How much do you really know about the magical online machines that pay out both pleasure and profits day in, day out?
What are pokies and slots? Well, they’re the reason why many of you love PlayCroco, second of course to our rockin’ reptilian mascot. But how much do you really know about the magical online machines that pay out both pleasure and profits day in, day out?
Turns out, there’s so much more to pokies and slots than just flashing lights. They have their own interesting history and incredible back stories. Plus, we’re sure there are many things that you’ll discover about pokies and slots that you never ever knew existed.
But don’t let us hold you up any longer. The purpose of this blog article is to provide a Croco-certified definition of pokies and slots. So if you’ve got a curious mind and want to know all about the casino games that you’re winning on, get ready. This post is your fast track to total pokie and slot domination!
Yes! There’s a small difference 💡
First stop on our journey as to what are pokies and slots is probably the most important. Before we go any further, let us just say this. Yes! There is a difference between pokies and slots. However, these variances between pokies and slots aren’t so big that we can’t hope to understand them in one article.
Of course, you don’t just rely on your reptile brain. You’re a PlayCroco member, which means you’re definitely intelligent! To ensure you know what these differences are though, we have decided to break them down for you. Starting with the fact that the distinction between pokies and slots can be traced back to the countries that they’re being played in.
They’re called ‘pokies’ in Australia and New Zealand 🦘🥝
They do things a little bit differently south of the equator. And we’re not talking about the sub-tropics either. We’re talking about the island nations of Australia and New Zealand (and the Land of PlayCroco) where slots are called pokies.
The reason why they’re called pokies is as muddy as Lake Croco during a 100-year drought. Some say it’s because people used to try and ‘poke’ their hands into the machine in an effort to fish out some cash. Others are certain that pokies are called pokies due to Aussie’s and Kiwi’s propensity for shortening every word. Much like sanga (sandwich), servo (service station) and croc (crocodile).
In any case, “poker machine” was eventually reduced to simply “pokie” and since then the term has stuck. This means that when someone asks you what are pokies and slots, you should be able to give them a straightforward answer.
It’s also become a familiar term in both online casinos and land-based casinos in other parts of the world. Still, if you were to walk into a casino in Las Vegas and ask where to find the pokie room though, they’d probably think you’d had one too many CrocoShakes! Not that that’s a bad thing. We all know how rewarding those CrocoShakes can be!
And ‘slots’ pretty much everywhere else in the world
Slots, on the other hand, are what pokies are called in practically every other country around the world. However, the term slot is for sure more popular in the United States of America! This is where these types of machines first came to prominence back in the late 19th century.
They had a basic 3-reel design and players only had a single reel to win on. Later this would be extended to three then five paylines. With the rise of the computer, the internet and consequently mobile gaming, slots were designed to accommodate different themes, paylines and payout rewards.
In the States, the UK and throughout Europe, you’ll still hear these machines be referred to as slots rather than pokies when discussing the land-based versions. As for the online versions though, well, the terms “slots” and “pokies” can be used interchangeably.
At PlayCroco, for instance, you’ll find we sometimes refer to the same title as a pokie or a slot, depending on the type of content we’re producing. Understandably, this can be kinda confusing if you’re trying to find an answer to the question “what are pokies and slots?”
Essentially pokies and slots are the same thing
Pokies and slots are defined as gambling machines that create a game of chance for you to win on. They come in all shapes, sizes and different themes. They’re also available to play in land-based casinos or on mobile devices, laptops, tablets and PCs via online casinos such as PlayCroco! For the purpose of our “what are pokies and slots?” article, we’ll focus on the latter.
There are many strategies that you can employ to increase your chances of winning on an online pokie or slot! Really though it doesn’t take a whole lot of skill to take your pokie or slot playing proficiencies from BabyCroco to RoyalCroco…
Just try to land the right combination of symbols on the reels in play. Speaking of, the symbols in question also commonly fit the theme of the pokie or slot. The most important ones when it comes to online pokies and slots though are the high-paying base game symbols, scatters and wilds. More on those symbols here.
When these symbols appear on the reels you’ll be treated to a large payout, a jackpot or a feature round! These feature rounds might comprise of free games, prize multipliers or other mini games, which is the case with some of our speciality titles.
Since the types of symbols, themes and paylines on offer differ depending on the pokie or slot you’re playing, it’s always good to read as much about the game you’re about to try as possible. Luckily, we have plenty of guides on various online pokies and slots. Another strategy is to have a gander at some of our more frequently asked questions about pokies and slots below!
Frequently asked questions about pokies and slots 🧐
You bring us the questions. We give you the answers. It’s just one of the ways that PlayCroco increases your betting IQ and helps you understand what exactly are pokies and slots! With some luck and a quick glance at the following FAQs, you’ll be a regular Albert Crocostein before you know it.
Where can I find the best online pokie selection?
Easy! The best online pokies in the Land of PlayCroco (and anywhere else for that matter) are found in our online casino. A new pokie is released every 30 days and we also feature a Pokie of the Month that allows you to earn double comp points. Not only that, but we host one of the largest selections of online pokies, speciality titles, table games and progressives. Just scuttle on over to our lobby now and cast your peepers over our range of titles now.
What are a few awesome pokie playing tips?
The pokies are a game of chance and luck one of your biggest allies. But if you want to play like a true Croco pro, there are a bunch of tips, tricks and secrets that’ll help improve your odds of winning. In this article you’ll find some of our favourite pokie playing tips. All of which have been tried, tested and approved by our head honcho, Croco. Take them for a spin the next time you play an online pokie.
How do I get double comp points on your pokies?
Comp points are the gravy on a delicious roast, the cherry on a banana split and the bee’s knees when it comes to levelling up your pokie playing proficiencies. But superlatives aside, they’re actually one of the most brilliant things about our online casino. When it comes to comp points, you’re always winning something just as long as you’re playing. And the fastest way to accrue them is to play our Pokie of the Month. But don’t let us bore you. Get stuck into collecting comp points now by reading this article.
What are the best Aussie pokies and slots?
Hmmm… now that’s a scale scratcher! It’s really hard to say which pokies and slots are most popular in the land of Australia. You blokes and shielas seem to love everything that we roll out. If we had to pick some of our more heavily played pokies and slots though, we’d probably mention titles such as PayDirt!, Naughty or Nice III and Trigger Happy. Check out this post for a full list of the best Aussie pokies and slots.
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