We Asked ChatGPT to Pick a Pokie – Here’s What Happened…

We Asked ChatGPT to Pick a Pokie – Here’s What Happened…

Recently, we decided to conduct a logic experiment with ChatGPT. We asked it to pick online pokies based on what makes a game fun, immersive, and bonus-rich. Surprisingly, ChatGPT gave us a list of five games that were all 5-reel pokies.

Considering the number of games and the different variants available, this was a bit surprising, but with a little digging, we discovered the logic behind its decisions. Join us as we find out the games that ChatGPT picked, why they picked the games, and how their picks might differ from what a human might select.

 

Why 5 Reel Pokies Dominate AI Logic

The classic 5-reel pokie design has dominated online gaming since its inception. They are effectively the template for modern pokies, enabling developers to create a diverse range of games. Additionally, 5-reel pokies offer versatility and allow for a wide variety of payline structures and bonus game potential. You’ll notice that a large variety of pokies, both traditional and modern favourites, utilise the 5-reel design.

As ChatGPT is structure and algorithm-driven, the 5-reel pokie would be ideal because it offers uniformity. Additionally, it offers a wide range of RTPs, volatility structures, and bonus features that enable AI to collect and quantify its data. It would logically deduce that since 5-reel pokies are so prevalent, then the top games would be featured on that structure.
The ChatGPT Picks Pokie by Pokie

When we asked ChatGPT to pick pokies, we were concerned that it would pick obscure or less popular titles. We were surprised by its picks, which included many games that you can play at Australian online casinos.

 

Gates of Olympus – Pragmatic Play

An image of Gates of Olympus online slot game.

ChatGPT picked this one because it has “high volatility with explosive win potential.” Zeus will randomly drop multipliers in the base games and bonus rounds, giving you fantastic big-win potential.

This selection was the least surprising on the list as Gates of Olympus is a popular pokie at casinos worldwide. It is best suited for players seeking big wins or those who enjoy mythology-based pokies.

 

Dragonz – Microgaming

An image of Dragonz online slot game.

ChatGPT picked this one because it uses “personality-rich animations with strong gameplay diversity.” In English, that means the game is a ton of fun to play. The free spins round features four distinct games, each offering unique features and the opportunity for big wins.

This one is the only pick that we found suspect, as Microgaming has many top pokies that are more popular. Dragonz will appeal to players who enjoy unique free spins games or those who appreciate fun game aesthetics.

 

Book of Dead – Play’n Go

An image of Book of Dead online slot game.

ChatGPT picked this one because it’s a classic “book slot” and has massive big win potential in the bonus game. The free spins game features expanding symbols that can cover multiple reels up to the entire board.

This pick didn’t surprise us because Play ‘n Go advertises this game as a perfect game for beginners. It is also prominently featured on many sites, which ChatGPT likely noticed. It is a great introduction to “Book” games.

 

Big Bass Bonanza – Pragmatic Play

An image of Big Bass Bonanza online slot game.

ChatGPT picked this one due to its fishing them and escalating rewards and retriggers. It is also the second game on this list from Pragmatic Play.

Many casinos that utilise Pragmatic Play games will feature this pokie as one of their top games. This likely influenced ChatGPT’s algorithm.

This game will appeal to a wide range of players, from those who enjoy fishing games to those seeking retriggers and large multipliers.

 

Immortal Romance – Microgaming

An image of Immortal Romance online slot game.

This pick redeemed ChatGPT a bit because when you think of Microgaming pokies, you think of Immortal Romance. ChatGPT picked it because the pokie “blends rich storytelling with serious win potential. Its moody vampire theme, evolving character bonuses, and immersive audio make it a long-time player favourite.”

We really couldn’t have said it better. Whether it is the gameplay or the fantastic soundtracks from the bonus rounds that hold up decades later, this is one of the most popular games in not just Microgaming history but pokies history. It appeals to players who love rich stories or those looking for big win potential.

 

How AI Picks Compare to Human Preferences

Further discussions with ChatGPT revealed what we expected – AI doesn’t let emotions or past results influence its picks. AI uses data and algorithms to select which games to play, whereas a human will let their emotions and past experiences influence their decision-making.

ChatGPT told me that it considers both broad appeal and technical strength, with the goal of producing a list of what it calls “objective excellence.” Adversely, human players will pick games based on personal enjoyment, which can be subjective. I like how ChatGPT summarised the comparison of its picks versus what a human would pick, stating that “both are valid, just different.” Maybe ChatGPT understands us a little better than we think?

Here’s a chart comparing the factors that ChatGPT used versus what a human might use to pick pokies.

Factors ChatGPT’s Picks  Human Picks
Emotional Bias  No bias – just data-driven picks  Nostalgia and theme preference may influence picks
Brand / Game Loyalty No allegiance to brands or game series May pick games or providers they’ve won on
Themes  No preference – balanced picks  May prefer a particular theme, such as fruits, Egyptian, or Mythology
Risk Appetite  Balanced between volatility levels Players may choose based on risk tolerance, such as high volatility for risk-takers
Aesthetics Considered but not influenced by emotions A game’s graphics, music, or ambience may impact which game a player chooses
Past Wins and Losses Past outcomes do not influence decisions Past wins and losses may heavily influence which games are selected

Why 5 Reel Pokies Still Dominate in 2025

From the dawn of online gaming, 5-reel pokies have been an integral part of gaming. The first-ever online pokie was a 5-reel pokie, and over the years, the 5-reel grid has remained a mainstay. Games have evolved over the years, producing features such as cascading reels, bonus buys, and Megaways, with nearly all evolutions centred on a 5-reel grid.

Some of the benefits of 5 reel pokies include:

  • Balance of Gameplay – The 5-reel pokie structure enables games to incorporate various elements that work well together. For example, Immortal Romance offers engaging storylines while providing traditional pokie game variants with the potential for big wins.
  • Features – 5-reel pokies offer a variety of features like expanding wilds, cascading reels, cluster pays, free spin rounds, and bonus games.
  • Upgradability – The 5-reel grid structure has allowed game developers to experiment with new features over the years. This has led to innovations in the expansion of paylines, bonus features, and more.

You can view 5-reel pokies as the gasoline engine of online pokies. While there will be evolutions in design and even new game models, many of the evolutions will be based upon or built on top of a 5-reel design. It is safe to say that 5-reel pokies will be as relevant in 2050 as they have been for the last 30 years.

Henry Walker

Henry Walker

Head of Casinos

Since 2017, Henry has brought his professional insight and passion for casino games to the world of Best Aussie Pokies. He’s our resident fact checker who goes through online casinos with a fine-tooth comb, searching for the best casinos, pokies and promotions.

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