Crash Gambling Revolution: What's Behind Casino's 'Crash Games' Craze?
In the annals of scientific history, Sir Isaac Newton's profound words echo with timeless significance: "What goes up, must come down."
Today, a modern phenomenon emerges, riding the waves of Newtonian wisdom into the ever-changing online casino landscape: crash gambling.
Last month, PokerNews shone a spotlight on Aviator, a cutting-edge crash game that has captivated a staggering 10 million monthly players.
Aviator, the original crash gambling game, invites players to wager on a virtual plane's climb, aiming to cash out before its inevitable descent.
And, it's fair to say the game and the crash gambling genre have piqued our interest; its fresh concept, distinctiveness, and widespread appeal are undeniable in a crowded casino marketplace.
Moreover, once the preserve of crypto casinos and other dubious operators, crash games are rapidly appearing in the libraries of some of the industry's most respected online casino sites.
So, what exactly is crash gambling, and how did it emerge? What are some of the most famous crash games, and are they here to stay?
Join us as we delve into the world of crash gambling, exploring its origins and titles and investigating the clamor for crash games that has gripped the casino world.
What is Crash Gambling?
Crash gambling first rose to prominence in 2018 with the emergence of Aviator, an experimental game that launched enormous success for Polish-based developers Spribe.
The concept is relatively new within the sphere of casino gaming, seeing players place and hold bets on a multiplier that increases over time. The aim of crash games is to win by cashing out before the multiplier crashes, which, if done successfully, can see manifold returns on your original stake.
The multiplier in crash gambling—the plane's trajectory in Aviator, for example—is determined by a Random Number Generator, which ensures fair and random outcomes for all crash gambling games. The Return-to-Player rate of crash games is typically higher than that of many other casino games, hovering around 97%.
A more recent innovation in the online casino space, crash gambling initially grew in popularity at cryptocurrency casinos where widely used coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum were commonly used. Today, crash gambling games are more easily accessible than ever, with some of the biggest casino operators and developers in the world jumping on the crash gambling bandwagon.
Let's now examine some of the biggest crash games in the world and their developers.
Please note - 'RTP' refers to return-to-player, a metric that relates to the average payout of a casino game over a set period of time. To discover more, please read our guide to RTP.
What are Crash Games?
As crash gambling becomes increasingly popular, there has been a wave of top developers creating crash games to cater to the emerging marketplace.
No matter the theme, all crash games rely on the same mechanics in that they are a common draw game. Put simply, this means that all players, wherever they are in the world and whatever stakes they're playing with, play the same session and experience the same outcome.
Naturally, this format lends itself to live game shows, which have also rocketed in popularity at online casinos in recent years, with developers like Evolution creating new and exciting formats. For example, the developer recently launched Stock Market Live, a new crash game in which players can experience the buzz of betting on the financial markets.
Here is a selection of the biggest crash games in the crash gambling space:
| Crash Game | Developer | Date Launched | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator | Spribe | 2018 | 97% |
| Space XY | BGAMING | 2022 | 97% |
| Skyward | BetGames | 2023 | N/A |
| Cash or Crash Live | Evolution | 2021 | 99.59% |
| Big Bass Crash | Pragmatic Play | 2023 | 95.5% |
Why are Crash Games on the Rise?
Now we've established what crash gambling is and what some of the most popular crash games are, the question remains - why are crash games on the rise?
Firstly, there's no doubt there is a unique appeal to the mechanics of crash games that helps them stand apart from other casino games. Having tested tons of crash games recently, I was impressed by their simplicity and the ease with which I was able to pick up the format. Moreover, crash games provide an illusion of control for the player that it's rare to find in other games—especially slots and some table games like roulette.
Secondly, crash games find their origin in cryptocurrency, a payment method that appeals to a younger and more tech-savvy demographic. This attracts an audience that is more used to console and PC gaming rather than your traditional casino players - although there's no doubt it's a versatile genre that is enticing to many.
High return-to-player rates also appeal, with the average crash game coming in at the upper end of the RTP spectrum - a typical crash game can see an RTP of 97%. Meanwhile, table games can be less, and the bulk of slots are in the region of around 95% RTP.
Social interaction is a strong feature of crash games. Unlike slots or games such as blackjack, which can be a solitary experience, crash game lobbies typically buzz with interactions as players experience a shared outcome. This allows groups of friends to jump into the same lobbies together, also aided by tiny minimum stakes, which remove the barrier to entry for many low-stakes players.
Are Crash Games Here to Stay?
While the gambling industry can be notoriously hard to predict, it does seem as though crash games are indeed here to stay.
As mainstream casinos rush to add crash games to their site, the relentless march of exposure and reach for the crash gambling genre would appear to be inevitable.
Moreover, as some of the biggest developers in the world increasingly invest time and expertise in creating the next generation of crash games, it would be a brave individual to bet against a continued upward trajectory.
Admittedly, crash gambling's reach in certain markets is still limited - particularly in the US, where major casino brands have been slower to adopt the genre than in Europe - however, it looks more likely to be a question of 'When?' rather than 'If?' for the games.
Whatever happens, crash gambling is certainly an area to keep your eye on throughout the rest of 2024 and beyond.
Casino Content Executive
