One of the most important aspects of a pokie machine is not its looks and how it plays. It’s what’s inside those matters most. All pokies will have a brain or computer that tells it what to do. These computers are pre-programmed to command the pokie how to act at all times. The base program that will dictate how often a pokie will pay out is what’s called, a random number generator. This may sound like geek talk, but it’s an important aspect of pokies that everyone playing them should be very aware of.

The random number generators are pieces of software that will randomly pull a number or sequence of numbers. This number will then match up with a pokies payout program and decide if that number is a winner or not. These numbers are not actual numbers that we see, but it’s a sophisticated piece of programming that is all written I computer code. This code is what makes the pokies run.

Now, you will often hear people talking about how they can tell if a machine is about to pay out or not, or if it’s hot or cold. Many gamblers think they have a sixth sense for this stuff and love to pass on the information to everyone within earshot. The reality is harsh but true, these people are full of it.

Unless you programmed the pokie or are cheating somehow, there is now possible way to determine if a machine is hot or cold. The random number generator is just that, random! With every spin of the reels, you have the exact same probability of winning as you did on the last one. Nothing that happens on previous spins or future ones, will mess with the outcome of any spin going forward. If a machine has hit 1,000 times in a row, the chances of it hitting the 1,001th time are exactly the same as the last 1,000.

This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of pokies. People are oblivious to how they work and feel they can outthink a machine. We can all wish this were true but the bottom line is nothing you do will change the outcome.

The question to play pokies in a live casino or online is one that is asked frequently. Many opinions will be generated and no one knows for sure what the best answer is. It boils down to a personal preference for some. However, I personally feel that playing online is a much better option to play pokies for a variety reasons which I will share with you.

First and foremost, the ease of access to online pokies is reason enough for me to play online. You can access a pokie machine anytime, anywhere you want. With the creation of mobile casinos, you can now play on many of the portable devices such as; iPads and iPhones. This makes it easier than ever to play casino games.

For most of us, having to find a casino can be a chore. Not all of us live near one and for some it’s just not a reasonable option to drive a few hours just to play some pokies. The ability to hop in your computer chair and play from the comfort of your own home is priceless.

This leads me to my next reason why playing online is superior. The cost of traveling to a casino or local pokie parlor can be expensive in itself. The gas, bus ticket, air fare or whatever means you get there by can be costly. This cost will cut into your profit and greatly reduce how much you can win. The only expenses to play online are a computer and an internet connection. These two already serve other purposes as well and have already paid for themselves a few times over.

Lastly, the bonuses you can get online are by far more lucrative than getting comps in a casino. The comps at live casinos are nice and all, but they aren’t worth much as far as monetary value goes. Online casinos give you cold hard cash. I don’t know about you, but I would rather a few hundred than a free night in a hotel room any day of the week. A free meal once in a while nice, but when I have some free cash from a casino, I can go buy my own meals thank you.

If you read the title to this article, you may already be asking how free pokies can make me more money. While you will not actually win money playing free pokies, they do have benefits that will translate to making you money at real pokies. Many players are unaware of this advantage and a free pokie is an afterthought to them.

One of the benefits to playing free pokies is that you can learn how the game works before trying it out for real money. You will be able to learn all of the rules, how it pays out and all the other useful information. If you are unfamiliar with a pokie and decide to play it for real money, you may be unaware of rules that can cost you money. Take a few minutes or more to familiarize you with how the game operates and its rules.

If you an avid pokie fan you’ve surely read some strategy articles or books on the topic. While there is a lot of good information out there on pokies, some it is a waste of time. It can be difficult to filter out all the bad information and find one that really works. Free pokies allow you to test any theories or strategies you may want to try but were too afraid of losing money doing so. Consider a free pokie machine your lab. Run your tests and come to a conclusion to see if it works or is just garbage. Save yourself some money in the process, which is always a good thing.

Another benefit from playing free pokies is that you can find new games to play. Many players get stuck playing the same game because it’s the only one they know how to play. They are worried if they try another one they may lose money or not like it. Losing money while doing something you don’t like is never a good experience. Use the free pokies available to try out a new game you saw and you may just have a wider selection of games to play if you find some you like.

In today’s market, you will find countless choices of pokies to choose from. At times it can be difficult to choose which ones to play. If you are one that has a hard time making decisions, you may sit there for hours trying to pick the perfect one. The truth is that there is no perfect pokie. What makes one better than another can mostly be a personal preference. However, there are specifics in pokies that make them consistent to one another. You will find families of pokies that while may play different will; have many of the same characteristic.

5 Reel Pokies

A 5 reel pokie is the most common around. The 5 reel means that the pokie will have 5 reels that spin and contain the symbols.

3 Reel Pokies

A 3 reel pokie is one that only has 3 reels. These are less common these days, but can still be found. If you prefer less action and get confused easily, a 3 reel pokie may be better suited to your liking.

Progressive Pokies

A progressive pokie is not one that has long hair and listens to Nirvana; it’s a type of pokie with a jackpot. The jackpot will grow at a progressive rate and pays out at random. You will find these in most online casinos in both 3 and 5 reel styles.

Themed pokies

All pokies will have some type of theme to it, but when you hear themed pokies mentioned, this usually means one with a special theme. These themes come in the form of popular movies, game or television shows and pop icons. The land based casinos started this trend and have come up with some pretty wild and entertaining pokies. The tradition has transitioned to online pokies and you will find a wide variety of theme based pokies in all online casinos.

Now that you know what types of pokies are available, you can begin to narrow your search they next time you’re looking for a pokie to play. Your decisions should be much easier now and you will have more time to play pokies instead of looking for one to play.