The principles behind Mines are not new in the world of gaming. The game, in one shape or another, existed for some time before online casinos adopted it. For players who love to take risks in a pursuit of big wins have found that adapting this game to online gambling was a master move by game developers. Mines is a game inspired by the popular Windows game called Minesweeper, and chances are you’ve played that one. 

One of the casinos that did the best work when it comes to bringing Mines to the universe of online gambling is Stake without a doubt. At this casino, Mines are a part of the Stake Originals family and in no time this game has become one of the most popular titles in the casino’s game catalogue. One of the things that make the free Mines games so popular is that it is as simple as they get. Reveal the gems under the tiles on a grid, and avoid bombs while doing it. Of course, navigating the grid is a tricky endeavour as you can’t know where there is a gem and where a bomb lies. 

Mines are played on a 5×5 grid, with tiles turned face down. Once turned over you either face a gem which serves as a multiplier, or you stand on a bomb and end the round that way and lose your bet. With each turned tile, if you miss the bomb/bombs, the multiplier increases and your winnings increase with it. As we said, stepping on a bomb is what ends the round if you don’t cash out before that happens. 

Before putting on a wager you can choose how many bombs you want on your minefield. The level of risk is decided by the player, and you can cash out at any point in the game which is an action that can be aided with the autobet option too. As said, the best casino to play Mines is Stake online casinos and sportsbook, but even with knowing that you shouldn’t start wagering before you understand the game fully. To help you get the Mines the right way, here’s a short lesson on how to play it. 

Playing Mines Games Online for Free at Stake

With Mines, and with most other Stake Originals Games, everything is in the hands of players. It’s the players who decide on the size of the wager set for each round, and about the number of mines they want on the 5×5 Mines grid. Considering that there are 25 tiles, players can set to have only one mine, or they can set the number at maximum of 24. With the number of mines on the grid the players automatically set the risk level. 

Even if this is your first time playing Mines, you will quickly recognize the similarities with the popular Minesweeper. Both the bombs and the gems are randomly dispersed across the grid. If you decide to play this game on Stake, it is good to know that you can play it in the demo version, and read the guide on how to play, before wagering. When you decide to bet on the game, you can do it with both fiat currencies and Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies. One thing is sure, even if you’re not a fan yet, Mines have plenty of fans and the number continues to grow as we speak. At the moment of writing this article, the game has 354,832,738 monthly bets. The number of monthly users is currently at 830,331. 

For a game of random chances these are some impressive numbers. What attracts players the most is the amount of control they have over the outcome. While you can’t know where the gem or a bomb are hidden, you’re the one deciding which tile you want to turn over before finding out. Also, you can pick when to cash out and it’s possible at any point in between every tile turn. For players who love to wager under the umbrella of advanced betting strategies this is quite an important feature. 

You will also love to hear that Mines come with 99% RTP and only 1% house edge. As far as fairness goes in online gambling Mines is right up there with some of the fairest games you’ll ever play. The best part is the fact that like all other Stake Originals this one too is a provably fair game. What this means is that the outcome of each round can be verified as being fully random at the end of each round and these records remain written on the blockchain forever. Mines are trustworthy, safe, and secure and once you have a Provably Fair Game betting experience online you will never want to go back. 

By now, we are sure that you will at least want to try Mines. If that’s true, you need to know that the game can be played in manual play mode, or through the Autoplay option. By picking your bet each round, and playing it manually you opt for the latter option. With the Autoplay option you can pick your wager per round basis, decide the number of mines, and pick the spots on the grid you want opened. For some players the speed that the Autoplay option brings to the table is a better option as it leads to faster outcomes and in some cases bigger payouts. You also need to set the auto cash out with a win/loss ration option which is the moment when your Autoplay betting will stop. To learn more about Mines, you can also find some time to read a complete guide on how to play this fascinating game. 

Adjusting Mine Count in the Game

The number of mines on the grid is a vital component of the game itself. The number of mines planted affects the multiplier and the in game volatility. More mines lead to bigger multipliers; bigger multipliers to bigger wins , but it also increases the chances of setting up a bomb. It is a simple high risk/high reward gamble. Many players take the route of less mines, more gameplay time, and lesser winnings. At the same time, high rollers opt for more risk, multiple mines, but also potentially bigger and more frequent payouts. 

