Crash Games Explained: Rules, Strategies, and Where to Play

You may not have heard of it yet, but crash games are all the rage nowadays. This blockchain-based casino game took online game rooms by storm. Blending psychology, strategy, and, of course, luck, offering a truly modern and exciting gambling experience.

But what are crash games? How do they work, and most importantly, can they be played smartly and strategically?

Our comprehensive guide aims to walk you through the game’s history, familiarize you with the rules, including its deep game mechanics and popular variants, and let you know a few crash game secrets to help you get started.

A Brief History of Crash Games

Crash games are relatively new in gambling, only emerging in the middle of the 2010s. They use blockchain technology to create a provably fair and transparent gambling game.

The balloon pop games known from the streets and underground gambling circles inspired the game. These games had similar mechanics to crash games, with a balloon slowly inflated while players bet on when it would pop.

The game ‘Double or Nothing’ can also be considered a predecessor of crash games. It is a gambling game in which players can keep doubling their wagers until they choose to stop or lose their bets.

As more and more online casinos launched in the 2000s, they tried to digitalize this game concept. They invented ‘rocket games’, in which a rocket ship’s graphic took off with a rising multiplier, and players could bail out before the explosion. 

Rocket games had a huge problem, though, as they were often offered on the unregulated gambling sites of the ‘grey market’. This problem was addressed by the launch of Bustabit in 2014.

Bustabit is the first modern crash game still operating today that uses cryptographic hashes and transparent algorithms that even the players can verify. Bustabit also features Bitcoin integration, allowing players to participate anonymously.

Since 2014, many online casino operators, including Duelbits, BC.Game, and Betfury have developed their take on the now-classic crash crypto game, refining their formula with flashier visuals, quicker rounds, new social elements, live multipliers, auto-cashout options, side bets, and more.

How Crash Games Work

Most traditional casino games rely on Random Number Generation (RNG), but crash games beg to differ. They utilize so-called multiplicative curves, where a multiplier ‘climbs’ until it’ crashes’ at some random time, thus ending the round. Players who have cashed out before the crash secure their winnings, but players who have waited far too long to cash out lose their bets.

The popularity of crash games rose with the spread of Bitcoin casinos. These casinos prioritized anonymity, fast transactions, and provable fair play, attracting players who did not trust traditional casinos.

But how exactly is this provable fairness achieved? Let’s see how Crash Games’ algorithms work.

Seed-Based Hashing

Crash games use seed-based hashing, which means that in every round, two servers are used: a server seed and a client seed.

The server seed remains hidden until the end of the turn, while the player controls the client seed.

The two seeds are mixed and processed by a cryptographic function, the SHA-256 algorithm. This method generates a long string of numbers and letters, or a hash value, that is unique and irreversible.

The hash is then converted into a crash multiplier, which determines where the crash occurs.

Verifiable Outcomes

Crash games’ transparency lies in the fact that players can verify the fairness of each round.

The server seed is revealed after every round, and players can access their client seed too.

With these two numbers, anyone can confirm that no manipulation occurred by recalculating the crash multiplier with the same open-source code the casino uses.

Example Algorithm  

To make it more straightforward, let’s take a closer look at how Bustabit’s crash multiplier is calculated:

Multiplier = (100 / (1 – (nextHash / 2^52)))

NextHash is derived from the seed and is completely automated in this formula, so there can be no outside interference.

Where Is The House’s Edge?

In crash games, the casino has an advantage that is mathematically built into its algorithm: multipliers simply happen less often than they should.

For example, a 2x multiplier should occur 50 percent of the time, but the algorithm makes it happen only 49 percent of the time.

Some casino providers might adjust the payouts dynamically, so a 2x multiplier pays just 1.96 times the wagered money.

This ‘hidden fee’ creates the casino’s edge, usually between 1 and 3 percent.

How to Play Crash Games

Crash games have a very straightforward gameplay, where no previous knowledge is needed.

First, players must place their bets by choosing the amount they wish to wager before the round begins.

When the round begins, the multiplier rises, and a curve (sometimes with a rocket at the end) climbs up from 1.00x.

Players can cash out manually during the round or set a threshold for automatic cashout before the round begins.

If the player cashes out before the crash, he wins, but if the crash happens before that, every wager that has not been cashed out yet is lost.

The longer you wait, the higher the multiplier and the risk of crashing and losing everything.

As no one knows exactly when the crash will happen, every round is a huge gamble: the multiplier could stop at just 1.10x or explode past even 100x!

Popular Crash Game Variants  

Even though the basic idea behind all cash games is the same, platforms usually spice them up with their unique characteristics.

Let’s look at some of the most popular versions, including some lesser-known ones.

Classic Crash

This is the original form of the crash game, with just a plain, rising graph and, of course, a provably fair algorithm. It can be played on several sites, including Stake and Bustabit.

Rocket Crash

Rocket Crash players can cheer for a rising spaceship, not just a graph, and they can often make side bets, like predicting when the crash will happen.

This variant can be played on BC.Game among others.  

Turbo Crash

If classic crash game formats are not fast enough, players can try their luck at Turbo Crash, where multipliers rise much faster. This leads to shorter rounds, quicker payouts, and, of course, much higher volatility.

Live Multiplayer Crash

In some more social crash game versions, players can compete in real-time leaderboards,  with some even offering ‘last man standing’ bonuses for those who cash out last.

Basic Strategies & Tips for Crash Games

While there is mathematically no long-term winning strategy in any form of crash games, players who want to play can follow a few tips and strategies to play for longer than they would if they just bet randomly.

Now let’s check out some strategies for a more structured play:

1. The Martingale System

The Martingale System is a very aggressive strategy, where you double your bet after every loss.

With this system, you can quickly recover your losses, but it is also risky, for a long losing streak can wipe out your entire bankroll.

2. The Reverse Martingale

The Reverse Martingale, or Paroli System, is quite special because players double their bets not after losses but after wins and reset after losses.

This strategy capitalizes on hot streaks, a double-edged sword, and only works on a winning streak.

3. Fixed Multiplier Cash-Out

If you always cash out at a strictly set multiplier, such as 2x, you will play more disciplinedly and reduce your chance of falling into the trap of emotional decision-making.

4. Auto-Cashout + Stop-Loss

If you want to make sure not to lose more than you can afford, it is safe to set an auto-cashout somewhere between 1.5x and 2x, and apply a strict stop-loss limit for the day. 

Top Crash Game Platforms Compared  

Let’s see how different crash game platforms measure up:

Which Crash Game Should You Choose?  

Stake Crash is best for you if you seek the highest potential payouts. If you are in a hurry, Roobet offers the quickest crash games, but BC.Game offers extra side bets. Or if you prefer the classic version, choose Bustabit.

How to Get Started with Crash Games  

If you have reached this far in our article, you should already know that in crash games, the house always has an edge, but if you understand the game’s mechanics, you can still choose your bets so that you can play for quite a long time.

If you wan to test your luck at crash games check out our best casino bonus code and casino free spins!