Zealand, they also use Pokies too, just like their neighbors.

Gaming slang is proof that every country has its own flair when it comes to naming slots. No matter what you call them pokies, puggys, or fruit machines. They’re all about the thrill, the spin, and the chance of hitting that big win.

Next time you’re traveling, why not try some local lingo at the casino? Whether you’re spinning a pokie in Australia, pulling the arm of a bandit in the US, or chasing pachinko balls in Japan, you’ll always find a universal language of fun and maybe a little luck!

Slot machines are known by various quirky slang terms around the world

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Conclusion

The meaning of pokies is just another way Aussies refer to slot machines. It comes from the fact that pokies were often placed right next to poker machines, and both got the same nickname. It's part of Aussie slang and reflects our unique gambling culture. 

Pokies are incredibly popular in Australia, both in casinos and online. With around 80% of adults gambling and 4% playing pokies every week, Australians are some of the world’s biggest gamblers! So, you’ve got plenty of casinos to enjoy the game!