A Plinko Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Plinko is a game of chance where you follow the drop of a ball. Basically, the game consists of a vertical board with pegs placed in the form of a pyramid. A ball is released from the top of the pyramid, and the goal is for it to land in the slots at the bottom—the higher the payout on the slot, the better.

The Plinko ball game was first introduced in 1983 on the famous show The Price Is Right. Soon, it became a fan favorite. The reason so many people liked it is that it combines fun, luck, and strategy. Slowly, it spread around, and people could play it not only in front of a camera but in amusement parks, carnivals, and land-based casinos as well.

Today, Plinko is one of the standard games available at many prominent online casinos and crypto operators. The mechanics of the game are the same, only now you can adjust the board layout, bets, risk level, and more. Plus, with crypto, you can play Plinko entirely digitally!

Learning how to play Plinko means you first have to familiarize yourself with the terms most commonly used in the game. Here’s what we think is the vocabulary basis every crypto player must have to dab into Plinko:

• Risk levels – Presented as Low, Normal, and High (or something similar), the risk levels show how much the payout is. The higher the risk level, the bigger the rewards and vice versa.

• Payouts – These are the slots at the end of the pyramid. Each slot has a multiplier assigned to it. The ones at the end have the highest payout, and the more you close in on the center, the lower the payout.

• Lines – These are the rows of the Plinko pyramid. Playing Plinko in a crypto casino allows you to customize the board, with some games allowing over 15 lines. The more lines you have, the more payout slots are open. Therefore, the answer to the question is Plinko easier or harder to win with more rows is simple – it’s easier.
• Play/Bet mode – In crypto Plinko, you can choose whether to play manually or automatically. This play or bet mode is usually found at the bottom of the screen.

You now know what Plinko is and its main vocabulary. Now, learning how to play Plinko will come as easily as 1 2 3. Basically, the crypto version of the game only requires you to click a button right after you set up your preferences.

First off, choose the amount you want to bet, the number of lines, risk level, and bet mode, and just click Bet. The ball will drop from the top of the pyramid and bounce off the pegs as it makes its descent. Once it hits one of the slots below, you get the payout assigned to it. Or, to put it simply, your bet gets multiplied by the number on the slot. 

Remember: The further the slot is from the center, the higher the payout.

As we mentioned, you can choose to have multiple lines and, with that, have more slots with better multipliers and better payouts. However, better payouts require more risks and are harder to reach. Some players employ the strategy of “slow and steady wins the race”, i.e., they play with low-risk slots for a longer time to gain wins.

As it is described, Plinko in crypto casinos seems like a purely luck-based game. To be fair, it is; however, there is an algorithm hidden behind the flashy board that controls the odds and payouts. Let’s learn more about them so you understand the game better.

Plinko Odds

There are plenty of mathematical formulas we can use to determine the Plinko odds. But not to bore you with details, we’ll look at the most simplistic way of understanding what influences Plinko’s odds. 

The two main things we already talked about are:

• Lines: Again, the more lines you have, the more slots, which means more chances for a random outcome. In other words, the odds of winning are bigger. Moreover, Plinko is a provably fair game, allowing players in crypto casinos to verify the outcome of the round once they’re done.
• Risk level: The odds vary depending on your choice of risk level, as it influences the multipliers. Low risks give lower payouts but more consistent wins. On the other hand, high-risk rounds have the chance of hitting a great multiplier or ending with close to nothing.

Plinko Payouts

When talking about the Plinko odds, you may notice we keep circling back to the payouts and multipliers. Every slot at the bottom of the Plinko pyramid has a certain multiplier signaling how much your bet will be multiplied by if the ball lands on it. 

The risk level is what determines the multipliers. Low-risk level rounds have multipliers between 0.5x and 16x. Mid-risk level rounds can go between 0.3x and 110x, while high-risk ones are something between 0.1x and 200x. 

Here’s an example. Say you bet 0.001 BTC in a high-risk Plinko game and land on a slot with a 20x multiplier. That means you win 0.02 BTC. But if you land on a 0.1x multiplier, you get 0.001 BTC back. On your screen, this will be presented with – or + funds.

Generally speaking, every Plinko game at a crypto casino offers (more or less) the same types of bets. Depending on what your strategy is, you can utilize some of these Plinko bet types:

• Fixed bets: These are the simplest ones, where you just place a fixed bet and play the game.

• Auto bets: As the name suggests, these are bets you play with on auto—you choose the amount and number of drops and click Auto Play.

• Variable bets: These bets allow you to change the amount every turn.

• High/Low bets: These depend on whether you choose a high or low-risk level. With high-level risks, you get higher multipliers, and with lower ones, you get lower multipliers.
• Side bets: These are bets that are not common in every type of Plinko game. They entail making bets for specific additional outcomes, such as the ball landing in a particular slot.

Since many players like this game, there must be a few reasons why it’s so popular, right? There are, but we’ll focus on just the main ones relevant to Plinko, setting aside all the benefits you get playing in a crypto casino.

Customizable

Most Plinko game real money plays are highly customizable. You can choose the bet type and amount, the risk you want to take in the game, and even the number of lines you can have in the pyramid.

Simple

You customize and click Play—that’s all there is to Plinko! The rules are extremely simple, so even newbies to the blockchain gaming world can understand them on their first try.

Provably Fair

Since we’re talking about a crypto game, rest assured that it’s provably fair. Go to the game’s settings and look for the provability tab. You can compare the seeds and verify whether the round you played was fair or not.

Our team makes sure to keep full transparency even in the simplest things, which is why we made a list of the downsides of playing Plinko:

• Mostly Based on Luck: Although you can customize it and maybe even use some formulas to determine a possible outcome, the reality is that the game mostly depends on luck.

• Repetitive: It’s easy to play Plinko, but that can also make it boring after a while. For some players, watching the ball drop over and over loses entertainment value.
• Risky: This con mainly refers to situations when you play with high-risk settings. High risks can bring big rewards, but they can also cost you. As a game that offers high-risk rounds, Plinko may tempt you to play with bigger multipliers.

All Plinko games are essentially the same. However, some may have additional features like extra balls or the ability to control the drop point. Plus, different games have different themes and come from different developers. So, let’s see some of the most famous crypto Plinko games you can try.

Plinko XY

BGaming’s Plinko XY is an upgrade to the traditional version, now made specifically for crypto enthusiasts. This Plinko game entered the market in 2022 and prides itself on its simplicity in both design and features. But what stands out the most for many players is the RTP of 99%.

Plinko Dare2Win

Hacksaw Gaming has made a name for itself in the crypto gaming scene, as evidenced by the Plinko Dare2Win game. Not only can players configure the game to their style, such as changing the number of lines, but they can also use multiple ball drops at once! The maximum win is 3,843.3x, and the RTP can go up to 98.98%.

Plinko Rush

Betsoft has provided some staple names for casino operators, and it has done the same with Plinko Rush. Released in early 2024, the game has 96% volatility and a high level of customization. Just like the example above, Plink Rush is one of the options that allows playing with multiple balls at once.

Sure, Plinko is mainly based on luck, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things you can do to stay on the plus side of things:

• Manage your bankroll: Be careful with your spending. Set up limits and try to stick to them so you don’t break the bank.
• Use the auto bet feature: If you’ve played before, you already know how it goes. The auto feature can save you time and make you money.
• Start with low-risk settings: This tip is for newbies. If you’ve never played Plinko or just want to dip your toes before diving in, low-risk settings are your best bet.