Australia Casinos & Software Providers to Launch Skill-Based Pokies

Skill-based pokies, which have already been tested in the US, and according to the Sydney Morning Herald, these new machines will soon make their debut down under. In Australia pokies are a firm favourite; in fact, the casino game is loved aggressively in land-based casinos as they are in online gambling sites. However, the bulk of Aussie gamblers that prefer pokies are ageing and casino operators have already noted the decline in the numbers. Previously what interested gamblers are just not enough for the millennial gambler.

According to David Ford, Queensland’s Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling, “the demand for traditional gaming products is waning, and waning relatively quick. Unless the industry can counteract that, gaming machines may well finish up going the way of Bingo.”

Enter, skill-based gambling machines, these have already been tested in the US, and according to the Sydney Morning Herald, these new machines will soon make their debut down under.

What are Skill-Based Pokies?

The skill-based machines were showcased for the first time in 2016 at the Global Gaming Expo; combines video gaming with gambling. Skill-based games focus on coordination and speed, rather than luck, as seen in traditional pokie machines.

For the millennial gambler, this would mean a new experience where they have control of the outcome.

Skill-Based Pokies and the AU Problem Gambling Epidemic

While the news of skill-based pokies is exciting to gamblers, it does ruffle feathers, especially those in the anti-gambling collation. According to the Liquor and Gaming NSW introducing the skill element in gambling could have harmful effects and that proper research needs to be conducted before the machines are released to the public.

A spokesperson for the Liquor and Gaming NSW told the Sunday Morning Herald that “we need to understand better issues such as risks around the illusion of control and game returns for players with varying skills before any decisions are made on skills-based electronic gaming machine applications.”

Wymac Gaming Solutions and Crown Casino are currently working together to launch the product in Crown Casino’s flagship casino, Crown Melbourne. It is unclear the exact date that these skill-based pokies will hit the Australian casino floors; so, keep it locked to OnlineCasinoAustralian.net for more on this story.