In an effort to appeal to a younger generation, Australian poker machines are seeing changes to prizes, layouts and themes. According to a recently-released 2013 report from GamblingData.com, casinos and poker machine venues around the country are dealing with diminishing numbers from younger demographics.

In an attempt to return boost their appeal, venues are changing prizes to include real products like Apple computers, as well as introducing machines with themes based on popular television shows and movies. Where is the younger demographic going? Internet and mobile gaming.

International finance agency Credit Suisse has stated recently that both the Australian and New Zealand gaming industry was changing dramatically and that poker machines are taking the biggest hit during the transition.

Credit Suisse analyst Paul Turnbull said that poker machines had an image problem with a younger demographic, who prefer “not to associate themselves with a traditional electronic gaming machine player.” It’s not just Australia and New Zealand that are experience change. Statistics from the US show that a similar percentage of people from 21-40 are walking away from poker machines.

The changing tide of the poker machine industry can best be illustrated in online gaming app purchase figures. In 2012 the most popular tablet app on Australian iTunes was Slot-omania, a virtual poker machine game.

One overseas poker machine innovation set to hit Australian shores soon is the introduction of themes based on popular movies and television shows. Australian poker machine manufacturer Aristocrat is about to launch games based on The Walking Dead TV series – an international hit with young audiences.

Production studios around the world have also been reported to have sold licenses to movies and TV series such as The Hangover, Sex and the City and Batman for a similar purpose. This story originally appeared on Australian Gambling.