What is Plinko? Game History, Game Dynamics and Why Plinko is Such a Crowd Pleaser

The standing board game of Plinko debuted in 1983 on the popular daytime game show called The Price Is Right. Widely considered as one of the most popular features from the iconic game show, Plinko was created by the late TV executive producer Frank Wayne.

Since its debut, Plinko has remained essentially the same on television, but many have adapted this game for their own purposes. Whether for a party game for entertaining friends and family or building interest at a trade show or exhibition, playing Plinko has stood the test of time.

Where Did the Name Plinko Come From?

Bob Barker, who was the host of The Price Is Right, said that the name Plinko came from the sound that the chips made while they bounced from peg to peg. It sounds like “plink, plink, plink” along the way till the chip lands on the cash prizes. This simple game on the tv show made contestants very excited to play it and also about winning the great prizes being offered. This is also why it is so popular at tradeshows and events, the sound attracts people to the game.

Plinko Boards & Plinko Chips

The Plinko board from The Price is Right is approximately 10 ft tall and has 9 spaces at the bottom. Each slot that the chip can land on has a different dollar amount attributed to it. The center slot is the one with the biggest prize amount. There are sound effects and noises connected for the various wins. It is a very exciting game to play and to watch.

How to Play Plinko – Game Dynamics

In traditional Plinko, a player places a Plinko chip flat against the vertical game board and releases it. The chip falls through the series of pegs in an unpredictable way until the chips bounce into one a prize slot at the bottom of the board. The contestant wins the prize indicated in the slots the chips land on and gets the total amount accumulated from each chip landing in a prize slot.  Recently the prizes have been adapted with a letter or number instead of a value. Each letter or number represents a prize, this way prizes can be switched and altered based on availability. Many times they can be given a “Try Again” value to increase the interaction with the game and keep the players involved.

Why is Plinko so Fun?

Plinko has always been a fan-favorite game due to its sheer unpredictability and excitement that accompanies each drop of the chips. While Plinko is purely based on luck, people have found a strategic way to increase their chances of winning; dropping the Plinko chips from the middle slot yields the most optimal odds for hitting larger prizes. Without doubt, Plinko remains one of the most thrilling and tension-filled game show games out there–most likely due to its completely unpredictable nature. No one knows exactly where Plinko’s chips will land when they are dropped! This is a low risk game that does not intimidate the player and allows people of all skill levels to play without risk of embarrassment. 

Interesting Facts About Plinko

Originally the Plinko board was open and didn’t have a covering. Chips occasionally fell onto the stage and had to be played again. The solution was to create a plexiglass cover over the board, which was introduced in 1991, when the board was also redone. Angling the game back a few degrees reduces the risk of falling chips 

• The first ever Plinko contestant won $6,500. A huge prize at the time!
• There are only a limited number of official Plinko chips. There are only 10 and they’re protected in a special box after each use.
• In 2019 in a special “Big Money Week” edition of Plinko with a grand center prize of $200,000, a contestant won $202,000 with four chips.
• The middle slot where the chip can fall has the top prize.
• The host has a stick handy in case the Plinko chip gets stuck. 

A Fun Game for Building Brand Engagement

The fun and famous game of Plinko has enduring popularity. Pop49 has created variations of this popular game that are portable and great for building engagement with potential customers. Plinko games are great to use at industry events, tradeshows and exhibitions to draw attention, build excitement and have fun!

Branded games for business are a great way to stand out at a tradeshow. It is also fun and engaging to play Plinko as a group at internal events with employees. Pop49’s custom game maker creates branded games that help build consumer engagement and promote products or services. There is also a golf plinko game that combines the love of Plinko with golf!

A big advantage is that Pop49 Plinko games can be easily rebranded with minimal tools. This maximizes versatility and makes the game last longer than games that have permanent graphics.

Thanks to Pop49 creating a fully customizable and branded Plinko board the excitement of Plinko can be experienced at a corporate event or social gathering.  This team building game can now be created as a custom 3D plinko game with your corporate brand on it.