Australians love gambling. That might sound as clichéd as saying they love surfing or cooking shrimps on the barbie, but the thing about the gambling is backed up by solid numbers Every year, Australians wager more than $25 billion. That’s in excess of $1,000 per capita, almost double the amount wagered in any other country.
You might wonder what it is that Australians like to bet on. As a nation of sports lovers, sports betting on events like the big bash is popular, and so is poker. But these pale in comparison to the pokies. Australians wager more on pokies than on every other type of gambling put together. Pokies are part of Australian culture and can be found in pubs and cafes as well as casinos. These days, there are of course hundreds of online options, too. But what is it about pokies that has so captured the imaginations of Australian gamblers?
Small wagers and big prizes
There are dozens of different games you can play in a casino. But while blackjack and roulette are great fun, they only offer relatively modest returns of even money or perhaps a little more. With a slot game, you can place a small stake and be in with a chance of a huge return. Of course, the chances of hitting the jackpot are slim, but it is a little like buying a lotto ticket – we can all dream of being the one who gets lucky and wins a life-changing sum.
It is worth adding that slots pay out smaller prizes too, so it is not just a case of one person walking away with millions and the rest winning nothing. In effect, the smaller prizes keep players interested in playing the game.
Online incentives
The number of Australian gamblers visiting online casinos has increased by about 70 percent since 2020. With thousands going online to find the best payout online casino Australia 2022, there are more online platforms than ever targeting the Australian market and offering bonuses and incentives.
In more than 90 percent of cases, these incentives are linked to pokies as opposed to other casino games. Free spins are the most common type of online casino bonus. It’s an extra incentive for Australians to choose their beloved pokies when they play casino games online.
An immense choice
There are more than 1,000 different pokies out there, with more being released practically every week. It’s impossible to try them all and there is always something new to experience. They range from traditional retro reels complete with fruit and bell symbols to the latest video slots based on popular cultures such as Game of Thrones or Jumanji. These latter examples have story arcs of their own, so are about far more than just setting the reels in motion and hoping for matching symbols.
You can also find pokies that are based on sports, rock music, mythology, and just about every other topic you can think of. There really is something to appeal to everyone.
Different payout types
The “something for everyone” factor applies to the way pokies payout, too. High volatility slots appeal to high rollers with large bankrolls, who are willing to keep spinning the reels through long dry spells in anticipation of a big payout that will come sooner or later.
On the other hand, you can still play penny slots that are a lot of fun and will reward small wagers with regular small rewards. They are unlikely to pay out a huge reward, but they will keep you in the game.
