What are Pokies?
Pokies, slot machines, fruit machines, one-armed bandits – so many nicknames for what are essentially gambling machines.
If you are new to the pokies world, you might be a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of developers, places to play, and games themselves – there is so much choice out there, that it can be difficult to decide where to start.
In this guide, we will look at what pokies are, how to get started playing them, and what you should consider before you get spinning those reels.
What is a Pokie?
A pokie is a type of game that you can play, either in a casino or online, to win cash. What sets these games apart from others is that they are reel-based, and you need to press a button to start. Matching a set number of symbols on the reels is a win – and it is as simple as that.
Some can be free – which means they are risk-free when you play, but most need a deposit to play (and these are usually the ones with the cash jackpots).
The History of Slot Machines
The slot machine, or pokie, started as a mechanical experiment conducted by Charles August Fey. In San Francisco in the late 1800s, Fey was working as a mechanic, and turned his attention to creating a game machine that would take cash and was based on chance.
The first slot machines had simple symbols, usually card suits, and developed symbols too – the Liberty Bell being one of them, and then different fruit (which is how they became nicknamed ‘fruit machines’ in the UK).
These early mechanical machines were really popular, and despite the moralistic and pseudo-religious standpoints of US culture, they spread throughout the country and reached into Australia and the UK, too.
As technology grew, so did the pokies. Electromechanical slots were invented in the 1950s, followed by video slots. The ‘one-armed bandit’ lost its eponymous pull handle, replaced with a physical button – then, as animation and touch screen tech developed, the physical button became an on-screen button.
How to Play Pokies
While there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different pokies available, the basic gameplay tends to be the same.
To begin with, you need to set your stake. This is usually a stake based on all the available paylines in the game, and the maximum and minimum will be set by the casino.
The lower the stake, the smaller the available jackpot – but usually, the longer you will be able to play without eating up all of your bankroll.
You also need to know what the chances of winning will be, what symbols you are looking for, and whether there are any bonus games or free spins available.
Once you are satisfied, all you need to do is press ‘spin’ – and you will be off.
How to Choose the Right Pokie
A quick online search for pokies will show that there is an overwhelming choice available for you – so how do you choose?
Right Casino
Online casinos are a perfect place for you to get started with pokies, because you can take your time to learn all about them, take advantage of the free and pracrice spins that are available, and take your time.
There are lots of online casinos to choose from – look for ones that are well-regulated, offer plenty of choice in games, and is easy to access. You will probably want to choose a casino that has a good new player offer, like free spins.
Theme
What do you enjoy? There is a pokie for that. From fishing to movies, space to simple fruit, the themes of the pokies available can help you decide.
Game developers spend a lot of time making their pokies attractive to players, so you know that you will be able to find something that you want to play, no matter what your tastes are.
Paylines
In the simplest pokies, there is just one payline – the place where the symbols need to match in a row, and it is usually in the middle.
In more modern pokies, there can be many paylines – and in the craziest types, 117,649 opportunities to win.
Knowing where the paylines are will help you recognize when you are about to get a payout or launch a bonus round.
RTP Rate and Volatility
This is the almost scientific part of playing pokies. There are two things to consider when it comes to deciding the likelihood of winning the game – the volatility and the Return to Player rate.
The higher the volatility, the less likely you’ll win, but the higher the jackpot. The opposite is true of lower volatility.
The RTP rate represents how much is paid out – for example, 95% means that for every 100 units paid in, 95 are paid back to players (although it is not guaranteed, of course).
The more you know about pokies, the better you can play to your skills, which is going to work best for you.