Meet Our Expert

About Jake

G'day! I'm Jake Thompson, and I've been absolutely obsessed with pokies since my first spin on an old Clubman machine at my local RSL back in 2008. What started as a casual interest quickly turned into a career spanning 15 years of gaming journalism, analysis, and research across the Australian pokies landscape.

Born and raised in Melbourne, I've spent countless hours in every type of gaming venue you can imagine, from quiet suburban pubs to the glittering floors of Crown Casino. But don't get me wrong, I'm not in this just for the thrill of the spin. I genuinely believe that understanding how these machines work helps players make smarter decisions and have more fun doing it.

My Background

After completing my degree in Mathematics at Monash University, I landed my first job as a gaming floor technician. Those five years gave me an insider's view of how pokies actually function, from the random number generators to the bonus mechanics. Eventually, I transitioned to gaming journalism, where I could share this knowledge with everyday punters.

These days, I specialise in Aristocrat pokies because, let's face it, they're the backbone of Australian gaming. Lightning Link, 5 Dragons, Buffalo, Indian Dreaming... I've analysed them all, run thousands of test spins, and can tell you exactly what makes each one tick. My specialities include:

• RTP verification and mathematical analysis
• Volatility testing and bankroll calculations
• Bonus feature probability assessment
• Comparative game analysis
• Responsible gambling advocacy

My Testing Approach

Unlike some reviewers who play a few demo spins and call it a day, I actually put in the hard yards. When I review a pokie, I'm playing it for a minimum of 20 hours across multiple sessions. I track every bonus trigger, every free spin, every significant win. Then I crunch the numbers to see if the game performs as advertised.

I've been known to stay up until 3 AM testing a new Lightning Link variant, much to my wife Sarah's amusement. She says I'm the only person she knows who brings a spreadsheet to the pub. She's not wrong, but those spreadsheets have helped thousands of players understand what they're actually getting into.

A Word on Responsible Gaming

Look, I love pokies. They're genuinely entertaining when approached correctly. But after 15 years in this industry, I've also seen the damage that can happen when gambling stops being fun. Every article I write includes honest assessments of volatility and risk. If you ever feel like gambling is becoming a problem, please reach out to Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858. They're fantastic people who genuinely want to help.

My Articles