- What Is Plinko and How Does It Work?
- Should You Play Plinko for Free or Real Money?
- ⭐ How to Play Plinko Casino Game for Real Money
- Can You Really Win Money Playing Plinko?
- Best Plinko Casinos Online in 2025
- Which Plinko Version Should You Play?
- Plinko at Sweepstakes Casinos
- Proven Strategies for Playing Plinko Online
- Plinko Bonuses and Promotions
- Plinko on Mobile & Apps
- FAQs
What Is Plinko and How Does It Work?
Plinko is a game of chance where a player drops a ball down a tall, pegged board. The ball travels down the pegged board and falls in one of the several slots at the bottom of the board.
Here is how Plinko works. The same concept applies in a Plinko online slot.
- Players drop a ball from the top of a triangular pyramid.
- The ball finds its way all the way down.
- Depending on the random trajectory of the ball, the player gets to win or lose.
- Bigger wins and prizes are at the edges of the pyramid and small wins are in the middle area.
- The winning depends on the multipliers and bet size.
You can choose risk and volatility (low, medium, high) of the online game. You can also specify the number of rows for the Plinko slot.
The minimum and maximum rows are usually 8 and 16 respectively. All you need to do is drop the ball and watch its journey.

Screenshot of online Plinko games at Stake.us social casino.
History of Plinko Game
Plinko was introduced to the world on January 3rd, 1983 in the popular game show The Price is Right (TPIR).
Then a new pricing game, Plinko offered players a chance to win up to $25,000. The term ‘TPIR Plinko’ is a popular phrase on the web referring to the original Plinko game.
The contestants dropped chips from a pachinko-type board. It had nine possible slots and thirteen rows of pegs.
Each of these chambers or pockets had dollar values indicated on them. It was totally possible to not win anything as $0 was also a marked landing chamber.
The chips made the ‘plink’ sound when they landed and ended their journey on the board. In the history of Price is Right, Plinko is officially the only game which has not been won.
The game is said to be inspired by the popular Japanese board game Pachinko. The mechanical arcade game has been popular since the 1920s.
Nowadays, Plinko gambling is very common. It is widely available at online casino lobbies.
Should You Play Plinko for Free or Real Money?
You can play Plinko for free in demo version for fun. Or you can gamble real money on Plinko casino game in the hope of winning real cash.
- Demo Plinko: You get to drop the ball for free. You learn how free Plinko works while having fun. You do not win or lose real money.
- Real Money Plinko: You bet real money on real money Plinko at a real money casino gambling site.
- Sweepstakes Plinko: You register an account at a sweepstakes casino to play Plinko. You get to redeem sweeps coins for real money gifts or prizes subject to terms
⭐ How to Play Plinko Casino Game for Real Money
Plinko game for real money is available at many online casinos. Here is how you can play Plinko gambling game for real money wins.
- Pick a real money casino site or sweepstakes casino listed on this page.
- Click on the link to visit the site.
- Register a new player account.
- Claim the welcome bonus offer.
- Visit the casino game lobby, find Plinko money games.
- Familiarize yourself with a free, demo mode play (optional step).
- Make your Plinko bet, start playing.
Withdraw winnings to your bank account if you win. Or redeem sweeps coins for real money prizes or gift cards, if playing at a sweepstakes casino.
Online Plinko Casinos | Real money casinos, sweepstakes casinos |
Plinko No Deposit Bonuses | $25-$50 credits + 100K free coins |
Age Limit | 21+ years, 18-21 for sweeps sites |
Plinko alternatives | Rocket crash games |
Set Your Bet and Risk Level
Plinko online game volatility depends on how you choose to play the game. You can set the risk, number of rows, and bet value (wager per drop) in most cases.
In the Hacksaw Gaming Plinko version 1.0.2, for example, you get a max win of multiplier of 3,843.3x. It has an RTP of 98.98%, 98.28%, 97.27, 96.02%, 94.30%, 92.03%, or 88.20% depending on the game settings.
Drop the Ball and Watch the Outcome
Pressing the BET button drops one ball. You have to watch the ball make its way to the bottom of the screen.
Check Your Payout
Once the ball travels to the bottom of the Plinko board (screen), it will find itself in a slot with a specified multiplier. Depending on the multiplier (such as 3.7x or 248.5x), you get to win the cash.
If you need to reduce your bet value, do it before dropping the ball again.
Can You Really Win Money Playing Plinko?
Yes, if you win. You get to win and withdraw real money if you are playing at a legal, real casino online in the US.
You get to redeem sweep coin wins for real money prizes if you are playing at a sweeps cash casino.
Has Anyone Ever Won Big on Plinko?
Yes. For the TV game show, the top prize for Plinko has been $50,000. In a special episode Plinko, a contestant named Michael Strouber won $202,000. As per Wikipedia, Strouber made a total of $262,743 with other winnings.
There are online reports of a $10 million Stake Plinko win but we could not verify its authenticity.
Is Plinko Gambling or Just Entertainment
Both. You play for free and for fun. Or you just watch and enjoy the TV show.
When you stake real money, you are gambling. You may win or lose it.
Best Plinko Casinos Online in 2025

