What Are The Most Popular Games Of Luck Down Under?

New Whales, Australia hosts more than 90,000 gambling machines. It turns out that Australians love gambling. Almost three-fourths of them have done it in the last year alone.

American gamblers may not fully recognize the Australian gaming experience. Where most people in the United States do their gambling in dedicated casinos, Australians go for online variety.

Pubs full of what the locals call “pokie machines,” (slot machines. Race tracks. Online.) Nearly 11% of the population plays online roulette in Australia or other virtual games of chance. Roulette is popular in Australia because it is a fast-paced game with easy-to-learn rules. However, it’s also just one of many ways that Australians like to unwind with gambling.

What games are most popular in the land down under?

Horse Racing

Horse racing is a major industry in Australia. Not only do Australians bet billions of dollars on the tracks each year, but racing is also a major source of job creation. Currently, almost 80,000 Australians are in some way employed by the racing industry.

The Melbourne Cup is called "the race that stops the nation" because the entire country pauses to watch. Betting is legal and accessible, with TAB outlets in most neighborhoods. The warm climate allows year-round racing, unlike many other countries. Prize money is among the highest globally, attracting international competitors. Racing provides rural employment and connects city and country communities. Major races are big social events where fashion and socializing are as important as the sport itself.

Slot Machines

In Australia, the slot machine, or “pokie,” reigns supreme. They first appeared in Australian pubs and clubs in the 1950s but remained fairly basic until the 1980s. The machines were mechanical, with simple fruit symbols and limited payouts. Their popularity grew because they offered cheap entertainment and social spaces where working-class Australians could gather. Clubs used pokie revenue to subsidize cheap meals and entertainment.

Digital technology in the 1990s transformed pokies into sophisticated gaming machines with engaging graphics and sounds. The machines now offer multiple pay lines, bonus features, and linked jackpots. Accessibility increased as more venues got licenses. The Australian government has come to see pokie halls as a considerable source of revenue. In 2021, they generated more than $300 million in tax revenue.

Bingo

In the United States, Bingo is what your grandma does with her friends in some musty old Elk’s lodge on a Friday night. In Australia, the game has a wider audience. Actually, there was a pretty comprehensive report on Bingo in the land down under.

The study found that Australian Aboriginals tend to be introduced to the game at an early age. For many of them, it has a strong association with community and family.

Those who didn’t grow up with the game still found much to love. The majority of respondents highlighted the game’s social nature as one of its best features. People enjoy going to Bingo halls as a way of connecting with friends and community members in a low-stress environment.

People also appreciate that it is a more controlled form of gambling. You know the price of a card going in. This makes it easier to stick to a budget without getting caught up in the moment, as is always possible with faster-paced games.

Australia isn’t the only country to embrace this simple but enjoyable activity. The game has actually proliferated globally as online playing options become more widely available.

A Different Gambling Culture

What makes Australia most unique is the way people game. In the United States, the majority of gambling takes place in casinos. Las Vegas remains a hub of betting. In Australia, the glitz and the glam is not necessarily a prominent component of the process.

While the continent does have a few notable casino, gaming takes place in quieter settings. Pokie machines, as they are called, occupy space in the majority of pubs.

It’s difficult to completely account for this difference. One reason might be that gambling legality took a different trajectory in Australia than it so far has in the United States.

Australians enjoy relaxed access to gambling. Machines are conveniently located–often placed in bars and restaurants. Casinos remain part of the experience, but they are ultimately one of many ways that Australians game.

In the United States, gambling laws have historically been highly localized. One reason America has destination gambling locations is because casinos aren’t even legal everywhere.

The law has recently shifted in a more libertarian direction. Sports betting is increasingly prominent, and many are the pubs with pokie machines ready for action.

Maybe that is for the best. Australians who want to relax with gaming don’t buy plane tickets to a city in the desert. They head down to the pub or log on to their favorite online casino. Perhaps the rest of the world should take notes.