What was the first poker machine in Australia?

You may have read the question “What was the first poker machine in Australia?” and thought yourself about how to answer this question. Well we never shy away from any question and today is no different so let’s delve into the first poker machine in Australia and see if we can find the answer.

So because this isn’t an easy question to answer we must tell you that the answer is a twofold affair. The first part of the answer takes us way back to the early 1900’s whilst the second part takes us to the 1950’s.

What was the first poker machine in Australia?

The first poker machine was developed in America in the late nineteenth century, so you may ask when the great play of poker machines moved to Australia. Well popular belief is that poker machines came across from America or the old continent of Europe (via Britain) in the early 1900’s. These poker machines were illegal as gambling had not been legalised at this point. No one knows what these poker machines were or where they resided.

The first official poker machine in Australia was called the Clubman and was created by none other than Aristocrat. Legalised use of the poker machines came about in 1956 in New South Wales. The Clubman was a three reel one armed bandit and was the only Aristocrat poker machine for around two years before it was replaced by the newer Clubmaster in 1955.

The first poker machine was found in Australia in 1956. The reason why it took so long to get to Australia was simply due to laws prohibiting poker machines in the country.

Many territories followed over the next few decades until most territories allowed poker machines, something that many enjoy today.

Aristocrat is one of today’s biggest poker machine developers and is the biggest in Australia so its fitting they officially had the first poker machine in Australia.