We created this article to pass on information about pokie machine etiquette. Casino visits are fun, especially with friends and family, but you must know how to behave towards fellow gamblers and casino employees on the casino floor.
Once you know the correct pokie machine etiquette, your confidence will rise. You will find yourself playing multiple machines alongside your fellow players without calling a pokie attendant to help you out.
Our article will cover these topics:
- A Brief Overview of Pokies.
- The Importance of Etiquette When Playing Pokies.
- General Etiquette Rules.
- How To Handle Winds and Losses
- Etiquette For Playing Online Pokies.
- Responsible Gambling And Etiquette.
Table of Contents
A Brief Overview of Pokies
Introduced to New Zealand in the 1980s, gaming machines soon gained popularity in licensed casinos and gaming clubs.
In 1989 the New Zealand parliament legalised gambling clubs countrywide. By 2003 gambling machines were available in Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown.
As technology advanced, so did the online casino culture, and in 1994 Microgaming brought online pokie machines to New Zealand.
Today, Kiwis can enjoy thousands of pokie machines at brick-and-mortar venues and online.
The Importance of Etiquette When Playing Pokies
We all enjoy good manners, and their use extends to a night out enjoying the pokies machines you can find at your local casino. Pokie machines are popular; playing them is about having a good time for everyone concerned.
However, there are times when there is a conflict of interests, which is why pokie machine etiquette is important to ensure everyone has a good time.
General Etiquette Rules Explained
To ensure pokie machine players have a good time and do not interfere with each other or any casino employee follow the tips below.
- Remember, if you sit at a pokie machine, you must play it. If you are not playing, you should offer your seat to someone who is.
- On the flip side, ensure no one else uses the pokie machine beforehand before trying your luck.
Sometimes players save their machines to take a break. As a rule, if you take a break, try not to be longer than fifteen minutes.
If you need clarification on the house policy about taking a break, check with the pokie attendant to see if there is a specific house policy about holds (keeping the pokie machine while taking a break).
When you take a break, remember to take any valuables with you.
- Don’t hog one machine. It is too easy to play the same game for a long time without noticing someone else would like a punt at the jackpot.
- Experienced players play multiple machines simultaneously, especially when traffic is light. Machine etiquette asks you to check if no one is playing your chosen machine. If you are unsure, ask a pokie attendant for clarification. When the casino is busy, stick to one machine.
- If you are a smoker, be considerate towards your fellow gamblers. Never blow your smoke in your neighbour’s direction, and use the ashtray provided. Use the designated smoking areas that casinos supply, as you usually find there are far more machines in that area.
How Should I Handle Wins And Losses?
- Most larger casinos offer free drinks to pokie machine players. Appropriate pokie machine etiquette is about you managing your drinks and staying in control of your emotions.
- Sometimes, it is hard not to envy your neighbour’s good luck whilst you have been in the same game for ages without a win. Try not to covet your neighbours’ wins, and remember that you are not competing with them. You compete against the house.
- Keep as calm as possible during your losses. Losses are all part of what makes pokies machines popular. Losses between thrilling wins should not be celebrated too loudly as they will interrupt fellow gamblers’ concentration.
If you are with a group of friends, the same rule applies to the noise level of celebrations (or commiserations).
Remember that pokie machine etiquette also relates to casino employees. Many casino employees rely on tips to boost their income. Dropping a chip onto the server’s tray requires little effort.
Remember to leave your tip at the casino cage if you have great luck. All the tips left at the cage are divided evenly between the floor staff.
*Good pokie machine etiquette is about respect. Respecting your fellow gamblers and casino employees will ultimately enhance your time at the pokie machines.
What is The Etiquette For Playing Online Pokies?
You may be under the impression that online games don’t have proper pokie machine etiquette when they have their own unique set of rules, which is sometimes appropriately called ‘netiquette’.
As you are not physically at a land-based casino with other players and casino staff, you can follow a couple of tips to make your time playing online pokie machines enjoyable.
- Don’t rush in. Learning the rules and pace using the free games option means you can understand the game easily when you use real money. Jumping into a game you are unsure of is not good etiquette, especially if you are playing live casino games.
- When playing online pokie machines, your interaction with others will be next to none. However, some online casinos provide an online chat function, and if you find that function available whilst playing pokies, the same basic rules of respect apply. Be polite and friendly, and do not use the chat function for advertising other online casinos.
Responsible Gambling And Etiquette
Gambling on pokies, whether on multiple machines or one machine, is a lot of fun, but like anything else where you can win a cash prize, the time can run away with you, and you might find yourself gambling more than you initially thought.
Luckily, using some good pokie machine etiquette, you can manage your bankroll, which will keep your spending in check.
- Work out your bankroll based on money you can afford to lose, and stick to that amount.
- Remember that playing on pokie machines is for entertainment, not a way to make money.
- Set yourself a time limit for playing, and stick to it.
- Know when to walk away from a pokie machine, whether online or off.
- Avoid chasing your losses, as you will break your time limit and bankroll.
- Please try not to drink too much when playing; it will restrict your concentration.
- Take regular, short breaks, and never gamble when not in a good mood.
The vast majority of people gamble responsibly and keep to their rules. Unfortunately, some go too far and develop a gambling problem.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for preventing and treating problem gambling in New Zealand. If you begin to spend money you can ill afford to lose, please use this link to find the appropriate guidance.
For more self-help, you can check your online pokies sites home page, as it should have links to organisations that will offer help if you feel your gambling is becoming a problem.
Conclusion
Unlike brick-and-mortar casinos, where using the correct pokie machine etiquette can add to your enjoyment, online casinos don’t have many netiquette norms.
For online pokie machine players, polite behaviour is required when a live chat feature is included in the game, although the live chat feature is mainly found in live online casino games.
However, being aware of the customary code of polite behaviour will always make your gaming experience more enjoyable, whether online or off.
