What Are Pokies and Why Are They Called That?

When you visit Australia or browse through online casinos, you will often hear the term "pokies". It can be confusing at first, especially if you're more familiar with the term "slots".

In Australia and New Zealand, "pokies" is the common term for slot machines. There’s no difference between pokies and slots except for the name. Pokies are a major part of the casino experience in these countries.

The meaning of pokies is simply another word for slot machines. The name "pokies" has become ingrained in the local culture, making it a unique term that reflects the popularity of these games. The term "pokies" is now common in online casinos too.

How it Got its Name “Pokie”

Australians love to shorten words. For example, they turn "relative" into "rellie" and "surfer" into "surfie." So, it's natural that "poker machine" was shortened to "poke machine" and similarly to "pokie."

So, if you are wondering why were these machines called "poker machines" even though they resemble slot machines more than poker machines?

The exact reason is unclear. To define pokies, we can say it's a term that has always been around. Advertisements from many years ago also referred to these machines as pokies.

One theory suggests that in the early 1900s, Australian casinos had actual poker machines, similar to what we know as video poker today.

When slot machines became popular, they were placed next to these poker machines. It was easier to call all these machines "pokies." The term stuck and is now used for all slot and video poker machines, even in online gambling.

Free online pokies are very popular in Australia. Casual pokies are also commonly found in Australian clubs and pubs.

Different Names for Slot Machines Around the World

While the deck of cards remains the same, these beloved gambling machines have unique names in different places.

In England, they are called "fruit machines" or "fruities." In Scotland, they go by the name "puggy."

Elsewhere, some people use classic slang and call them "one-armed bandits." This nickname comes from the lever on the side of old slot machines that players pulled to spin the reels.

Each country has its own way of referring to slot machines. These names reflect the local culture and history of gambling.

Knowing these terms can help you feel more connected to the game. Whether you play a fruit machine in England, a pokie machine in Australia, or Indian pokies online, the excitement of the game is universal.