What is Plinko? Our brief overview

Origins

Many know Plinko from the US show "The Price Is Right" from 1983. Back then, a disc fell down a board with pegs and randomly landed in compartments with different cash amounts. Gravity, luck and excitement shaped the experience.

Plinko as a casino variant

Today we bet on Plinko chips online and let virtual discs fall through 8 to 16 rows. The compartments contain multipliers that determine our winnings. A certified random number generator ensures fairness. Providers like Spribe and BGaming offer various risk levels and payout rates of up to 97 percent.

FeatureData
Rows8–16
RTP96%–97%
Maximum Multiplierup to x1,000 (High Risk)
RiskLow, Medium, High
DevelopersSpribe, BGaming, SmartSoft
FairnessSHA-256/Server Seed Verification

How Plinko Works in Online Casinos

Gameplay in Simple Steps

  1. First, we set our stake, usually between £0.10 and £100.
  2. Next, we determine the number of rows: Depending on the provider, we choose 8 to 16 rows (BGaming) or 12 to 17 rows (Spribe).
  3. Now we decide on a risk level. Those who take higher risk play with more slots and can win up to x1,000.
  4. With one click, we drop the ball. It bounces off the pegs and finally lands in a slot with a multiplier.
  5. Our winnings are calculated as stake multiplied by the multiplier. The theoretical return to player rate can reach up to 97%.

What Makes Plinko Different?

  • Plinko doesn't use reels or cards, but is based entirely on physics and chance.
  • In crypto casinos, each round is provably fair through cryptographic hash.
  • Although we can see the ball's path, a random number generator determines the starting point.

Rules and Game Mechanics Simply Explained

Basic Principle

We set our stake, determine the risk level (low, normal or high) and choose the desired number of rows between 8 and 16. The chip then falls through the field, bounces off pegs and lands in a multiplier slot. Our winnings are calculated by multiplying our stake by the multiplier achieved.

Game Rules in Detail

Once the chip is released, we cannot influence its path. The result is based on a verified random number generator or a "Provably Fair" algorithm. Features such as autoplay and stake and loss limits are usually integrated. Higher risk means a greater range of multipliers: from 0.2× up to 1,000×.

Multiplier Ranges Overview

  • Low risk: approximately 0.5× to 8×
  • Normal risk: approximately 0.2× to 29×
  • High risk: approximately 0.2× to 1,000×

Winning Chances and Payouts in Plinko

How Payouts Work

In Plinko, fixed multipliers determine our winnings, depending on the number of rows and the chosen risk level. The values range from 0.2× to 1,000× (Spribe) or even 16,000× (Stake Exclusive), depending on the provider. The centre typically features smaller multipliers between 0.2× and 3×, whilst the edge pockets offer the highest winnings. We can choose to play with 8 to 16 rows and Low, Normal, or High Risk, thereby influencing variance and potential maximum wins.

Risk LevelRowsRTPMin MultiplierMax Multiplier
Low8–1697.0–99.0%0.5×
Medium8–1697.0–98.0%0.3×26×
High8–1697.0–97.3%0.2×1,000×

How Likely Is a Big Win?

Large wins are rare, as the ball typically lands in the centre. With 16 rows, the chance of hitting the outermost slot is only 0.0015%. More rows increase the variance. Those who choose a high risk level get the chance for larger multipliers, but must expect rarer top wins. We decide whether we prefer frequent smaller amounts or occasional high payouts.

  • Rows: 8–16
  • Risk levels: Low, Normal, High
  • Maximum win: up to 1,000× stake (standard), variants up to 16,000×

Discover Different Plinko Variants

Classic and Modern Forms

  • With classic Plinko boards, we typically choose between 8 and 12 rows, where fixed pins provide multipliers from 0.5× to 8×.
  • Modern RNG Plinko games like those from BGaming offer 8 to 16 selectable rows, three different risk levels, and up to 1,000× as the top prize.
  • With Crazy Plinko from Gamzix, we get bonus fields that enable instant wins of up to 2,000×.

Live and Crypto Versions

  • In Live Plinko from BetGames, a ball drops every 60 seconds, with stakes possible between £0.10 and £100.
  • Crypto Plinko at providers like Stake operates with a provably fair hash system and offers auto-drop for up to 1,000 balls.
  • In quick mode, each round takes less than a second. Low risk delivers approximately 96% RTP, whilst high risk increases volatility to up to 99%, enabling rare maximum wins.

Tips and Strategies for More Fun When Playing

Stakes and Risk

We set ourselves a fixed budget at the start and establish profit as well as loss limits. Those who prefer to play it safe choose a lower risk with a return rate of up to 99.59 percent and a maximum of eight times the stake as winnings. Those seeking more excitement opt for higher risk at around 98 percent RTP and can expect up to 1,000-fold winnings, especially with 16 rows. More rows mean higher variance and greater winning chances.

Gameplay

We regularly change the drop position to make full use of the random factor. A calm playing style, occasional breaks and no more than 50 balls on autoplay help us maintain oversight. We only adjust stakes gradually and don't chase losses with higher stakes.

Testing and Expectations

We prefer to start in demo mode or with small stakes from 10p and check the payout table beforehand. At medium risk, roughly every third ball lands in the winning area. Plinko uses a random number generator, so for us the entertainment effect is paramount, and we view winnings as a bonus.

Playing Plinko on mobile: Our experience

Operation on mobile devices

On iOS and Android smartphones, Plinko plays directly in the browser without an additional app. Touch control is precise. We adjust stake amount and risk using a slider. In portrait mode we tap quickly, in landscape mode we keep the entire payout field in view. The HTML5 version starts promptly and runs stably at 60 fps.

Tips for mobile users

For longer sessions we use Wi-Fi, as data usage is approximately 3 MB per 10 minutes. Medium graphics settings save battery. Best to disable screen saver. Auto-drops work reliably only on a stable network. Sound off in public, disable vibrations for fewer input errors.

  • Stake range: £0.10–£100
  • RTP up to 97%
  • Provider: Spribe, BGaming
  • Chrome or Safari recommended

Plinko Providers: Where Can We Play?

Our Selection Criteria

We only rely on providers that are on the official whitelist of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). For us, a valid UK licence counts, transparent RTP information directly in the lobby, and clear stake and daily limits. A £1 minimum stake and an adjustable daily limit up to £1,000 are mandatory. After age and identity verification, we expect a real-time demo. Fee-free payments with PayPal, instant bank transfers and Trustly, as well as fast withdrawals under 24 hours, round off our profile. Self-exclusion options, the 5-second rule, and a reality check every 60 minutes are indispensable for us.

Situation in the United Kingdom

As of June 2024, no whitelist casino such as major UK operators offers Plinko, as no UKGC certificate is yet available. Until approval, we turn to legal alternatives such as "Spaceman" by Pragmatic Play or "Aviator" by Spribe. Both rely on a similar risk ladder principle.

Frequently Asked Questions about Plinko at the Casino

Stakes

When playing Plinko at the casino, we typically stake between £0.10 and £100 per ball. We freely choose the number of rows, usually between 8 and 16. Additionally, we set one of three risk levels. Small stakes are common, with each casino setting the exact limit individually.

Fairness

All results are generated by verified random number generators. In crypto casinos, we can verify fairness ourselves using Provably Fair hash technology. Licences and regular audits ensure transparent processes.

Gameplay

We place our stake, click Drop, and watch the ball as it falls through the pegs. The multiplier of the target field—up to x1000 with high volatility—determines our winnings. The RTP typically ranges between 96% and 99%, depending on the Plinko variant.