A crash game is a single number that climbs from 1.00x until it suddenly stops, or "busts". If you cash out before the bust, your stake is multiplied by the number on screen; if you are still in when it busts, you lose the stake.
That is the whole game. Everything else (the rocket, the chart, the countdown, the chat) is presentation. This guide explains the three moving parts underneath: the multiplier curve, the bust point, and the cash-out, and then walks through a fictional round so you can see the money move.
The three parts of a round
Every crash round, on every site, has the same structure:
- Betting window. A short countdown (often 5–10 seconds) in which you place a stake and, optionally, set an auto-cashout target.
- The run. The multiplier starts at 1.00x and rises. While it rises you can cash out at the current value.
- The bust. At a point that was decided before the round started, the multiplier stops. Anyone still in loses their stake. A new betting window opens.
The important word is decided. In a provably fair crash game the bust point is calculated from cryptographic data that exists before the first bet is placed. The rising line is a reveal, not a live process that reacts to the players. We cover how you can check that in how provably fair crash works.
The multiplier curve
The multiplier usually grows exponentially with time: slowly at first, then faster. A common way to draw it is a formula like this one (illustrative; sites use different speeds):
multiplier = e^(0.06 × seconds)
With that formula, here is how long the line takes to reach some familiar values:
| Multiplier | Seconds to reach it (illustrative curve) |
|---|---|
| 1.50x | 6.8 |
| 2.00x | 11.6 |
| 5.00x | 26.8 |
| 10.00x | 38.4 |
| 100.00x | 76.8 |
Two practical consequences follow from the shape:
- Low multipliers pass quickly. The line spends only about 12 seconds getting to 2x. If you plan to cash out by hand at a low target, you have very little time, and a delayed click can cost you the round.
- High multipliers feel slow, but they are rare. The curve accelerates, which makes a long run feel exciting. The speed of the animation tells you nothing about the odds of getting there.
The curve is only a clock. The odds live entirely in the bust point.
The bust point
The bust point is a single number per round, such as 1.00x, 1.87x or 23.40x. It is produced by a formula that turns a random value into a multiplier. A widely used family of formulas looks like this:
bust = (1 − edge) ÷ (1 − R), rounded down to two decimals, with a floor of 1.00x
Here R is a random number between 0 and 1 and edge is the house edge, for example 1% (0.01). This produces the distribution most crash games share: lots of low busts, steadily fewer high ones, and a long thin tail of very large results.
The useful rule that falls out of it:
The chance that a round reaches at least x is approximately (1 − edge) ÷ x.
With a 1% edge, about 49.5% of rounds reach 2x, about 9.9% reach 10x and about 0.99% reach 100x. We work through the full table, and how to apply it, in crash odds math.
The formula also creates a small share of instant busts. With the rounding and 1.00x floor above, roughly 2% of rounds bust before 1.01x, so nobody can cash out a profit on them.
The cash-out
You can leave a round in two ways:
- Manual cash-out. You press the button while the line is rising. Your payout is the multiplier at the moment the server registers the click, which may be slightly later than when you pressed it.
- Auto-cashout. You set a target before the round (say 2.00x). If the round reaches it, the server cashes you out at exactly that value. If the round busts first, you lose.
Auto-cashout removes reaction time, but it does not change the odds. Whatever target you choose, the long-run return is the same. The auto-cashout and expected value guide shows why.
Worked example: one round, three players (fictional)
The round and players below are invented to illustrate the mechanics.
The round's bust point, fixed before betting opened, is 3.12x. Three players each stake 10 units:
| Player (fictional) | Plan | What happens | Payout | Net result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Auto-cashout at 1.50x | Round passes 1.50x | 15.00 | +5.00 |
| B | Manual, aims for about 3x | Clicks at 2.96x | 29.60 | +19.60 |
| C | Auto-cashout at 5.00x | Busts at 3.12x first | 0.00 | −10.00 |
| Total | 30.00 staked | 44.60 | +14.60 |
On this round the players came out ahead in total. On the next round, busting at 1.08x, all three would lose their full stake. The edge doesn't show up in one round; it shows up across thousands, which is why single results like this one tell you nothing about a target or a style.
Checklist: what to read before a first round
Crash sites differ in the details. Before you put money in, find the answers to these:
- House edge. Is it stated? Is it 1%, 3%, 5%? It changes every probability in this guide.
- Formula. Is the bust formula published, with the rounding rule and instant-bust share?
- Verification. Can you check past rounds yourself (seed, hash, or verification page)?
- Maximum payout. Is there a cap on winnings per round? A cap lowers your return on high targets.
- Disconnect rule. If your connection drops, is an auto-cashout honoured on the server?
- Limits. Are deposit limits, session reminders and self-exclusion available?
- Age and legality. Is the game legal where you live, and are you over the minimum age?
What crash is not
Crash is not a skill game in the sense of a game you can get better at beating. Timing changes which rounds you win, not how much you get back over time. There is no pattern in past rounds to read, and no target, system or timing method removes the house edge. If you play, treat what you stake as the price of the entertainment, and set a limit before you start. Our responsible gambling page lists free support services.
FAQ
Is the bust point decided before the round starts?
In provably fair crash games, yes. The result is derived from a seed or hash that is fixed before the round begins; the animation only reveals it. Nothing you do during the round changes where it busts.
Can the multiplier bust at exactly 1.00x?
Yes. Most crash formulas include a small share of rounds that end immediately at 1.00x. On those rounds every bet loses, which is one of the ways the house edge is built in.
Does a long run of low busts make a high one more likely?
No. Each round is generated on its own, with no memory of earlier rounds. A run of low results does not make the next round more likely to go high.
What happens if my connection drops during a round?
That depends on the site's rules. Some honour a pre-set auto-cashout on the server; others treat a missed cash-out as a loss. Read the terms before you play, and assume a manual cash-out can fail.