Australian Online Pokies: Everything You Wanted to Know
Coining their very own name for the slot machine, Australian online pokies are very much core to the online gambling experience in Australia. All of the top casino sites will have hundreds of pokies online, all featuring the latest titles and themes available from the big games providers.
You'll never have trouble finding the games, but if you'd like to be sure they are being provided by a quality sites that's popular with Aussies, check through the shortlisted sites here to get a top game and a top bonus offer for signing up with a site.
You can enjoy:
- An excellent range of 3 reel and 5 reel pokies games online
- Fast payouts on your winnings within hours
- Full compatibility on smartphone and tablet using an app
For Australians looking to play pokies online we'd recommend one site's games and bonuses above all others, Ruby Fortune .
Australian Online Pokies
Some Australian Gambling Stats
Australians have a bit of a love affair with gambling. While there's no central hub for gambling activity in Oz, like Las Vegas or Atlantic City in the USA, it's still an overwhelmingly popular activity amongst Aussies:
- With over 200,000 pokies in land-based Australian venues back in 2010, almost 3% of the world's gaming machines are located Down Under.
- It's estimated that around 80% of Australians who are old enough to gamble do so on a regular basis.
- AU pokies account for over 60% of gambling expenditure in Australia, even though only 25% of those in Oz use them on a regular basis
It's hard to say why pokies are so popular in Australia, but it just seems to be something that's in our blood. Yes, the huge prize funds worth millions of AUD certainly don't hurt, but that doesn't explain why online pokies in Australia are so much more popular than casino games.
One school of thought is that, because Australia is so huge, vast amounts of the population don't necessarily have access to a land-based casino. With pokies available in pubs, clubs and halls all over the country, Aussies developed a taste for them instead. And, even with the huge range of casino games online, Australian online pokies (Australia has access to plenty, after all!) usage remains very high.
Favourite Australian Pokies and Manufacturers
Interestingly enough, Australian online pokie players have diverse tastes. There is not one kind of pokie preferred by AU players. Online real money casino gambling is very popular with Aussie players, and the machines that they enjoy the most include traditional, progressive, and video bonus pokies. There’s also a fairly wide range of pokie manufacturers who are popular.
Top honours when it comes to traditional machines go to the following three-reel pokies, Fruit Slots, Jewel Thief, and Bar Bar Black Sheep. Other classics that Australian players are drawn to are Irish Gold, Couch Potato, and Fantastic 7s. A classic slot that has expanded paylines, is the very popular Break da Bank. This three-reel pokie doesn’t offer just one playline, which is common for classic machines, but, instead, five paylines.
Some features that all of the above classic pokies share include smooth and seamless play, fun and engaging artwork, and solid payout percentages. These machines may be played for as little as one penny, which mean virtually anyone can enjoy hours of fun when engaged with one of these classic pokies.
Progressives are a big draw for Aussie players. Two of the most popular machines are also two of the oldest, Mega Moolah and Major Millions. In addition, the Mega Moolah series, which includes Mega Moolah 5 Reel Drive, Mega Moolah Isis, and Mega Moolah Summertime are all exceedingly popular. The Dark Knight, King Cashalot, and Treasure Nile are also near the top of the list. If you hope to win million in real money, then these are the machines to play.
Five-reel video pokies are also played by a large majority of Australians. Although these machines don’t payout in the millions like many progressives do, they do offer players generous jackpots, pay out more often, and provide great entertainment value. Many of these machines include captivating bonus rounds, free spins rounds, and multipliers, which are designed to increase your winnings. Three top video pokies are Avalon, Battlestar Galactica, and Game of Thrones.
Top manufacturers of online pokies include Microgaming, Realtime Gaming (RTG), and IGT. In addition, game creators such as Aristocrat, Cryptologic, Playtech, and Rival Gaming are highly competitive. Others such as Betsoft, NetEnt, and WagerWorks are highly innovative.
Australian Online Pokies Coming of Age
Online pokie play became a reality in Australia in the early to mid 1990s. It was at that time that the first online casinos made their appearance. It wasn’t long before online pokies were introduced to AU. At that time, many online pokie casinos made it easy for players to enjoy these machines for real money by accepting Australian Dollars. By the 21 st century, the online pokie industry was booming with Aussie players enjoying everything from three-reel classics to five-reel progressives. Today, Australian players at online casinos wager close to $1 billion. A large percentage of that wagering is on pokies.
