Online poker bots were first created by enterprising fans wanting to increase their chances of winning at online gambling sites. Today a wide range of bots can be found and purchased online with most manufacturers claiming that their bots will make all the difference to your game. However, online poker bots don't come without their fair share of controversy. While some experienced players view the use of bots as unethical, the main opposition comes from online gambling firms themselves. According to the top firms, an increased number of bots online creates unfair gaming conditions for other players and does nothing to raise the reputation of the game itself. A common poker bot operates in a player's favor because it makes complicated instantaneous decisions based on game conditions. The player then gains a bird's eye view of the poker tables, the players contending the pot, the contents of the pot, the cards and the betting. This helps him to make decisions based on information he wouldn't ordinarily have access to. Many fear that the world of online poker could soon be taken over by online poker bots. The most sophisticated bots are virtually undetectable and can be purchased relatively cheaply. They can go a long way toward helping a player beat other players and the gaming site itself. Regardless of the way in which they develop, many players will always view bots as a means of cheating and will boycott them. But for every player that does, another will relish the advantage bots give them, making the future of online poker anything but predictable.