Have you heard of the Mines casino game? If not, it’s about time you did. This Minesweeper-inspired grid game is an excellent alternative to traditional slots and table games, but it is critical to understand the rules before playing.
Mines is one of my favorite casino games, and today I’m going to tell you all about it. It usually revolves around a 5×5 grid dotted with hidden bombs. Here’s everything you need to know about the game’s mechanics and most exciting features, as well as which online casino sites in your area currently offer it.
What is the “Mines” game available at some online casinos?
Just as I already mentioned above, Mines is essentially the classic PC “Minesweeper” game first launched by Microsoft back in the 1990s, but with a really cool casino spin.
To play, you’ll turn over tiles on a 5×5 grid to reveal either randomly placed “gems”, which denote a multiplier, or “bombs”, which will automatically trigger the end of the game.
The main difference to the old PC version is of course the fact you’ll be placing bets at the beginning of each round. I’ll talk about how this works in the next section.
How to play the Mines game at online casinos
Playing the Mines game online is a lot easier than you might think, because the betting options offered by most sites that have the game up for grabs are really straightforward.
Naturally, you’ll need to start by picking a Mines-friendly online casino that accepts players from your region. You should find plenty of such sites displayed in my banners on this page.
Once you’ve found somewhere to play, you can then jump straight into the action by:
Choose a licensed casino from the banners on this page that supports Mines games.
Create an account and claim a bonus if available.
Navigate to the game – usually found in the “Arcade” or “Originals” category.
Select your bet amount and (if applicable) the number of bombs you want on the grid.
Click tiles to reveal gems – each safe click increases the multiplier.
You can cash out at any time – or keep clicking until you hit a bomb.
A few quick Mines casino pros and cons
Nostalgic gameplay99% potential RTPCool customization optionsUsually compatible with welcome bonuses
Fast facts and stats about Mines for casino gamers
There are several reasons the Mines gambling game has grown immensely popular in recent years, and these extend way, way beyond the game’s simple nostalgia value and familiar gameplay.
When compared to traditional slot games and other popular casino staples like roulette, blackjack, or poker, Mines offers a pretty excellent potential Return to Player (RTP), for example, as well as some super fun in-game features that keep the game entertaining for the long haul.
Here are some key stats I’m sure you’ll all want to know about the game. Followed by my thoughts on Mines’ most interesting features.
RTP
99% at most Mines casinos – check the T&Cs with your provider before playing.
House edge
Usually 2.50%.
Game grid size
5×5 (25 tiles in total)
Number of “bombs” in play
Usually customizable – ranging from one to 24.
Max bet limit
Depends on the site you’re playing the game with.
What are the best game features that the Mines casino game has to offer?
The Mines casino game isn’t always identical, rules-wise, from one casino site to the next. Equally so, depending on which of the sites promoted in my on page banners you’re playing at, the features and in-game options available may differ slightly, too.
Nevertheless, I’ve found that the majority of the time, the best online casinos that offer the game will grant you access to:
đź’° An Early Exit or Cashout Option
If you manage to strike a few consecutive gems, some sites have a “Cashout” option whereby you can quit the game early with the winnings you’ve accumulated so far – i.e., before triggering a bomb.
đź’Ł Ample ‘bombs’ customization
What’s more, many of the
best crypto casino sites
that offer this game will let you select how many bombs are in play each game, ranging anywhere from 1 right up to 24. Because, let’s face it, every square can’t conceal a bomb now, can it?
⚡ A fast-paced auto-bet feature
Last but not least, I’ve seen some popular sites that offer this game, like Stake.com, for example, offer an “Auto Bet” feature where you can preselect squares ahead of multiple rounds, and choose a percentage increase on upcoming wins and losses. It’s a cool feature, but one that’s important to use responsibly.
What are some popular Mines casino strategies?
Now you’re all clued up on how to play and what kinds of customization options you’re likely to encounter with Mines casino sites in your region, allow me to turn your attention to a few popular strategies a lot of gamers swear by when playing this game.
Personally, I’d probably start by playing the Mines real money game with smaller bets and fewer bombs in play, to get used to the mechanics of the game first, then spice things up a bit later.
That said, you guys might also want to try out some of the following approaches:
Popular strategy
How it works
The “1:1: Ratio” strategy
I’ve found that some players enjoy setting the number of bombs in play to just one, then enabling “Continuous Play”, “Auto Bet” or whatever its equivalent might be called at your Mines casino, to enjoy the relative safety of having as many non-bomb squares as possible in play each round.
From where I’m standing, this is a great option if you’re fairly new to the game.
Taking a “Max Mines” approach
At the other end of the spectrum, it’s of course possible to really crank up the game’s volatility by plonking down as many bombs as possible onto the grid.
This will result in potentially higher multipliers, of course, the downside being that there are tons of mines to try to avoid, everywhere, when turning over your tiles each round. So, this one isn’t for the faint of heart…
Opting for “The Martingale Method”
This age-old gaming strategy, which is hugely popular among Mines casino players right now, involves doubling your bet each round every time you lose the previous one.