Australian pokies run the gamut from classic three-reel machines to five-reel video pokies. Of course, players love playing progressives including Mega Moolah, Major Millions, and King Cashalot. When you join an AU online pokie casino chances are you’ll have access to well over one hundred exciting titles. Online pokies are massively popular in Australia.
Mobile Play
Mobile gaming is very popular amongst Australian players. You’ll find that many casinos offer their biggest pokies through a special app. App play is extraordinary in that the animations are vivid, fast, and smooth. When you play using your online casino’s app, you’ll find the experience is beyond anything you had imagined.
If for some reason you’re unable to utilize the app, then chances are you’ll be able to play via your device’s web browser. You’ll have access to a wide range of games, including the best and newest pokies. Whether you use an app or your smartphone or tablet’s web browser, you’ll always have access to all bonuses and promotions, banking services, and customer support.
Mobiles that are supported include the iPhone 6 and 7, Samsung Galaxy 6 and 7, and Nexus 6 and 7 series. Top tablets for mobile gaming in Australia include the iPad Pro and iPad Air series, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 and S models, and Google Nexus 7, 8, and 9. The Microsoft Surface Pro series is also a good match for many Aussie mobile casinos.
The Best Sites and Pokies
If you want to play at the best Aussie pokie sites, then take a moment to check out our featured online casinos. Our knowledgeable and experienced pokie experts have carefully researched each site. In doing so, they have determined which online casinos have the finest selection of pokies, the best bonuses and promotions, and the top customer service. Join one or more of our featured casinos and enjoy all of the excitement online pokies have to offer.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in Australia?
Yes it is, and there are plenty of legal land-based casinos and other places to gamble in Oz. Despite the potentially lucrative opportunity for the government, with so many Australian players taking part, gambling winnings aren't taxed.
The government takes the view that all of this gambling activity is down to luck, not skill, and that wins will inevitably be accompanied by losses to the extent that the two would cancel each other out in the vast majority of cases. Because of this, it's the gambling providers who pay the tax and not the players.
Is the same true of online gambling?
Yes and no. There's legislation in place to prevent casino operators and online pokies from advertising to and providing real money gaming opportunities to Aussies. For that reason, there are no Australian online pokies. Australia can still enjoy plenty of online slots action though! Here's how:
It's not illegal for players to play online and the government has never attempted to take action against any providers abroad who offer their services to Australians, allow withdrawals and deposits in AUD etc. As long as online pokies are honest and legitimate, and our reviews will tell you whether or not that's the case, you're perfectly safe to play with them; you don't need to feel stressed about getting in trouble with the feds for playing real money games online.
Are online pokies fixed?
No. Gambling providers are subject to regular check-ups to make sure that the random number generators these determine how often a machine pays out they use are fair to customers, and not skewed towards the house. If online pokies AU sites break those rules they're subject to heavy fines, the confiscation of their license and even forfeiting any money they've made while active.
You can easily see why the vast majority of people who operate online pokies don't think it's worth taking such a risk. Those who do are soon found out, either by players or by regulatory authorities, and are shut down very quickly.
Can I make deposits in AUD?
The best online pokies accept a range of currencies including, in many cases, AUD. That's good news for players; Australian online pokies/Australia-specific gambling sites may not exist, but the acceptance of Aussie currency means that there's no need to deal with fees for exchanging currency or converting from a currency you may not be familiar with every time you're placing a bet.
How do I find the best online pokies and sign up for an account?
Stick with us, and you'll be able to find all of the top places to play at a glance. We rate and review online pokies using a wide range of criteria, including:
- Ease of use/making deposits, and whether AUD are accepted
- Value of jackpots and payout percentages
- Speed of withdrawals and customer support
- The range of games offered, quality of the software and so on
Once you've found a site that you think might be the one for you, creating an account is usually just a matter of entering a few details, choosing a payment method and confirming your identity. You can get started in a matter of minutes!
Learn About Online Pokies
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