Social casinos like Stakes.us have Plinko game.
Plinko is available at both real money online casinos and sweepstakes casinos. It is more commonly found in sweepstakes casinos.
Many crypto and offshore casinos also offer Plinko. But we do not recommend those for online safety reasons. Here are our best Plinko Casino picks.
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Casino is available in all legal, real money online casino states in the US. You can play Plinko by Nyx in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other states where BetMGM is available.
You can “drop, bounce, and win big” in MGM’s “feature-packed” Plinko adventure. The RTP is 96% and it can vary across jurisdictions.
BetMGM gives you 100 bonus spins with a 100% deposit match up to $2,500 to kickstart your gaming.
Min Bet | $1 |
Max Bet | $20 |
Max Payout | 700x bet |
Autoplay | Yes |
Provider | Nyx |
RTP | 96% (varies) |
Custom Options | 1 Multiball, 5 Cash Prizes, 5 Pushers |
Stake.us


Plinko is listed as a Stake.us original sweepstakes game. It is placed in the same group as Hilo, Keno, Limbo, Mines, Tome of Life, and Slide. It is a “Stake take on the classic Japanese pachinko parlor game.”
Players drop a ball in the multi-row pyramid of pin. They wait till the ball takes a random route to reach the bottom of the pyramid. There are control options to set the volatility and risk levels.
There are also autoplay, hotkeys, and instant play options which you can use when you start playing.
Stake gives you $25 Stake cash with 250,000 gold coins. Use the code FINDER to register a new account and claim the offer. You can use the offer in over 30 US states.
Plinko Betting Options | Manual, Auto play |
Difficulty level | low, medium, high |
Rows | 8-16 |
Game Provider | Stake Originals |
Game Verification | ProvablyFair |


Which Plinko Version Should You Play?
Popular Plinko versions include Evoplay’s Plinko Blast, Betsoft’s Olympus Plinko, Dare2Win Plinko, Neon Plinko, Turbo Plinko, and Plinko X (SmartSoft Gaming).
However, you can only play the versions and options which are avaialble to you. That depends on your location.
You play BetMGM’s Nyx Plinko if you are in MI, NJ, PA, or WV.
We like the Stake Plinko a lot because it is flexible. You can play it with small or high bets. Maximum payout and RTP is quite reasonable.
You will not find a lot of flexibility in other versions such as BGaming or Spribe Plinko. Also, the payout may be much smaller running in some thousands rather than in millions.
There are many varieties of Plinko games for real money. Dare2Win and Pine of Plinko are just the two real money Plinko options
Plinko at Sweepstakes Casinos
Plinko is available on sweeps cash casinos like High 5, Modo, and others. They are not available in all the states of US.
You can play Stake Original Plinko in all US except these states: Washington, New York, Nevada, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, Louisiana, Montana, and Arizona.
Here are some of the popular Plinko options at sweeps casino.
Games | RTP |
---|---|
Modo Originals Plinko | 97.27% |
High 5 Plinko | 97.17% |
High 5 Plinko 2 | 98.1% |
Funzpoints Plinko | 98.7% |
LuckyBird Originals Plinko 2 | 99% |
Dare2Win Plinko
Plinko bettors can define the rows of pegs to play with. It starts from 8 and goes to a maximum of 16.
Players also specify the risk level (low, medium, high) in the Dare2Win version. The risk level affects the volatility and response of the game.
- Wintype: InstantWin
- Max win: 3,843.3x
- RTP: 98.98%; 98.28%; 97.27%; 96.02%; 94.30%; 92.03%; 88.20%
Pine of Plinko 2