This can of course help you to replenish lost bets and chase higher multipliers as you go, but playing responsibly and setting appropriate limits beforehand is essential.
I’ve seen different variations of Mines advertised all over the internet, including on casino sites like Stake.com, BC.Game and Roobet, to name but a few.
Naturally, though, regional and country-by-country restrictions might mean that these example operators aren’t available in your location, which is where my on-page banners come in.
You see, every banner and link you see on my site is geo-targeted based on where in the world you’re reading from, meaning you’ll only ever see suggestions for trusted, Mines-friendly casino sites that are 100% available to players in your area here.
Remember, though, that any sites you choose to play Mines casino games, slots, tables, or other real money games with must always offer:
A proper iGaming license – which should be localized to your state, province, or region.
Random Number Generators (RNGs) – which ensure Mines games always deliver fair outcomes.
SSL encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) – which protect your data and login information.
Access to other cool casino games, too – because let’s face it, you’re probably not going to want to play Mines and only Mines forever.
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What other games will Mines casino gamers enjoy?
As much as I love Mines, there’s no denying that all that… mining can leave gamers like us fancying a change of scenery from time to time.
The good news? All the sites promoted in my banners offer access to huge game portfolios that tend to feature classic slots and fruit machines like Hot Triple Sevens and Sweet Bonanza, as well as ample table game options covering roulette, blackjack, and other Vegas-style genres.
Of course, many of these sites also offer more unconventional kinds of casino games like Mines, too.
Some of my own favorite Mines alternatives include:
🚀 Spaceman, Rocket and Crash style games
Originally influenced by stock trading, so-called “crash” games offer players like you and me the chance to bet on how high we think the curve on a graph might climb before “crashing”.
The way it works is simple: you’ll bet on a multiplier at the beginning of each round, then watch the graph on screen climb higher and higher towards (or potentially past) your target, and finally crash.
Other, arguably more fun themed variations of crash include
rocket casino
games offered by sites like BC.Game, to name one example, where a literal rocket blasting off into space is used as an upwards-moving game icon rather than a boring old graph.
Then there’s
Spaceman casino
games. These are essentially the same again, but feature a spaceman taking flight, rocket-free, for some reason.
Have a click around the banners on my site to get better acquainted with online casinos in your area that offer crash-style games, and more.
🎳 Plinko and pinball inspired games
Much like the Mines casino game I’ve been dissecting throughout this guide, Plinko is another completely unconventional game now accepting bets at top online casinos. Though this time, it’s influenced by pinball rather than old PC games of days gone by.
To play Plinko, you’ll need to unleash a ball at the top of a peg-studded pyramid, then watch it hit peg after peg on its way to the bottom, each one influencing your potential wins.
Most market-leading casinos offering this game, such as those mentioned in my site banners, will allow you to modify how many rows are featured in the pyramid, as well as the overall volatility level of the game, making this one just as customizable as Mines, if not more.
⚡ Limbo and fast paced number games
Limbo casino
games are, ultimately, pretty much the same as crash and rocket-style games, except with stripped back visuals and slightly simpler gameplay.
With these, you’ll be able to bet on a target multiplier ahead of each round, then watch simple on-screen numbers flash up red or green depending on whether the game’s outcomes land below or above your target.
Exceed the target you’ve wagered on, and you’ll win your initial stake multiplied by the target amount, with a max win of 1,000,000x potentially on the cards at some casinos – making this game a great fit for high rollers.
Conclusion – get more enjoyment out of Mines by shaping up on the rules before you play
With its nostalgic, retro gameplay, sky-high RTP, and interesting customization options, the Mines casino game offers hours of fun. Though its game rules, auto bet, and early exit options might see you left scratching your head a bit the first time you play if you’re inadequately prepared.
My advice, then, would be to memorize the how-to-play guide and popular gameplay strategies I outlined above before playing, then use my on-page banners to locate a trusted casino that offers access to this, and other, exciting games.
Better yet, opt for a site that offers a generous bonus that you can play on Mines from your very first day of registering a new player account.
The RTP on this game may vary depending on your location and which popular Mines casino you’re playing at. Having said that, I’ve found most sites tend to set an RTP of 99% or similar.
đź’ˇ What are some good alternatives to Mines casino games?
Plinko casino
games, which offer pinball-influenced gameplay with customizable pegs and rows, are a little different from Mines, but offer a similarly retro change of scenery from the usual kinds of modern video slots and live dealer experiences offered by online casinos. Crash and rocket-style games are equally worth checking out if you want something a little different, too.
đź’° Can I play at Mines using Bitcoin?
So long as you’re playing at a crypto-friendly casino, then, yes, you probably can. Check out my on-page banners to discover crypto casinos that offer Mines in your area today.
Simon Day
About Simon Day
Simon has been writing about Gaming and Sports for over a decade, with his work featured in a variety of well-known gaming magazines. This year, he joined win.gg as an Editorial Specialist, where he continues to share his passion for the industry through insightful and well-crafted content pieces.
Simon Day