Everyone knows that New Zealand slang is colourful and exciting, and as they are such big fans of slot games out there, it only makes sense that they have a slang word for slots to use – learn more here.
It is widely thought that the people of New Zealand like to say the word pokies when they are talking about slot games, whether this is online or in a land-based casino. But is this actually the case? Are pokies really the word used for slots in New Zealand?
Where does the word pokies come from?
The word pokies comes from the word poker and was used to talk about a poker machine before. So why is it used to describe slots these days? Supposedly, the word came about at a similar period of time to the popularity of slot machines, so it’s just a slight confusion of the world.
Nowadays, video poker isn’t anywhere near as popular as slot machines, so when you hear the word pokies, it is almost definitely going to be a reference to the humble slot machine.
Pokies can refer to online slot machines or those based in a brick-and-mortar casino!
Do New Zealanders prefer to say pokies or slots?
Pokies! Apparently, if you go out to New Zealand right now, the chances are that you will not hear the word ‘slots’ very often at all.
But where else is the word pokies used worldwide? Actually, the word supposedly originated in Australia, and then it carried its way over to its closest neighbours not too long after. Apparently casino slang catches on fast in that part of the world!
It seems to be the case that Australia and New Zealand are the only countries that really say pokies. Here in the UK, we like to say fruities or fruit machines, and this is a reference to the traditional symbols of a slot machine which are often fruits.
The best pokies to play in New Zealand online
Now that we know what a pokie is and where it comes from, we can be off on a trip to New Zealand ready to fit right in. But what slot machines can we play out there?
Most (if not all) of the online slot machines that we can get access to in the UK are available to play in New Zealand as well. If you’re still unsure, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourites to check out:
- Gonzo’s Quest Megaways: perhaps the most famous ever Red Tiger Gaming slot is well worth a play.
- Thunderstruck II: Microgaming were formed all the way back in 1994 and this is one of their finest pieces of work.
- Starburst: this 2011 NetEnt slot is widely considered to be one of the best of all time.
Conclusion on the word pokies for slots in New Zealand?
Pokies is a fun way to talk about a slot machine, but it might require a bit of work for the phrase to hit off over here in the UK. For the time being, we’ll stick with slots or fruities.
