Unlike many other casino games, Plinko got its start on a well-known TV gameshow, The Price Is Right. The game proved to be one of the most popular games on the show, going on to feature in international versions and spinning off into other formats.
But for those who haven’t watched episodes of the classic show, we’ve put together a simple guide to the game of Plinko. Since its shift into the online space and other digital formats Plinko in the UK has taken off significantly, so let’s explore just how the game works.
What is Plinko?
A lot of players might not have heard of Plinko before, since it’s got a much shorter history than typical casino staples like Blackjack and Roulette.
At its core, the game is quite simple, with players placing a chip at the top of a gameboard studded with pegs. Once the chip is released it will bounce off the pegs on its way to the bottom of the board, where it will land in one of the various slots lined up. Each slot has a different value, with the highest typically placed in the central position.
It’s impossible to predict how the chip will fall on its way down the board, with the offset arrangement of the pegs helping to produce a random course to the bottom. This element of randomness and chance is a big part of the game’s appeal.
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Where did Plinko come from?
Plinko debuted on an episode of US TV gameshow The Price Is Right in 1983, created by executive producer Frank Wayne. It quickly proved to be one of the most popular games featured on the show, becoming a true staple of the gameshow over the course of its run.
Over time the design of the game was updated, adding extra features, brighter colours and greater effects to help keep audiences interested.
International versions of The Price Is Right also incorporated Plinko, introducing the game to audiences in a variety of countries. This helped to spur further spin-offs as the game was adopted by many land-based casinos, before being adapted into apps and online gaming experiences.
How does Plinko work?
Physical games of Plinko work largely by gravity, with the gameboard sitting upright at a slight angle. The placement of the pegs in evenly spaced, offset lines creates a sort of maze for the dropped chip to navigate on its descent down the board.
Most importantly, the design of the pegs ensure that the chip will bounce in unpredictable directions on its route to the bottom. No matter how the player tries to position the chip in the drop zone, they can never predict how it will fall.
Online and digital varieties of Plinko work a little differently, since there’s no physical board or chip in play. Some online versions even adopt an entirely different presentation, fusing elements of Plinko with other game varieties such as Slots.
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Whether it’s in its gameshow format or a more modern incarnation, Plinko is a game that remains popular among players for its randomness and unique presentation.
