Pokies games come and go, but there are some classics that stand out in my mind that I would like to share.  So often even in Australian casinos new pokie machines are released but the classics remain.  From Queen of the Nile to Where’s The Gold, these pokies games still attract a huge audience and are often seen lining the casinos floor.  The same applies to online pokies games, where a certain few games develop a cult following and are often seen on the top list of slots played worldwide.  The reason for their success is fantastic game play that provides simple yet fun entertainment along with attractive graphics and addictive sound effects.

Online casinos often product reports which show which pokies games are the most popular with Australian players and we can now reveal the top games to play…

TOMB RAIDER

The original Tomb Raider pokies has provided millions of hours of game play to players all around the world.  The appeal is that this game is based on the popular Lara Croft Tomb Raider franchise.  Being online the the original online pokies helps in that it has developed a cult following.

AVALON

Avalon is a personal favorite that has a medieval feel about it, with treasure chests and the lady of the lake who provides the free spins.  What is so great about this game is that during free spins the multiplier changes and can reach 8x winnings, creating some fantastic payouts.

THUNDERSTRUCK

Thunderstruck, the viking themed original slot has been consistently topping the charts of the most widely played game online.  A great free spins bonus is available when 3 or more ram symbols are hit.  You just gotta have a spin on this game if you are new to playing online pokies.

Jackpot City now boasts one of the largest array of pokies game titles online than any other online casino.  With a stunning range of over 200 pokies games to choose from jam packed with free spins, bonus features, dazzling graphics, 3d effects, movie themes and state of the art sound effects it is little wonder Australian players are flocking to enjoy the benefits of playing online.

Australian Pokie Machines with ever changing rules and regulations are on the nose in Australia with spend declining year on year.  Popular casinos around Australia are trying to revamp their offerings with the latest machines being rolled out, often linked to jackpots.  However the payouts when playing online slots will often be much higher than found elsewhere.

All you need to do is DOWNLOAD the casino software (it is totally free) and you will then have access to the pokies game menu which is divided among various different categories depending on the game style and paylines. There are classic games, Multi Spin Video slots and various free spin themed pokies. Each game category comes with its own set of instructions and pay tables which list all the symbols and important game functions.  Even better all games can be played as free pokies to start with, allowing you to explore the different games, functions and controls before playing pokies online with real money.

Jackpot City is without a doubt the most premier location on the internet to play pokies online and the range of games is totally phenomenal   You will not have to wait for a machine, simply download and play for as long or on whatever machine you like.

You can claim 30 Free Spins instantly to enjoy at Jackpot City Casino, click here to claim.

According to recent studies held by experts at the Gaming Authority Group Australia, land based pokie machines may soon be a thing of the past with new technologies overtaking the old platform.  With the emergence of online pokies on both desktop computers and mobile phones the threat to traditional playing methods is growing.  Whether it be pokies apps on iPhone or android, the ability for users to play free pokies or real money pokies online the options and technologies are rapidly evolving.

During recent university studies it was found that over 70% of people with access to mobile phones and the internet preferred to play pokies online.  The reason being that payouts at major casinos (Crown and Star City) around Australia are extremely low and getting lower.  Players surveyed acknowledged that both payouts and range of games was higher online and that the cost of playing ie. not having to drive and eat out when playing if proving attractive.  The average player can also claim more bonuses when playing online pokies compared to major Australian casinos.

The study also found that there needs to be immediate review of the Interactive Gaming Act 2001 to allow Australian providers to offer services online.  Currently they are prohibited, whilst Australian players are free to enjoy playing pokies at offshore casino sites.  It is estimated that over $1billion is spent online and this figure is growing rapidly every year.  Whilst the current Australian government is quibbling over maximum limits on pokie machines of $1 per spin, it is being argued that more attention needs to be made to online laws.

With the growing social landscape changing in Australia, more time is being spent online through facebook and twitter giving access to word of mouth regarding the benefits of playing pokies games from home on iphone or computer.

Real Money Pokies Australia

If you want to take the plunge and play real money pokies instead of our range of free pokies, then you really need to be aware of a few important things, which we will discuss here.

1. Play free games first.  Discover our range of free pokies games first and decide on a platform and game that you enjoy and know how to play.  You would be amazed at the amount of players who quickly jump on a machine blind folded, not know important symbols and understanding the payline structure.

