If you’re in Australia or New Zealand and love games, you’ll be familiar with the term ‘pokie’. If you’ve never heard it before, you might be surprised to discover that pokie is actually slang for slot machines (both land-based and online).
Learning how to play pokies can open up a really exciting world of gaming to players. There’s lots of fun to be had on these machines with a little amount of preparation, with a huge range of pokie sites in New Zealand and Australia to choose from.
In this article, we’ll explain how to play pokies, what to look for in an online pokies site, popular features, and more! Read on to learn all about this amazing game.
Types of pokies games
Before we get into a deep dive into the features that are included in modern pokies, we’ll take some time to explore the two types of slot machines that are in use. These include Reel Machines and Video Machines.
Reel Machines
These classic machines contain physical reels that will spin when either a lever is pulled or a button has been pressed. This was a standard design that everyone knows and loves, but is actually becoming increasingly rare. Most examples of these machines include three reels.
Video Machines
Innovations in technology over the past years since the internet boom have meant that the majority of pokies now actually fall into the category of ‘video slots’. Many of the physical reel machines have been replaced with computer graphics, meaning that the machines have less moving parts.
As a result, there can be more virtual reels (most often times between 3 and 6), bonus options and animations, and multiple pay lines.
Popular pokie features
There are some amazing popular features on modern pokies that keep customers entertained and coming back time and time again. Here are some of the most common features.
Straight Slots
Known as “straight multipliers” as well, straight slot machines have a fixed payout schedule. These rise in regular increments that depend on the amount of money being wagered. Another example of this is the buy-a-pay machine, an option that contains multiple paytables. The customer can unlock the more lucrative the payables by inserting additional coins.
Bonus Slots
These are also known as “bonus multipliers” and are the type of pokie that offers a fixed pay scale that’s similar to straight slots. The difference is in the bonus amount awarded to winners who wager the amount of coins at its maximum.
Bonus Games
The majority of video slots these Stromectol generic version days now include one or two bonus games. These events happen in-game and often break with the spinning reels format by including clips from movies and tv shows as well as animation.
A theme of bonus games that is common requires the player to select certain objects on the screen which then get revealed to have credits or free spins underneath!
Multiple Paylines
The more classic pokie machines only had a single pay line but advanced versions have increased that number substantially. This has resulted in even bigger pay-outs and the appearance that players have an ever-bigger chance of winning.
Progressives
Progressives are when each time that money is inserted into the machine, a portion is put toward the progressive jackpot, with the amount continuing to rise until the necessary qualifications are met to win it. The most profitable type out of these is the wide-area network, which actually links jackpots from machines across various casinos to create an amazing pay-out opportunity. It’s super exciting too!
What to look for in an online pokies site
With so many pokies websites now available, it’s important to know what to look out for when choosing where to play. Here are some tips below!
Promotions
Promotions are a really important aspect when it comes to choosing a pokies website as you can benefit from exciting bonuses and offers – sometimes that results in a bigger payout! Review the promotions on pokie websites and compare before deciding to go for one or another!
Security
When playing online, you want to make sure that you’re accessing reputable websites that offer the best there is in security. This will ensure that any transactions you make including deposits, withdrawals, and your personal information are all kept safe from potential hackers.
Payment options
Long gone are the days when everyone paid with cash. When accessing a pokie website you want to be sure there’s a range of payment options available to you including credit and debit cards. Some places these days even accept payment from blockchain technologies like bitcoin, so have a look before you get started!
Themed games
With so many fun games, especially themed ones, being produced these days, you want to pick a pokie site with a huge variety when it comes to their game selection. This will ensure that you never get bored when you play and that there’s always something new and exciting on offer.
Themed games are particularly great as they often make pop cultural references to music, tv, and film. Be sure the online site you’re playing at has a good range and that they are always adding new titles to enjoy!