From its origins on a popular TV gameshow, Plinko has risen as a popular online gaming option. Like many other games that got their start in physical casinos or venues, it has made the jump to online play smoothly and easily adapted to its digital platform.
It’s a very different experience compared to other well-known casino classics like Blackjack or Roulette, with its simple core gameplay premise of dropping a disc down a board. So, for players looking to play Plinko online, we’ve set out a simple guide to the basics of the game and how it works in the digital space.
What is Plinko?
For those who aren’t familiar with the game, what exactly is Plinko? Many players will have missed the origins of this game on classic gameshow The Price is Right in 1983. After its introduction – pioneered by executive producer Frank Wayne – the game of Plinko went on to become one of the most iconic minigames on the show.
With such popularity on TV, it’s no surprise that it was soon adapted for play in land-based casinos and other physical venues. And once casinos began experimenting with online play during the 90s it was only inevitable that Plinko would follow other games onto the new online platforms.
The gameplay itself is simple, with players dropping a small disc – also known as a puck or chip – down a board studded with pegs. These pegs cause the disc to bounce and ricochet as it makes its way down the board until it eventually lands in one of the line of slots at the bottom.
Each of the bottom slots is associated with a different payout.
How does online Plinko play work?
Online games of Plinko utilise the same basic mechanics as land-based versions of the game, with random number generation (RNG) acting as a substitute for the random influence of gravity and momentum.
Rather than physically dropping the disc from the top of the board, players use the online interface to choose where they want to drop it from. Once they choose to release the disc, the software simulates its progress down the board, bouncing off the pegs until it comes to rest in a slot.
Online Plinko also benefits from the addition of visual animation and effects, which can add to the overall gameplay experience. The theming and sound effects of the game may vary from game to game, giving players a greater degree of choice over the style of Plinko they want to play.
Some digital Plinko games allow for a degree of player customisation, letting players decide whether to increase the number of rows and overall pegs on the board. Playing with a higher number of pegs creates the potential for higher payouts, as the relative odds of the game rise.
Plinko’s transition from a TV gameshow staple to a popular online gaming choice only cements its status as a timeless classic. With its simple core gameplay and the random nature of the disc’s board down the board Plinko is well on its way to become a staple of online casinos.