Crash games are the plinko and multiplier titles filling their own corner of some casino lobbies, and the first thing to know is that they are not pokies. This page explains how crash and instant games work, why they sit in a different risk category to a slot, and the three casinos in our set where we saw one. For readers aged 18 and over. If gambling stops being fun, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
What crash and instant games are
Crash: a rising multiplier you cash out
A crash game shows a single multiplier that starts near 1x and climbs the longer a round runs. You place a stake before the round, then choose when to cash out: bank the multiplier showing at that moment and you keep your stake times that figure. Leave it too long and the round "crashes", the multiplier disappears, and the stake is gone. It is a game of timing, not spinning reels.
Plinko: a ball down a peg board
Plinko works differently. A ball or disc drops from the top of a pegged board and bounces down into one of several slots along the bottom, each printed with a multiplier. The outer slots tend to pay the most and land the least often, while the middle slots pay little. You control the stake and the risk setting, not where the ball ends up.
Why these are not pokies
Different maths, different feel
A pokie has reels, symbols, paylines or ways, and features like free spins. Crash and plinko games have none of that. They are instant, single-decision rounds built on a multiplier curve or a drop, which is why casinos file them under a separate "Crash Games" or instant tab rather than in the pokie lobby. Judge them as pokies and you will misread how they pay.
They run high variance
Be clear-eyed about the risk: these are high-variance games. The big multipliers that make them look appealing are rare, and long strings of low or busted rounds are normal. The pace is also fast, with a fresh round every few seconds, which makes it easy to bet more than you meant to in a short sitting.
Where we saw them in our lobbies
Crownslots, Lucky Ones and RollXO
Three of the ten casinos we review carry these games. Crownslots has a dedicated Crash Games tab, the clearest home for them in our set. We saw BGaming's "Plinko" at both Lucky Ones and RollXO, and RollXO also carried Kagaming's "Football Plinko", which fits its sports theme. For the rest of our verdicts, see all our casino reviews.
Playing them sensibly
Set the limit before the first round
Because the rounds are quick and the swings are steep, a deposit limit set before you start matters more here than on a slower pokie. Decide a stake you can lose, treat any big multiplier as luck rather than a plan, and walk away when the limit is reached. These are entertainment with a fast burn, not a payout shortcut.
Frequently asked questions
No. Pokies use reels, symbols and paylines or ways, while crash and plinko games are instant multiplier rounds with none of that. Casinos list them under a separate Crash Games or instant tab for that reason.
Three of the ten we review. Crownslots has a dedicated Crash Games tab, and we saw BGaming Plinko at Lucky Ones and RollXO, with RollXO also carrying Kagaming Football Plinko.
You stake before the round, a multiplier climbs from around 1x, and you cash out to bank your stake times the multiplier showing. If the round crashes before you cash out, you lose the stake. Timing is the whole game.
Yes. They are high-variance and fast, so big multipliers are rare and losing runs are common. Set a deposit limit before you start and never chase a busted round.