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It's not complicated
Let's just start off by saying that New Zealand has a special relationship with pokies. While many countries are home to keen gamblers, New Zealand and pokies are on another level. It is not just that they are beloved and ubiquitous, but they are also part of the country's social fabric. While many comment that a nation like Canada has a disproportionate propensity to gamble, it is across a broad range of gambling activities. In New Zealand, there is no doubt that the main attraction is the pokies, whether physical machines or those found at online virtual casinos.
So, we had to wonder why that was. We spoke to the gambling experts at Casino.org to see if they could shed any more light on the subject.
How it started
Adam Volz, Content Editor, explained a little bit about the history and a lot more about what is available here and now.
"Pokies are not a New Zealand invention, but the name pokie is synonymous with this part of the world. In the US and UK, they are known as slots, online slots, fruit machines, and even one-armed bandits! The first ever coin-operated pokie machine had a lever that spun reels, and players tried to land a winning poker hand. That was back in 1891, and it was four years later that the grandfather of today's slot machines, the Liberty Bell, made its first appearance."
"Things have come a long way since then, and there are now more variants and game styles than can be covered in one article. However, they broadly fall into the following categories: - 3 and 5-reel machines, video, 3D, and progressive pokies, which can be classic, volatile, or interactive. Many people are waiting with baited breath for the live operator pokie to break through, but that still seems to be 'in development'."
Community funding
"I have always been amazed at the passion with which New Zealanders embrace the pokies; they are part of the cultural makeup of the country and not just a gaming device. Staggering sums are spent on these machines, but what many people might not know is that a substantial part of the take is channelled back into the community. It is estimated that around $833 million is spent on the pokies every year, and around $300 million is paid out in community grants. While that appears to be a win-win situation, there is an ethical dilemma regarding the true cost of the machines, particularly if people spend too much time and money on the pokies. Gambling addiction can be a real problem that has to be addressed."
"Some communities are very reliant on pokie revenue, and some people suggest that the reliance on the revenue could be an addiction in itself. However, for most people, they are regarded as harmless fun who understand that it is all about luck. At Casino.org, we are always aiming to promote safe and ethical gambling sites to ensure that people are able to stay in control and keep enjoying the play. There are plenty of options available, and we consider these as part of our overall review process. We want everyone playing on our recommended sites to be there for fun and entertainment. The general consensus with the team is to advise people to stop if the fun stops."
Where it's going
With legislation surrounding online gambling in New Zealand changing, we wondered if Casino.org would adjust its rating and review process for the pokie sites it covers. Adam expanded on the subject as follows,
"The New Zealand Casino.org team follows a strict 25-step process to rate the casinos we recommend. We do not take at face value what the marketing people claim. We join the site, claim a bonus, and play games, so we know exactly how everything works. If it makes the grade, we recommend it. If it doesn't, you won't find it on our site. We only offer links to safe, legal sites, and we will not be changing anything about that in the future. Our processes mean that we are ahead of the game, and New Zealanders have been using our services for finding online pokies on the sites we recommend for years."
Same high-level scrutiny
"We will approach the newly licensed sites with the same degree of caution (and optimism). Unfortunately, there are rogue online casinos that can put players at risk with bad practices. The irony is that issuing new licenses will probably lead to a proliferation of these as fraudsters try to capitalise on what they might regard as a new opportunity. Market regulation is often confused with market relaxation, and there is a possibility that some players will be even more tempted to stray. At Casino.org, we protect NZ pokie players by exclusively recommending licensed sites, and that will not change in the future."
"While most people enjoy gambling in the hope of a win, most play with the expectation that what matters is the fun one has along the way. The important thing is game choice – after all, most of your time at an online casino will be spent playing games. We would expect a top NZ pokie site to have at least 300 games, and they need to come from top providers like Pragmatic Play and Playtech. Pokies are about entertainment, and we expect the games to be entertaining! To be honest, at the moment it is hard to beat JustCasino that features over 2,500 pokie titles to choose from, including the classics like Starburst and Book of Dead."
A changing love affair?
We had to ask if the pokies had left their regular haunts behind them. Voltz was unequivocal,
"There are about 16,000 physical pokie machines in New Zealand, and they are not going to lose their popularity in a hurry. However, just as in every other walk of life, mobile phones are becoming increasingly dominant, and people want to play what they want from where they want. Gambling on the go is growing. Most online bettors prefer to play on their mobile, and we want to make sure it is not a frustrating experience. For us to recommend pokie sites, a casino site needs to have at least 90% of its pokies available for mobile play and have an app that can be downloaded on iOS or Android."
For New Zealanders, pokies and entertainment just seem to go together like lucky charms and good fortune. You could say that they are two sides of the same coin!
