Plinko Gambling in Australia

Plinko is a simple online casino game that initially appeared as a mini-game on the iconic American TV show The Price is Right in the early 1980s.

The game was inspired by the game of Pachinko, a Japanese game that has been played since the early 1920s, initially as a child’s toy and later as an arcade game.

Pachinko is a mechanical arcade game with a similar look and feel to a pinball machine. In the game, balls are dropped into a vertical game board filled with pins. As the balls fall, they ricochet off the pins and bounce through the board, eventually landing in one of the prize pots at the bottom.

This movement ensures the random outcome of each game round, creating excitement as the balls get closer to the bottom. They randomly change direction, bouncing off pins and each other to land in unpredictable places.

Translated into an online casino game, the modern digital versions come in all different shapes and sizes, with enhanced gameplay and exciting features to help boost your win potential. It’s easy to see how this simple TV show game has become a popular choice for online casino players, offering fast-paced and enthralling gameplay. 

As mentioned, Plinko first appeared on American TV in 1983. It was instantly a massive hit among viewers and soon became a household name, spawning various formats, from kid’s board games to specialised Plinko gambling machines. 

The simple original design, featuring pegs on a vertical board, remains untouched, mainly in modern digital game versions. The mechanics are well-loved and influential and part of the charm of this simple game. 

Plinko has become a cultural icon in the US, which has helped shape the progression from its entertainment background to online casino game versions incorporating special features, multipliers, and bonuses.

Moreover, modern versions can include customisable features that appeal to players, such as adjustable volatility and varied bet sizes, making the game more accessible to a broader audience. 

How to Play Plinko

The premise of the Plinko game is simple: to drop a ball or chip into the top of a vertical board filled with pegs and hope to land the ball in the pot at the bottom that offers the highest prize payout. 

The goal is to maximise your winnings by aiming for the highest-value slots at the bottom of the board. However, the randomness of the ball’s path makes each drop impossible to predict, which adds to the excitement of the game. 

The payouts you can expect when playing Plinko will depend very much on the RTP and variance of your game. As many versions offer variable risk and volatility, reading through the game rules before playing is essential to ensure you understand what you’re up against before committing any of your bankroll. 

The RTP is the return to player percentage. It is the percentage of wagers put into the game that will eventually be paid back to players. This is a theoretical figure based on the assumption of playing the game for an extended period. 

For example, if a game has an RTP of 97%, approximately $97 out of every $100 wagered will be paid back. The remaining 3% would go towards the casino house edge, which is used to cover operating costs and turn a profit. Plinko gambling typically offers a very high RTP (around 99%), which is part of the reason it has become so popular among Australian players.  

Benefits of Playing Plinko 

You may wish to add Plinko to your list of favourites for many reasons, not least the visual appeal and sense of nostalgia from the iconic TV show. Many players enjoy the simple gameplay and pace at which you can play. There are no complicated game rules, and outcomes are easily determined. 

The game’s simplicity does not detract from the potential to still take home some sizable payouts, depending on your game settings, additional features, and if you’re lucky enough to hit those top prize pots. 

As Plinko has entered the digital space, online versions of the game can allow for customisable gameplay so you can have more control over your experience and some games, including bonus rounds, free drops or other special features to help boost your prize potential. 

If you’re new to Plinko gambling, we always recommend you try playing demo versions of any games before playing for real money. 

Is Plinko Gambling Legal in Australia?

Like most forms of gambling, Plinko is generally legal in Australia, provided the game and casino conform to national and state or territory gambling legislation. This is why we recommend that you play only at licensed casinos, where you can be sure of the site’s trustworthiness and compliance with licensing requirements.  

Look for key components on an operator’s website that demonstrate safety, such as website encryption to protect your data, a content library from reputable game developers, and the correct display of licensing information and relevant industry audits.

If you’re unsure, read our expert online casino reviews and check out our blog for more information regarding gambling laws in Australia.