The game has an RTP of over 96%.
Pine of Plinko 2 by Relax Gaming and Print Studios takes the madness to the next level! There is an avalanche of winning marbles and the balls can even bounce up resulting in more madness and fun.
It also has hatches on it that can open up with a Golden Ball feature where one single drop can fetch even up to 10,000x.
The game has unique scatter rerolls, bonus buys, and flexibility for players. The only con is that it looks more like a slot reel than a ball drop software game.
- Game type: Video Slot
- Payout: 10 Lines
- Min bet: $0.10
- Max bet: $50
Proven Strategies for Playing Plinko Online
Plinko casino game involves gambling. The casino house always has an edge over the players. So there is no guarantee that you will win money.
Plinko casino games are a game of chance. There is no concrete strategy for jackpot winnings when it comes to a Random Number Generator (RNG) system.
Playing plinko online does not require any special skill or training. There are no cheats and hacks when it is a random gaming system.
All you have to do (and can do) is to press the ‘play’ button and watch the ball fall down. It is not a game of skill. It is not the same as Poker or Blackjack.
Low Risk vs High Risk Settings
All you should do is check the volatility and risk level before dropping the ball. It is not a good idea to stake big money right away. That is our sound advice for not losing big or playing optimally.
You can change the number of rows and risk levels and also use autoplay options. None of these will improve your chances of winning at the game.
Can You Beat the House Edge in Plinko?
No. The House has an in-built advantage. The casino will always have a certain edge and that is inbuilt in the system.
That is how it works. You are always taking a risk of winning against the house.
Ball Drop Myths
Do not believe any of the Plinko myths. The ball has no memory of past deflections. Do not fall for gambling myths.
It is a good idea to play and practice the game in demo mode before staking real money. This way you can notice how random things can be.
Is There a Best Strategy for Online Plinko?
Gamble responsibly. That is the best strategy.
The second best strategy is your strategy. Do you want high risk and high payouts or do you want to bet small and gamble responsibly? What is your style and preference?
Use the automatic play mode with care so that you do not gamble beyond your means. If the play gets out of hand, use the responsible gambling controls in your account.
You can check the game probabilities at the University of Colorado’s interactive simulation for Plinko.
Plinko Bonuses and Promotions
You can claim many no deposit bonus offers in welcome bonuses to play Plinko online. You can claim free sweeps coins and gold coins in 30+ US states.
All welcome bonuses given to new customers can be used for playing Plinko slot unless the bonus terms exclude the game.
How to Claim a Plinko No Deposit Bonus Offer
Here is how you can get $25-$35 Plinko no deposit bonus offers:
- Choose a casino site we have reviewed for you on this page.
- Click on the casino link and head over to the site.
- Create a new account. Enter the bonus code during registration, if required.
- Go to the casino promotions page and claim the offer.
- Search for Plinko games in the lobby.
- Withdraw or redeem real money prizes as per the T&Cs.
Plinko on Mobile & Apps
There is no particular Plinko app for iOS and Android devices. You use the app or website of the casino to play.
You can download the casino app of an online casino or sweepstakes casino. Usually the apps are available in the App Store if there is one. There is no standalone, separate application for different games for licensed gambling.
The mobile casino apps usually offer the same user-interface, navigation, and functionality as the casino desktop.
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FAQs
- How can I make a Plinko gambling login?
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Create a new account to play online. It takes only a few minutes. You need a casino login which acts as your Plinko game login.
- Can you rig a Plinko board?
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No. Random Number Generators are encoded in the game software. Nobody can help you cheat at the online game.
- Can you play Plinko in the US?
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Yes. You can play the game online at licensed casino sites. Or at sweepstakes casinos which are available online for players from over 30 states.
- Do I have to play Plinko with Bitcoin?
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No. Bitcoin or Crypto casinos are not part of the legal gambling ecosystem in the US.
Plinko is not an exclusive domain of crypto sites or blockchain payments. - Are Plinko Winnings Taxable?
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Yes. Winnings invite gambling tax subject to terms. The IRS considers all gambling winnings taxable income. Plinko winnings are like winning lotteries, raffles, poker, sports betting, and slots.
- Does Plinko Count as Gambling?
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Yes, when you stake real cash to play in a physical or online casino.
- How does Plinko compare to slot machines?
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Plinko can refer to the classic TV game show (TPIR). Or to Plinko online slot machines. The latter is casino adapatation of the Plinko game concept. In the Plinko slot, a random number generator determines the outcome. There is no physical ball drop; you spin or press ‘play’ or 'bet' for it.
- Do Plinko bets count toward wagering on welcome bonuses or VIP/Rakeback?
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You need to check the terms and conditions of the welcome bonus offer to find that info. It is common for casinos to exclude high RTP games from bonus realization gameplay.
- Can autoplay with stop-loss/stop-win actually reduce risk?
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No. Automation tools do not reduce the gambling risk. You should always set limits on your autoplay gaming.
- What happens if a Plinko round is interrupted?
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It is not uncommon for games to not load, get disconnected or become unresponsive. Casinos usually cover this topic in their FAQs and you should check it.
Here is what BetMGM Casino tells you to do if you think your casino wager was settled wrongly:
- Contact Customer Care for wager or settlement issues
- Give Table ID and Game Sequence ID as described below (from desktop interface, not mobile)
- Sign in to your gaming account
- Enter any casino game
- Click menu
- Go to game logs
- Set a date range (max 3 days)
- Click Game Sequence ID for more round details