Mechanically, it’s a game of chance that involves placing a ball or disc in a maze of pegs and seeing where it comes out at the bottom. If the player is lucky, their playing piece will land in a prize box (originally $0 to $5,000 on The Price is Right).
Bob Barker Era
Plinko recently completed a perhaps inevitable journey to a digital format, appearing as Plinko Go at Betfair casino. In this version, the player makes a bet and tries to get a ball to land in multiplier boxes at the foot of the machine. These range from 0.2x in the middle to 420x on the outside.
Plinko Go is unique because it lets the player control the game’s “volatility”, a casino term that roughly translates to difficulty. In this case, low, medium, or high. High volatility makes the game board wider with more pegs, but allows for more and larger prizes.
As a game of luck, Plinko Go sits easily alongside experiences like slots, but its familiarity to most Americans means it’s more of a pick-up-and-play game for newcomers.
The classic version debuted on TV in early January 1983 during the Bob Barker era. The set was reportedly so large that the host’s normal entrance to the stage was impassable. It also came with a “Plinko stick” for Barker in case the contestant’s disc got stuck. It got a few uses over the years, too.
A queen-sized bed set, Mary Kay cosmetics, a vacuum cleaner, and a stainless steel kitchenware set (looking suspiciously like a collection of dog bowls) were on offer during that episode of The Price is Right (#4741D).
Neon Upgrade
Part of Plinko’s evolution to a digital property includes a version on the Washington Post website - Plinko Pegs. This neon upgrade plays just like the standard game but with a few modifiers.
Between rounds, the player can add a bouncy wall, a valuable "Midas" peg, or choose to increase the value of any pocket. Every peg gives points in the WaPo game, and players have to reach a point goal to end the current level. The current record stands at 12.6bn.
Let's get off the internet for a moment. The end of April 2025 brought what many fans wanted from the Plinko gods: a sizeable (4ft) game to play at home.
It has a suitably large price tag - $139.99 a Costco- but, with lights and sound, and a collection of cards to guess the prices of, it has more than enough pieces to justify it. Plus, it’s foldable and suitable for outside play. No more blocked entrances.
Given its popularity, even after four decades in the sun, it’s easy to forget that Plinko was once a minor segment on The Price Is Right.