2.  Set a cash limit and stick to it.  Things can get out of control when you are enjoying yourself on slot machines.  It is crucial when you start playing with real money that you have a very strict limit and stick to it. When playing online pokies you can often deposit via credit card therefore it is even more important when playing with credit to limit your account to a set amount per day or week.  Often an online casino will allow you to set this within the software.

3. If your aim is to make money when you play, then have a specific goal in mind and walk away or log-off when you have reached your goal.  Say you really want to make $100 and collect some free spins, well if this can be achieved then be strong enough to cash out and claim your winnings.  There is often a strong temptation to keep playing or try other games.  This can be dangerous as overall the odds of winning long term on real money pokies is not high.

4. Make use of the excellent online casino bonus codes and offers available.  If you want games with the best graphics, highest payouts, linked jackpots and best bonuses then playing online is a must.  We have an exclusive offer with Jackpot City where you can claim 30 Free Spins instantly with real money, meaning you will be well on your way to winning!  There is simply no way Crown Casino orStar City will offer the size of bonuses that online casinos do.

5. When playing real money pokies it is certainly everybody’s aim to walk away with not only a win, but a sizable one.  Unfortunately relying on a $1,000 + payout within the normal gameplay of a slot is not a good option.  In order to get a $1,000 + real money payout you need to play on a progressive jackpot linked game.  These can be triggered randomly (usually higher chances to win with bigger bet sizes) and jackpot sizes can range from $500 to a massive $1,000,000.  There are slim chances of winning,but why not have at least a chance by playing on a pokie with a linked jackpot.

Following the above key points is crucial when swapping over from free play pokies to online pokies Australia with real money.

Online Pokies No Download – Play Australian Pokie Machines Free

If you love playing Australian pokie machines and are excited by not only real money pokies but the ability to play free games, then there are so many online pokies free no download that are just waiting for you to enjoy!

When it comes to playing online, the features and technology of pokies has improved dramatically.  Now the games virtually mimic those found in casinos not only in Australia but all around the world.  Coming in various formats, themes and so many different bonuses the manufacturers Playtech and Microgaming have learnt from traditional providers like Aristocrat to deliver pokie machines that are exciting and fun.  No matter whether you want to play with real money or enjoy free pokies you will walk away a winner because you can now enjoy no download pokies free, where you can play as much as you like without loosing a cent.

Online Pokies No Download are usually referred to as free flash games, whereby there is no software to download, all you have to do to play is load the flash software within your browser and you have instant access to free slots.  The available games range from 5 paylines to over 100 paylines, so that variety in games is huge.  The betting style can be as low as once cent to as high as $100 per spin (I would recommend free play for this high!)  All of these flash pokies game represent that same level of excitement and thrill as you would get at a land-based casino without having to jump in the car.  You can play all you like at home directly on your computer or mobile phone.

There are pokies themed on comic books, movies with cinematic spins, fantasy themes, real life, cartoons and heaps more.  The range of slots is amazing and you because you can load up a game in your browser you don’t have to wait until your favorite machine is available or play in an area filled with other people.  All of the pokies available online can be played free of charge.

These are some of the most popular free flash pokies games..

If you do want to download software you can.  Most online casinos provide a free download whereby you can load up all the online pokies and store them safely on your desktop of mobile phone.  This ensures that each time you want to play the slots load quickly.

The following casino offers Online Pokies Free No Download and if you do decide to play with real money will also provide new players with bonuses to play with..

Pokies Games

When playing pokies games in Australia, a new player might be overwhelmed by the options, features and the range of pokie machines available.  There are a huge range of Australian pokie machines to play at casinos but when it comes to online pokies there are so many more games available and the variety is absolutely huge!

Here we will discuss the different games, jargon and tips to find and understand how slots work and how to get the best out of your play time.  After all if you are playing real money pokies then if you are shady on how to play and don’t understand the betting styles and game play then they can become very expensive and the possibility of loosing money is high.

Most of the slot machines these days are multi line with 5 reels and some even 9 reels.  This wasn’t the case with the original machines which were set over 3 reels and had very basic designs and features.  These traditional slot or fruit machines are still featured in casinos but don’t offer the same excitement and winning opportunities are the games with more lines and reels.

The multi line, video pokies games are the best and most popular in Australia today.  When you first play pokies then it is really important to study the pay table.  These will show all the symbols that the game offers, the payouts for each symbol along with describing the bonus features on offer.  Usually the bonuses or “free spins” are won by triggering 3 or more scatter symbols.  Each game has different varieties and not all pokies are the same therefore don’t go in to a playing session blind, know and understand how the game works.

