Pokies have been a huge part of Australian culture for decades. Ever since the first Clubman pokies flooded the market in the 1950s, which was also when pokies were legalised in New South Wales, the country has had an affinity with these games, which are simple to play and offer players the chance to win thousands of dollars, and sometimes more.
The first machines were simple mechanical ones, with basic gameplay and no special features. But this all changed when electronic pokies were introduced onto the market. These had a huge number of advantages over their predecessors, which only increased the popularity of pokies in Australia even more.
The first fully electromagnetic slot appeared in 1963. It was called Money Honey and was made by industry giants Bally. This machine had a bottomless hopper and an automatic payout of up to 500 coins. There was also no longer any need for the side lever, but many pokie providers decided to retain the iconic feature, as it was so popular with players.
Electronic video slots then turned up in 1976, with the first being made by Fortune Coin Co. This slot used a colour receiver for the display and had no need for reels. This allowed for various new and exciting features, although the first machine in Australia to offer a second-screen bonus round was Three Bags Full, released in 1994.
As you might imagine, new electronic pokies were exceptionally popular with Australian players. The original pokies, while popular, were all very similar, but games started to become more diverse when electronic pokies hit the market. What’s more, the bigger prizes were also a huge attraction for players.
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Advantages of Electric Pokies
As mentioned, electronic pokies proved exceptionally popular when released in Australia, and this popularity only increased as the games became more and more advanced. Electronic pokies had several advantages over their predecessors, with the first being variety.
Before electronic games, all slots were somewhat similar – pull a lever and attempt to line up symbols on the payline. But electronic slots, particularly those with video screens, came in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. The developers could display anything they wanted on the screen – the only limit was their imagination. This huge variety ensured that pokie players could nearly always find something new to enjoy.
Electronic pokies were also more interactive than mechanical machines. A player only interacted with mechanical pokies by pulling the lever. But electronic slots eventually came to have various buttons and other options, allowing the player to feel more immersed in the games.
The improvement in graphics was also notable. When you compare the original video slots with those released just a few years later, the differences are huge. The enhanced graphics made playing even more enjoyable, plus electronic slots also led to better audio too, adding another sensory aspect to the pokie experience.
What’s more, the later electronic pokies regularly offered bonuses and other features to players. You could find games with nudges, holds, free spins, and even second-screen bonuses from the mid-1990s. These additional features made playing pokies games an even more exciting experience, which only added to their popularity.
The Future of Electronic Pokies
Regulation could shape the way pokies develop over the next few years. There has been increasing attention drawn to gambling addiction and the addictive nature of pokies, and companies will be looking at ways to minimise the harm their machines can do.
One change that’s expected to happen soon is the introduction of card-only pokies, making it impossible to play games using cash. By only allowing players to use credit cards, it should be easier for them to keep track of their spending. What’s more, states could soon force players to set limits before they play, to prevent them from spending more than they can afford to lose.
In terms of the games themselves, expect to see more and more innovative features. The competition between pokie manufacturers has never been greater, and companies know that coming up with an exceptional new feature could put them one step in front of their rivals.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, electronic pokies really changed the industry. The new technology allowed for several exciting developments, including many more bonuses and other features, ensuring that even the most regular pokie players regularly had new and exciting games to play.
But these extra features are likely to encourage people to play pokies even more, which could be problematic for those more susceptible to gambling addiction. Therefore, the innovation shown in creating new features must also be used to work out ways to protect players.
