Do you enjoy online gambling? We’ve got a little history lesson you might enjoy.

In 1895, the first slot machine was introduced in the USA by Charles Fey. The game, Liberty Bell, was an instant hit, but the laws did not allow players to gamble for cash. So the liberty bell started to use fruits, gums, and other commodities.

Soon enough, the reels of the machines started representing such fruits, and slot machines became famous.

In the Down Under, these machines are popularly known as pokies.

Prepare to dive right into the history of pokies and learn everything you need to know about pokie games!

What are Pokies?

The term “pokie” has its origins in the word “poker machine”. People are confused why these games are called pokies when they are more like slot machines than video poker games.

It happened because when slot machines were gaining attention, they were kept next to the video poker machines. Therefore, people started to refer to all the games in the area as pokies.

The term stuck with the population of New Zealand and Australia.

How Do Pokies Work?

Each pokie machine is equipped with an inbuilt computer program. This program can generate thousands of random possible outcomes every second.

As soon as you press the button, the pokie machine will pick one random result from the countless possibilities. The next second, it will again generate another set of options.

The machine keeps doing this over and over, every second of the day and night. SInce pokie machines cannot think or remember, the results are always fair.

Once you place your bet, the machine randomly produces an outcome of symbols on the video display. This outcome is entirely unrelated to the previous or upcoming game’s result.

If the machine declares that you win, you will receive your credits.

Since pokie machines use random number generators (RNGs), there are no such things as lucky machines, hours, or days. Each result is entirely random, and there are no hacks around it.

What Made Pokies Popular in New Zealand?

Gambling was introduced to New Zealand in the 1980s. By 1988, electronic gaming machines, or pokies, became legal and started gaining popularity, the leading in popularity at that time was non other than the legendary Aristocrat Gaming developer.

You could find them in licensed casinos, hotels, game clubs, and Returned Services Associations. In 1989, the New Zealand parliament consented to the legalization of gaming clubs across the country.

By 2003, six major gambling machines were officially available in the most prominent land-based casinos. They were available in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Dunedin, and there were two more machines in Queenstown.

Online pokies had also gained traction in the previous years. In 1994, Microgaming introduced online slots to New Zealand with games such as Fruit Fiesta and Cash Splash.

As the market evolved, several new software providers popped up. Cut to 2009; New Zealand boasted over 20,000 pokies in land-based and online casinos.

Reasons for the Popularity of Pokies

You might be wondering how pokie machines rose to such popularity. Here are some of the reasons.

1.    Basic Machines are No Longer Exciting

Long back, the only machines available were three-reel machines and classic pokies. Players would only find three-stepper types of reels on these machines.

There were no bonus games or rewards with these pokies. The only thing that people would look forward to were wild multiplier spins. Such spins increased the value of the payouts rather significantly.

Modern pokies are preferred since they have better games and an improved interface. They are far more entertaining and allow players to have more variety while playing.

2.    Bonus Games Offer More Rewards

As pokies evolved, players were introduced to fancier games. These games offered different structures and more earning opportunities for the players.

Modern video pokies typically have five reels, compared to the traditional three reels. They also offer fixed or optional pay-lines, and there are many staking options.

Playing these games gives you better chances of triggering valuable bonus rewards. These bonuses could be free spins or funds in your account.

3.    Progressive Pokie Machines

Newer machines feature progressive jackpot slots that enable users to win prizes that might potentially change their lives!

While the chances of winning such jackpots are meagre, they have indeed lured in many more customers and gained much popularity.

The Evolution of Pokies in 2022

With technological improvements on the rise, the world of pokies has also seen significant changes. Moreover, New Zealand is a country with substantial spending on pokies.

Therefore, it is no surprise that 2022 is expected to bring many changes. While some of these have already started getting incorporated in 2021, we will be able to observe these changes in their full glory in 2022.

1.    Graphics and Design

In this day and age, visual quality is an essential consideration in pretty much every field. Online gamblers, too, judge pokies based on their graphics and design.

Developers are now putting their best foot forward while designing and creating unique visual experiences. They have realized that graphics play a significant role in influencing the player’s mood.

2.    Virtual and Augmented Realities

VR and AR are expected to make big waves in the online gambling industry. They could fundamentally change how the online gambling market works.

VR pokies have already started to crop up in small versions. With a little push in the right direction, VR and AR could become the next big thing in online gambling.

3.    Cryptocurrencies

The last couple of years have been highly volatile in regards to cryptocurrencies. However, the crypto world has been tremendous growth.

Since crypto is extremely safe and secure, it is a good idea to incorporate it into online gambling.

Closing Notes

The history of pokie games in New Zealand is undoubtedly fascinating. There have been several transformations from the traditional machines such as Aristocrat Pokies to the pokie games that we all know and love today.

The online gambling industry keeps evolving, and the future holds many more changes and opportunities for players and developers alike.

Did the history of pokies intrigue you? You’ll be stunned by what the future has in store!