Here are some terms you might come across when viewing the pay tables..

Symbols – Each square on the screen will be depicted by a symbol which together form a win if usually 3 ore more line up on a payline.

Scatter – A unique symbol which usually unlocks free spins and bonuses.  You will often find that when this lands you will hear a special sound effect to add excitement.

Wild – This is an extremely important symbol which substitutes for all others (except the scatter) which will provide good winning opportunities.  WILD symbols come in different variations, some expand and others will provide a 2x multiplier or higher.

Gamble - This is a separate feature on some pokies games which allows the player to re-bet their winnings and instantly double winnings through selecting a correct card suit or colour.

Autoplay – Will allow the player to set a certain number of spins and bet, providing the ability to keep playing while away from computer.

Multiplier – Special symbols which multiply winnings by a certain amount when shown on the pokies reel.

Paylines - Paylines can vary significantly from each game, ranging from 5 to over 100 paylines.   When this represents is how many different varieties or combinations are allowed for the symbols to line up and provide a win.

Most pokies games will payout left to right, however there are some that will payout both right to left and left to right.  Scatters can sometimes be required in a certain sequence left to right or anywhere on the reels.

There are so many different variations of pokies out there, the best thing to do is play our range of free pokies first before depositing real money, study the features, paytables and develop you own playing and betting style.

Try the following free games..

There are trends in Australia and in particular the states of NSW and VICTORIA that more and more money is being spent on pokie machines.  With the recent government hand outs from the carbon tax and income tax reductions people are flocking to the pokies to have a play and spend their cash handouts.  The most recent Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data shows that approximately $69.6 million was shoveled into Victoria’s 765 poker machines in 2011-12 – a modest increase of $186,000 year on year.  Chair of the Victorian InterChurch Gambling Taskforce Mark Zirnsak was quoted as saying poker machines in Victoria have suprisingly been able to maintain their revenue, even though economically Australia is starting to slow.

The most recent stats from June show that some areas of Australia saw a 10-15% increase in expenditure on pokies which is similar to various other times when the labor government in Australia undertook a cash splash.

Most of the pundits of course loose this money spending on traditional land based pokie machines with low payouts at the various casinos and pubs around Australia.  Whereas if the money was spent on pokies games online the payouts maybe higher.  A recent study has shown that online pokies generate 5% more in payouts due to providers having lower operating costs and expenditure and inciting players with free pokies.  This is also included in the new mobile pokies that are being played on iPhone and Android.

With the recent blockbuster online pokie game released including Batman The Dark Knight and Andre The Giant it has never been a better time to play pokies online.

There are so many great new pokies game releases so far in 2012!  Most of these games can be enjoyed as free pokies where you do not need to download any software to enjoy trying and getting familiar with the machine before you play with real money.  This is a really good option because so often you might play a machine and loose your money and not enjoy a minute because the games features and payouts are really bad.  It is not even an option at your land based venue to try games before you insert your money which we believe is unfair as some people simply want to just enjoy the entertainment of playing totally free.

Here is a brief summary of some of the latest pokies free downloads to enjoy.

Jekyll & Hyde will transform you into the ultimate online slot master, with spooky sounds and incredible graphics this pokies game will keep you entertained for hours on end.

A twisted taled of Alice in Wonderland, the online pokies game Alaxe in Zombieland transforms the much loved characters from the much love childrens story into a dazzling online pokie machine with free spins and special bonuses.

Much like some popular artisocrat pokies the Great Griffin pokies features video graphics whereby a great flying griffin will claw additional wild symbols on the pokies reel awarding some excellent high payouts.

The campaign for tighter controls over pokie machines in Australia continues to intensify as Andrew Wilkie (a key independent in Australian politics) continues to push for mandatory pre-commitment for poker machine players whereby players will need to determine the amount they are willing to loose before entering a club, pub or casino to play the pokies.

With the Labor party however gaining an extra seat in parliament due to the independent speaker resigning and being swapped with a coalition party member, Andrew Wilke may not succeed in getting his reforms through parliament as they are very unpopular in labor heartland and the government no longer needs Wilke’s support to cling on to power.  The extra votes raised the prospect the Gillard Labor Government in Australia could afford to ignore Mr Wilkie who warned in defense “They are not going to cut me loose.’  Wilke, an independent from Tasmania who has the outlook for pokies for the whole of Australia at his fingertips has vowed not to give up on his crusade against poker machines.   People who are not unhappy with these laws can quite easily still enjoy free pokies online.