At the end of the day, it all comes to the player’s preferences, and it is a good option to be able to set them yourself. Players who plant more mines show a desire to take on risks but also to win more other love to play the long game, chase smaller multipliers, but increase their bankrolls thanks to higher frequency of winning and not getting blown out. When you set the number of imines, you also decide the number of tiles you want to turn over. After each turned tile a round ends, and you are able to cash out your winnings. If you continue you either multiply further or lose if you step on a mine. 

Payout or Keep Mining: Knowing When to Stop

Walking on a minefield is not an easy task even if we’re talking about a casino game. It has risk involved. When you play, and have enough luck, o r your strategy works, with each gem your winning increases. Before you pick whether you want to turn to another tile or cash out, the game interface shows you the numbers you need to see to make a better decision. The first info is called Profit on Next Tile. It shows you the number you will win if you open a tile and there is a gem. The second number is the amount you currently have based on the previous success in the round. Of course, if you step on a mine you lose both your initial bet and your winnings. Knowing this data is important for all players, as assessing the in game risk is part of successful Mines venture. The decision of whether to cash out or to keep chasing greatness lies in your hands, and so does the responsibility over your bankroll. 

Stake Mines Theme & Graphics

All Stake Originals share the same graphical foundation, simplicity. As far as Mines go, the design will not swipe anyone on their feet. It is played on a plain and dark background filled with a 5×5 grid of 25 gray tiles. Despite being simple in design, the graphics are of a high level, and the game is equipped with a quality set of animations and sound effects. All of these things together aided in making the game as popular as it is. As far as theme goes, it is also simple tiles, gems, mines, and bombs. We don’t need to give any more description. The game is not complicated, nothing will distract you from the goal of the game and that is to get the gems and avoid the bombs, and this type of straightforwardness is what makes Mines so amazing. 

Strategies & Tips to Play Mines

Yes, we did say that Mines are a game of chance. Yet, that doesn’t mean that you can’t play it with strategy backing you. We have a few tips on how you might approach this game to maximize your chances of winning the next time you decide to play. Do not let the fact that a Random Number Generator decides on all outcomes discourage you from adjusting your betting style in an attempt to win more and on a more frequent basis. 

At the beginning you need to minimize the risks. So playing a low risk strategy is the way to go. It’s always best to start with the lowest number of ins, and we’re talking only one. Test the game this way. Wager a bit, until you get the feeling for the grid. Once you start catching up on the patterns, game oscillations, and everything in between, start adding mines to the grid, increase your wagers slowly, and try to increase the risk levels and potential winnings in the process. 

The moment you start adding the mines to the grid you’re opting for a high risk strategy. What you need to know is that a high risk approach requires you to add ten or more mines to the 5×5 grid. When you do this, the space for manoeuvring gets crowded. There is no margin for error, or it becomes very small. The reward in this case comes in the form of multipliers. If you add more mines, and increase your initial bet, the chances are all of your winnings will be major ones. At the same time, if your losses start piling up, your bankroll will suffer too, and that’s something to have in mind when you decide to take more risks. 

The moment you feel that you have grasped the essence of Mines, it is time to start a unique approach to the game that Martingale system is. You’ve probably heard of this approach to gambling. What you might’ve forgotten is that it is based on an approach that requires you to double your wager after every loss. It is based on the math that the moment you win after a losing streak you will recoup your losses and win some. If you don’t have a budget for it, this approach is not wise to use, as you never know when your luck will turn your back or face you. 

The bottom line is that both with or without strategy you’re going to love Mines. It is based on a beloved Minesweeper game, and as a member of Stake Originals it hasn’t been overcomplicated by modern online casino design tastes and desire to make every game loud and flashy. Instead, it is simply designed, easy to learn and play, and highly rewarding in both money and gaming experience. Even if you don’t like it, the chances are you will like some of the other Originals such as Packs, Cases, Pump, Crash, Limbo, Keno, Slide, Hilo, Plinko, or Darts.