The gambling culture in Australia is not a new phenomenon; it has been deeply rooted across the country long before the internet took hold. The bigger question for many is whether the presence of digital platforms accelerated this penchant for gambling, or whether it just shone a light on how popular it was right across the vast landscape of Aussie culture.
Aussie gamblers make up a significantly larger portion of global pokies (slots) players per capita. For a fact like this to become embedded in the casino gaming world, it takes several factors to go in favor of the big gambling companies. If we’re talking about pokies specifically, they have been a driving force in nightlife and conventional casino gaming for 100 years.
Therefore, it wasn’t exactly a stretch to think that various types of online slots, ranging from progressive jackpots to mythology-based 3D and video slot games, would be able to find an Aussie audience online, either.
However, they’ve soared to such a level that many believe they are now an immovable and indispensable part of Aussie culture, and given that Aussie culture continues to shape and morph around different global societal movements, today we’re going to look at the factors that have led to pokies becoming a stalwart of Aussie entertainment.
Accessibility
First and foremost, the ready-made availability of online slots in Australia has made them a market that is easy to access, with a great range, and has capitalized on all the modern developments that have enriched the broader gaming world since the start of the 21st century. Jackpot slots may seem like a smaller part of the industry. Still, if we examine the Australian market as a microcosm of broader international trends, we begin to understand just how important they are within the bigger picture.
For instance, jackpot slots can be categorized into several types. They can provide prizes across several local machines, specific to an Aussie online casino, or they can branch out further and look to include international markets. On their own, they’re a multi-billion-dollar segment of the slot gaming world, which in itself is a market soaring toward a 10-figure valuation.
Fusing With Social Media
In Australia, social media marketing has become one of the most effective ways for companies to connect with their consumer base. It is a multi-billion-dollar market, and, as is the case with other top economies, such as the US or the UK, it is a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Casino companies have leveraged this newfound attention to digital marketing to attract new customers as well. As you can see in the link below, social media marketing explores the range of possibilities to combine successful marketing strategies from other parts of the Australian economy.
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Casino companies have shifted their focus away from traditional advertising, such as television advertisements and radio commercials. They are now battling it out in the global marketplace – not just against Aussie casinos but against all casinos that are vying to get their hands on the huge Australian pokies market, which is a driving force behind Australians becoming the world’s biggest gamblers.
By combining the massive shift to social media and an insatiable appetite for pokies, this is the key reason why pokies have become such an indispensable part of Aussie culture.
A Friendly Framework
In comparison to other nations, Australia has one of the most welcoming approaches for casino companies seeking to make an impact and contribute to its economy. Due to the size of Australia, different laws govern different states; however, without an overall approach being particularly friendly, it’s hard to see how pokies would not have become as indispensable as they have.
Some have argued that central legislators and frameworks have not done enough to provide information and stop people from developing issues with their gambling. However, for anyone who is about to embark on playing pokies, finding out how casino games work, including the importance of responsible gambling, should always be the first step.
Once you register for a casino brand, you can use time and deposit limits to keep your gambling measured. If you do experience issues there are Aussie problem gambling charities such as BetStop and Gambling Help Online.
A Different Future for Pokies in Australia?
Now that pokies are so prevalent, it’s a challenge to see how they become less of a part of Aussie culture. They’re in the corners of pubs, paraded across TV and social media adverts, and gambling companies have made up a considerable portion of some of the most successful superannuation funds in the country.
There might be some backlash and further controls to assist problem gambling charities and to turn down the noise on how dominant pokies have become in Australian gambling culture. Still, it’s not going to have too much of an impact on a sector that continually feels huge demand from all corners of Oz.