It is a very interesting state of affairs in Australian politics as the pokies have created a huge industry along with the major manufactures, Aristocrat, Ainsworth, IGT and Konami.  Australia currently boasts 197 000 slot machines, the highest number of machines per head of population in the entire world.  Around 600,000 Aussies play the pokies on a weekly basis as a form of entertainment.  These pokies in casinos, pubs and clubs throughout Australia make up 62% of the AUD$19 billion annual gambling sector and 40% of this is said to be contributed by problem gamblers.  Wilke is arguing strongly that players can loose up to $1,000 per hour and this must be stopped through regulation.

The Greens party in Australia has proposed an idea that all pokie machines need to be capped at a $1.00 maximum bet per spin.  Anyone who is familiar with these machines would know that this is a ridiculous idea as every machine in Australia would need to be reconfigured and some of the buttons would simply not work if this was the case, costing the poker machine industry hundreds of millions to replace and retire machines that do not fall within a $1.00 maximum bet.  Another dumb idea from the Greens party.

There is a backlash in Australia against pokie reforms.  “I hate what the government is trying to do. It’s my money I put in these machines and they have no right to dictate how I spend it,” a senior member of Sydney’s Star City said.  However Wilke’s argument is that over 100,000 Australians are problem gamblers and these people need to be protected through gambling reforms.

What do you think about these new pokie reforms in Australia?  Will people just prefer to play online pokies?

Around the 1950s in Australia, an organization led by Len Aisnworth founded the company Aristocrat and created their very first slot machine named the “Clubman.” They revised it two years later using a new and improved slot machine known as the “Clubmaster.” Having said that the first slot machine was originally developed inside the United States of America by a man named Charles Fey who developed the slot machine “Liberty Bell”.  Most people do not realize that in their early development pokies machines in Australia and around the world were illegal to play and were mostly an underground activity.

It wasn’t until the the early part of the century when the slot machines first hit Australia. In 1956, the NSW Australian government legalized gaming machines in clubs and then the industry really took off.  This is where Aristocrat developed considerable market share and began aggressively developing and promoting their range of pokie machines.

The subsequent couple of decades supplied nothing considerably new in terms of the games and changes to the mechanics of how the pokies worked. They all had three spinning reels and either 1, 3 or five lines, pretty boring stuff. The jackpots had been by today’s standards tiny plus the interactivity was limited to pulling the machine lever and waiting for the reels to stop which was boring for some players.  The one constant was the the games accepted dollar coins as form of payment, notes were not accepted by machines until later.

It was not till the mid 1980′s when Australia got it’s first taste of video pokies which were interactive, featured excellent graphics and had multiline payouts. This was the biggest development in gaming since Charles Fey had invented the very first slots machine. Not simply did the games have 5 reels but the also had a lot of extra lines, free spins, bonuses and offered further way to win like cost-free spin attributes and bonus functions.  The sheer interactivity and excitement of the games led to a massive take up in the population playing slots and some would argue created a problem for some who couldn’t handle the extreme temptation of playing.

Today, that you are likely to see these slot machines in Australian Casinos, pubs and clubs and just about every major center boasts a huge range of pokies. They are without doubt one of the most preferred types of gambling entertainment in Australia.  However Australian’s some might argue are now developing an unhealthy appetite for pokies machines and would prefer to play free pokies games as a form of entertainment.  Australian pokies today are leading the way in relation to new game concepts, innovation and graphics.

Pokies is usually a slang word in Australia for slot machines. There is no documented date for when the term “Pokies” was 1st applied in Australia. People today in Australia often say factors like “I’m going to have a spin on the pokies” or “I’m off to have a flutter on the pokies.”.  The term pokies is likely to have come from the fact that people poke at the machines to win dollar coins.

Today Australia enjoys a diverse range of pokies games including the popular titles such as Queen of the Nile, 5 Dragons and Wheres the Gold.  You will find a huge assortment of games available to play from many different pokie manufacturers including Aristocrat, IGT, Konami and Ainsworth.

In Australian politics pokies and restrictions on playing are becoming more debated.  This due to the Gillard government who have joined forces with anti-pokie member of parliament Andrew Wilke to implement reforms which place limits on the amount people can gamble or bet.  Whilst this is still up in the air (as at 2010-2012) it is likely that some form of reform is going to take place.  If it does many players to go on the internet to play online pokies.