This is the PlinkoNet guide to one of the more distinctive versions of the classic arcade format. SmartSoft Gaming's PlinkoX layers a random bonus-ball mechanic on top of the standard peg-board drop. Below, our team breaks down its gameplay, odds and features, and flags where the marketing outruns what's actually documented.
Editor's assessment based on the strengths & weaknesses below — the headline 4.5/5 is our published rating for this title.
The board runs from a low 0.2× in the centre to x1000 on the far edges. The true x10,000 max is reached by landing the rarest combination — a Red (x10) bonus ball in the x1000 pocket.
Unlike BGaming, which lists its exact 16-row/High-risk binomial paytable, SmartSoft doesn't publish PlinkoX's row count, slot-by-slot multiplier ladder or bonus-ball trigger odds anywhere in its game description. Here's everything that is documented — from the game's own display and third-party game databases — with the gaps flagged honestly rather than filled in.
| Board position | Multiplier | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Centre slot | 0.2× | In-game display |
| Intermediate slots | Not published | — |
| Edge slots (base) | 1,000× | In-game display |
| Edge slot + Red (×10) bonus ball | 10,000× | In-game display |
The 0.2× centre and 1,000× edge are the two anchor values PlinkoX shows on its own board; the x10,000 headline is that 1,000× edge slot multiplied by a Red (×10) bonus ball. Everything between those anchors — how many rows the board actually runs, and the exact multiplier at each intermediate slot — is not disclosed by SmartSoft, so we won't invent numbers to fill the gap. That's the honest paytable, not a guess dressed up as one.
Every RTP figure ultimately comes from one formula: EV = Σ [P(slot) × multiplier], then RTP = EV × 100%. For BGaming's Plinko we can run that sum slot by slot because BGaming publishes the full 16-row paytable and every slot's exact binomial probability. PlinkoX doesn't give us those two inputs — the per-slot multiplier ladder or the number of rows — so an independently verifiable EV calculation isn't possible from public information.
What we can say: at a reported 98.5% RTP, the implied house edge is 1.5%, meaning EV ≈ $0.985 per $1 wagered, long-run. On the one line of maths we can show — the win itself — a $1 bet landing in the 1,000× edge slot with a Red (×10) bonus ball pays $1 × 1,000 × 10 = $10,000. That the underlying slot probabilities aren't published is exactly why we score PlinkoX's fairness lower than BGaming's or Stake's in the scorecard above.
At its core, PlinkoX is an instant-win game of chance that follows the classic Plinko format: a ball drops down a pegged pyramid and lands in a prize slot at the bottom. SmartSoft Gaming, a Tbilisi-founded studio operating since 2015 under an MGA B2B licence (925/2021), builds it on that base with a random bonus-ball layer.
Unlike minimalist versions of Plinko, PlinkoX leads with a visible display of the ball dispenser and its prize-ball colours before each drop — the mechanic that introduces the game's random multipliers. It reads less like a plain probability game and more like a modern video slot dressed up in Plinko's mechanics.
PlinkoX distinguishes itself with a vibrant, polished presentation — a cool palette of blues and purples punctuated by the bright pink, yellow and orange of the prize balls and multipliers. Animations are smooth and satisfying, from the rotation of the ball dispenser to the energetic bounce of the ball as it descends. The control panel sits at the bottom of the screen: adjust your bet with '+' and '-' buttons, toggle high-speed Turbo mode with a slider, and activate Autoplay for a set number of rounds. A subtle, futuristic synth track and the crisp 'plink, plink, plink' of the pegs make for a seamless, immersive Plinko gambling guide experience.
SmartSoft's own product page doesn't publish an RTP figure — the 98.5% here is what independent game databases consistently report. PlinkoX also has no player-adjustable risk level, so unlike BGaming's Plinko, you can't shift the RTP yourself; open the in-game info panel to confirm the number before you deposit.
Choose your stake for each ball drop using the controls. The $0.10–$100 range accommodates all types of players.
Press Place Bet. A ball is released at the top and descends through the peg board — SmartSoft doesn't publish an official row count, so treat any specific figure you see elsewhere as unverified.
Most balls are standard Pink (x1), but occasionally a Yellow (x5) or Red (x10) ball drops — the game's X-factor.
Payout = your stake × the slot's value × the ball's value. A $1 bet in an x20 slot with a Yellow (x5) ball wins $100.
Set a number of automatic drops, or speed up the animations with Turbo mode for faster sessions.
PlinkoX isn't the only Plinko in the lobby. BGaming, Spribe, Stake and Hacksaw each ship their own version, and each makes a different trade-off — some publish a full paytable, some fix the RTP so no operator can quietly lower it, and only some are provably fair rather than simply RNG-certified. Here's the honest five-way side-by-side, pulled from our own review of each game.
| SmartSoft PlinkoX | BGaming Plinko | Spribe Plinko | Stake Original | Hacksaw Dare2Win | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTP | ~98.5%* | up to 99% (98.98% actual, High/16) | 97% (fixed) | 99% (fixed) | 88.20%–98.98% |
| Rows | Fixed board (not published) | 8–16 (adjustable) | 12 / 14 / 16 | 8–16 (adjustable) | 8–16 (adjustable) |
| Risk levels | None — fixed | 3 (Low/Normal/High) | 3 (Green/Yellow/Red) | 3 (Low/Medium/High) | 3 (Low/Medium/High) |
| Max multiplier | x10,000† | x1,000 | x555 | ~x1,000 | x3,843.3 |
| RTP — fixed or configurable? | Fixed (per SmartSoft) | Configurable — casino sets it | Fixed everywhere | Fixed — Stake-exclusive | Configurable — 7 tiers |
| Provably fair | No — RNG-certified only | Yes | Yes (SHA-256) | Yes | No — RNG-certified only |
| Full review | You're reading it | BGaming review → | Spribe review → | Stake review → | Dare2Win review → |
*SmartSoft doesn't publish an official RTP for PlinkoX; 98.5% is the figure reported by third-party game databases, not a studio-confirmed number. †PlinkoX's x10,000 needs a 10× Bonus Ball multiplier layered on the base 1,000× edge slot — its base-only ceiling is x1,000, the same tier as BGaming and Stake.
PlinkoX by SmartSoft Gaming is a well-built version of the game that we'd recommend on presentation and win ceiling — with two conditions attached. The reported 98.5% RTP isn't a number SmartSoft states itself, and there's no player-adjustable risk level, so your only real control is bet size. It suits players who want the bonus-ball novelty and a high top-end multiplier, and who are comfortable verifying the RTP themselves rather than taking it on faith.
Three more licensed casinos we've checked for PlinkoX availability, payout speed and bonus terms. Ratings are ours on a 10-point scale (★ shown out of 5) — confirm the in-game RTP once you're in, since it isn't published by SmartSoft itself.
| Casino | Our rating | Welcome bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.4 ★ 4.7/5 | Up to +500% on first 4 deposits | Play | |
Monro | 9.4 ★ 4.7/5 | Up to 150% + 400 free spins | Play |
Sol Casino | 9.0 ★ 4.5/5 | 50% up to €300 | Play |
18+ · T&Cs apply · play responsibly. See the full ranked list on best Plinko casinos, or how we score on our methodology.