What Are Pokies Called in America? Slot Machines!
As a gaming enthusiast, I often field questions from readers about regional terminology differences. One common query: what are Australian and Kiwi "pokies" called here in the United States?
The answer is simple – they‘re slot machines in American parlance. But behind this machine variety‘s multiple nicknames lies a fascinating cross-cultural story. Let‘s dive deeper into the world of pokies and slots!
A Brief History of Coin-Operated Gaming
Before examining regional terminology, it helps to understand how slot machines developed over time. Coin-operated gaming devices first emerged in America in the late 1800s. An early model called the "Liberty Bell", invented in 1895 by developer Charles Fey, featured three reels and established the classic slot machine design.
In their electromechanical form, slots spread quickly across the US and other nations like the UK. Around the same time in Australia and New Zealand, similar coin-operated games called "poker machines" appeared, offering video poker alongside slots under one roof. These hybrid devices earned the nickname "pokies", and the friendly moniker endured even as video poker phased out.
The subsequent digital revolution saw pokies converted from money-hungry bandits into sophisticated computerized terminals. Fast forward to today, and slots/pokies represent a multi-billion dollar gambling market spanning the globe…yet terminology remains stubbornly regional!
Why So Many Different Names? Cultural Influences
Slot machines are called various terms around the English-speaking world:
- Australia/NZ: Pokies
- United Kingdom: Fruit machines
- United States/Canada: Slots or slot machines
"Pokies" we‘ve covered – originally from "poker machines", it morphed into an endearing Australian/Kiwi slang expression.
The British term "fruit machines" arose because early UK slots used fruit symbols like cherries and melons alongside playing card characters on their reels.
In North America, mechanical gambling contraptions earned the descriptive moniker "slot machines" thanks to coin insertion slots on their cabinets. Of course, "slots" serves as a snappy short form.
Despite these regional words reflecting local histories, today the devices themselves essentially work the same worldwide – offering spins for cash with winning symbol combinations awarded randomly.
Pokies Down Under: Notable Numbers
Australia remarkably boasts a per capita gambling spend of $866 annually (as of 2010 estimates) placing them #1 globally. What drives such heavy betting activity?
Pokies themselves shoulder much of the blame. You see, Aussie pubs and gaming lounges feature rows upon rows of colorful pokie terminals – over 200,000 nationwide by 2017 counts. With easy access everywhere from bars to bowling alleys, casual bets add up quick. And beyond overabundance, aggressive elements like misleading return rates fuel issues for susceptible players.
Consequently, Australia suffers high pokie-related fraud and addiction rates. After peaking around $11 billion, yearly pokie losses declined under new reforms – yet still weigh in at an alarming $4 billion-plus even recently. With reductions also shrinking gambling tax funds, controversy swirls between anti-pokies reformers and economic interests lobbying to undo caps.
My view is Australia‘s lax early approach spawned a damaging pokie tradition that proved hard to undo retroactively. Self-exclusion options do help problem gamblers, however factors like game design require broader solutions. Successful reform worldwide may depend more on preventative policies.
Slots Take Center Stage in America
Turning back to the United States as our main subject, a vibrant slot culture thrives under more restrained conditions than Australia allows. Specifically, think Las Vegas! America‘s casino capital embraced slots decades back, with the one-armed bandits quickly advancing from sideshow diversions for women to casino profit drivers.
Today‘s US gaming floors spotlight banks of beeping and dinging modern slot machines above traditional tables. Over 80 percent of total annual gaming revenue stems from slots, tallying over $40 billion in recent years!
Drilling deeper, current statistics show the most slot machines concentrated by state in:
- Nevada: 166K+ slots
- California: 67K+
- Oklahoma: 67K+
- Florida: 43K+
So while regional dialects may differ, American and Australian gaming clearly share a slots/pokies passion!
Inside Slots and Pokies: Variations Explained
Too often, outsiders stereotype pokies and slots using their oldest incarnations as rudimentary single-line mechanical boxes. In truth, today these machines span a spectrum from retro classic to video-game advanced:
- Classic spinning reel – Relies on tangible wheel rotation central to heritage slots
- Video slots – Flashy digital versions with advanced special effects/bonuses
- Progressives – Linked network seeds mega-jackpot that keeps rising
- Penny slots – Allows low cost per spin for casual players
- High limit slots – Lures richer clientele to bet/win bigger
Beyond playing style, innovative hardware concepts like the world‘s largest slot machine keep impressing. Standing several stories high, the one-of-a-kind SlotZilla at downtown Vegas‘s Fremont Street offers dazzling zipline rides! Talk about pizazz.
Even as manyWritten pokies and slots leverage traditional formulas, I‘m also tracking groundbreaking machines on the horizon incorporating skill-based gambling. These next-gen games blend slots gameplay with elements of active video gaming – targeting younger casino-goers.
I predict coming generations of slots/pokies will upend notions about passive play. Regulators worldwide usually demand random outcomes, however skill integration and esports influences seem poised to shake up status quos. Players desire control, so I foresee more responsive, competitive pokies/slots that truly evolve past predecessors. Exciting innovations ahead!
Summary: Pokies Equal Slots on Either Side of the Pacific
By now we‘ve dug into numerous facets around slots versus pokies terminology and culture across regions. To wrap things up concisely:
- Pokies = what Australians call slot machines
- Slots/slot machines = American equivalent to pokies
Likedelicious local slang, pokies and slots reflect the colorful gaming machine history in each locale. Yet these dinging, lights-flashing devices offer that same mixture of relaxation and anticipation to players worldwide.
In America and beyond, interest in spinning reels endures decades on, through periods of societal concern and criticism around gambling impacts. With technological milestones rapidly arriving, the future of pokies/slots looks both intriguing and unpredictable! Stay tuned here as I report back on the latest developments.
