Any pokies has a RTP, which means the percentage of return on this machine. The higher the RTP, the more chances you have to win. In addition, you can use strategies that optimize the gameplay.
Pokies is a slang word for online slot machines used by players in Australia and New Zealand. Its origin is associated with the history of the development of the gambling industry as a whole. So, the first slot machines in the world were created by the Australian company Aristocrat, and their mechanics were based on the world-famous poker game. This is how the slang word poke emerged from a play on words on the designation of just such slots. Of course, those years have passed when there were only poker slots on the market - the variety of slot machines reaches unprecedented heights, but the tradition of calling gambling with the word poke has remained. And even more: the word not only did not go out of use, but also spread in the cult of the USA, Canada and some other countries.
Australia is one of the first regions where slot machines began to be produced, and besides, it is one of the largest gambling markets on the Internet. According to various estimates, every year residents of the country spend over $ 6 million in casinos. This amounts to approximately $ 500 per person. Naturally, in such conditions in this country, several largest companies involved in the creation of online slots could not fail to form. Below are reviews of just a few of them.
Aristocrat Leisure Limited. The developer of software for casinos and slot machines Aristocrat is rightfully the largest company in the casino industry. You can't even call this company a provider. This is a whole corporation that once took its place in gambling and is not inferior to anyone.
Aristocrat released their first gaming case, The Clubmaster, in 1956. It was a 3-reel slot machine with scatter symbols and multiple paylines. Fortunately for young entrepreneurs, New South Wales, Australia, legalized poker machines in public places that same year. New items were not long in coming, and after such great news, two more buildings appeared.
From 1960 to 1969 "Aristocrat" entered the European market with its own product line. In 1961, a new game design appeared, which was named "Aristocrat of Nevada". In 1963, the company released the Grosvenor machine, and 2 years later - the Moon Money electronic slot machine.
1970 year. The first signs of digital appear in the world and Aristocrat launches an innovative 5-reel gaming case with video elements and an electric meter. The first collection of such machines was called "Wild West".
1980 is becoming a year of great changes for gaming corps and gambling in general. Aristocrat opens its headquarters in London, while the Aristocrat Australia Systems project is launched to develop a casino management system. The Mircostar case collection is launched. The technology of these machines is still used today. In 1983, the company began producing virtual drums. Now there are more combinations and possible spins. Slot machines became more attractive, as you could hit a good jackpot. In 1983, the first Aristocrat buildings appeared in the Las Vegas casinos.
In the 90s, the company expanded. Offices open in South Africa, Peru and Colombia, and new Aristocrat machines appear. In 2000, the provider was recognized as the largest gambling market at that time - Las Vegas, Nevada. Since then, Las Vegas has become the home for Aristocrat. The main office is located there.
Since 2012 Aristocrat has been developing gaming software for online casinos. Flash games, mobile games, and applications appear. The company also creates unique software for casinos and launches its own platform for game development Games Development Kit. A year later, Aristocrat acquires Product Madness, a developer of slot machines and apps. Aristocrat Gaming has conquered all areas of the iGaming industry.
The Australian company Ainsworth Game Technology is engaged in the production of slot machines for real land-based casinos, as well as the development of online video slots, as well as software for gambling operators. Today the portfolio includes about 20 online slots.
The company was founded in 1995. The main office is located in Newington (New South Wales, Australia). There are divisions in North America, Latin America, Europe, as well as sales representatives in Asia.
Founded in 2004, Lightning Box is the third largest firm in Australia vying for clients in the gambling niche. Founded by former employees of Aristocrat and Ainthworth, it entered the market with full knowledge.
These, of course, are not all representatives of developers from Australia, but they are definitely the most prominent. Perhaps the situation will change dramatically in a year, but so far we see such a picture.
Main characteristics of Pokies
Most of the gambling solutions in pokies machines have a standard interface consisting of 5 reels and 15 active cells.
The RTP level ranges from 94–98%. Australians are very fond of progressive jackpots, which is why providers often add this feature to their models.
Often in pokies, users can bet not only on the reels, but also on separate lines. Of course, Australians are interested in slot machines with special symbols - Wilds, Scatters, and so on.
So what is pokies? We have already determined that pokies is just a slang word for slot machines that have survived and have traditionally been used for 70 years. Of course, slot machines released by Australian providers have their own local differences, like any regional games. We analyzed them.