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Have you ever heard of Plinko before? It might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of casino games, especially not compared to titans like Poker or Slots. But the game of Plinko has become quite popular in the last few years, especially online.
So, where did this upstart game come from? Let’s take a look back at the history of the game, from its origins through to its current evolution and how Plinko UK took off.
Where did Plinko come from?
Plinko is a fairly recent game compared to many of the casino staples, having been created for the popular TV game show The Price Is Right. The game debuted in 1983 and was the brainchild of executive producer Frank Wayne.
The game quickly became one of the most popular on the show, thanks to its unique gameplay and high element of chance. Contestants on the show would place a chip at the top of the game board – which was lined with a field of pegs in offset rows – and then watch to see which of the nine bottom slots it would fall into.
Each of the bottom slots would correspond to the value of a potential prize, with the highest value slot sitting in the middle of the row. Thanks to the placement of the pegs, the movement of the chip as it bounced its way to the bottom of the board was impossible to predict.
The name itself was taken from the sound that the chips would make as they fell down the game board and bounced off the pins, with a distinct ‘plink’.
How Plinko evolved
Plinko remained a staple on The Price Is Right for many years. Over time, the design of its gameboard was iterated on, with the aim of improving both its gameplay and its visual appeal on screen. Brighter colors, flashing lights and other features were all added to increase viewer engagement and keep up with the changing times.
International versions of the show also began to adopt Plinko as one of their games, bringing the game to audiences in countries from Australia to the UK.
Thanks to its popularity on TV, Plinko was a game ripe for adaptation. Many casinos soon began to introduce their own in-house versions of Plinko, but these naturally saw some changes from the gameshow version.
The move to online gaming saw Plinko evolve further, adapting to an entirely digital format. These days you can find versions of Plinko that closely resemble its original incarnation and others that adapt elements of the game into a fusion format.
Plinko matches up well with elements of slot games to create something fresh, drawing on the best of both worlds to deliver an innovative gaming experience.
From a gameshow classic to an online game in its own right, Plinko has come a long way in the space of a few decades. Who knows where this unique game could go next as technology continues to evolve and change?