Cryptocurrencies emerged in 2009 with the debut of Bitcoin, the world's first decentralized virtual currency. Around two years after this technology became available for all to use, platforms like SatoshiDice showed up on the Web, parallel to the initial Internet crypto exchanges. These hubs offered simple, provably fair gaming, which refers to gamblers having the ability to verify the fairness of round results on their own, and they were a significant hit with then-niche blockchain enthusiasts.
Naturally, in the early years of crypto gambling, anonymous transactions were another sizeable attraction of this landscape, as they let privacy-conscious individuals bypass intrusive verification, given that they enjoyed this type of entertainment in a digital arena that lacked regulation. That was until 2014, when Curacao's Antillephone began regulating websites that hosted crypto gambling picks, which opened the door for third-party slots and live games to make their way onto these Bitcoin casinos.
Still, even with game lobbies bolstering their offering quite sizably post-2014, and now most of them featuring several thousand options, hardcore crypto fanatics have maintained the popularity of the original blockchain genres, exposing their straightforward gameplay and mechanics to those just coming into the sector. If you are new to crypto, we present the four most established choices in this category.
The first spot on this list must be occupied by the game that set the foundation of crypto gambling – dice. Dice options made wagering with digital coins a thing and set the stage for future things. In these games, you bet on the outcome of a virtual dice roll, usually selecting a number between one and one hundred, and whether the roll will produce a figure over or under the chosen number.
Like in all titles discussed here, smart contracts ensure fairness when playing at blockchain-powered sites, with results generated through provably fair algorithms. Dice is among the easiest crypto games one can play. Products like what SatoshiDice delivered let gamblers control their winning odds by permitting them to pick a number range, with larger ones increasing their prize-snagging probability but reducing their potential payout. For those into instant gaming fun, dice is still a prime choice that has stood the test of time.
Crash gambling has become a global phenomenon, one that was trailblazed by a site called Bustabit that popped up online in 2014. It is still operational and introduced the Internet to a rudimentary game where a multiplier begins growing from a value of x1, swelling possibly to infinity. Yet, its ascent can suddenly crash at any moment, randomly. The player's job is to bail out of the round before this occurs, claiming the on-screen multiplier when they leave the round, which then makes the game apply this value to their stake, producing their reward.
Of course, the longer they stay in the game, the higher their payout grows, but they risk losing everything. Hence, this is a pick for those who understand and know how to manage risk. What has dramatically enhanced the charm of crash games is that most have social features like live chat, real-time round results for all participating players, and leaderboard displays. These boost engagement and create a community atmosphere.
There is some confusion regarding Plinko's origin. Many believe this is an online version of Japanese arcade machines where metal balls fall through a pin layout and get collected in a tray. These are compared to slots and have been a source of much controversy in Japan, as they are housed in arcades. Still, many consider these venues exploiting a legal loophole, offering what is essentially gambling to the public. However, the truth of the roots of Plinko is that this crypto staple is essentially an iteration of the pricing game that has been a crucial part of the American TV quiz show The Price Is Right since 1983.
In Plinko, a ball or disk, whatever one chooses to call the object that gets dropped from the top of a peg-filled board, bounces off the pegs, which change its direction as it falls into one of the slots at the bottom of the board, each carrying a specific payout multiplier. It is a total game of chance, where no one can affect the path of the ball/disk onto a randomized outcome. What crypto casino Plinko variants offer is players being able to adjust the size of the board or the number of its pegs, creating higher payout/risk or lower payout/risk scenarios.
Mines is nothing more than Minesweeper for gamblers, who get a title grid, where each row can hold a multiplier or a bomb that ends their round. Their task is to click on a tile that does not reveal the bomb. If they accomplish this, they can cash out their reward or try their luck again on a different row, one holding higher multipliers than the previous one. They can keep doing this, growing their prize, if they avoid selecting the bomb, which concludes their round and takes away all their accumulated winnings.
In a sense, this is very similar to crash gambling. Like Plinko options, Mine also traditionally allows customization, letting users choose from different grid sizes and settle on one that best fits their risk tolerance.
Also read: How Secure Are Cryptocurrency Transactions for Online Casino Players?Indrapal Prajapat is a skilled crypto writer with 5 years of experience in blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, and Web3. He creates SEO-optimized content that helps readers understand the latest trends in cryptocurrency. Indrapal specializes in writing articles, news updates, and analysis for crypto projects, exchanges, and Web3 innovations. He focuses on making crypto knowledge accessible to everyone, from beginners to expert investors. His content helps investors make smart decisions. He stays updated on the latest trends, helping investors make informed decisions.