What is “crypto dice” — and why it matters in Bitcoin gambling
Crypto dice is a simple game: the site generates a number (often 0–99.99); you pick a target like “roll under 51.00,” and win if the result falls in your chosen green zone. Early popularity traces back to SatoshiDice (2012), an on-chain Bitcoin betting game that helped define provably fair randomness and fast crypto payouts.
Modern dice games are usually off-chain and “provably fair”: before play the casino commits to a hidden server seed (by showing its hash); you set or accept a client seed; each bet increments a nonce. After you change seeds, the site reveals the server seed so you can verify past rolls. Stake’s implementation and Primedice’s provably fair pages document this server-seed + client-seed + nonce model.
RTP, house edge, and what “winning” really means
Return to Player (RTP) is the long-run share of wagers paid back to players; the complement is the house edge. Regulators and standards bodies explain that RTP is a theoretical, long-term average, not a session guarantee. A 99% RTP implies a 1% house edge.
Several leading crypto dice titles publicly target about 99% RTP (≈1% edge). For example, Stake’s Dice explicitly markets 99% RTP / 1% house edge.
How payouts work (the roll-under math)
In a typical 100-point dice:
- Your win probability p is your target divided by 100 (e.g., roll under 50.00 → p≈0.50).
- A “fair” 2× payout at p=0.50 becomes 1.98× once a 1% house edge is applied. More generally, sites scale payout by about (1 − edge)/p. Wizard of Odds and community explanations show the same 50%→1.98× example for 1% edge.
That’s why moving the slider to “more likely” (higher green zone) lowers your payout multiplier, and chasing huge multipliers requires tiny hit rates. The edge remains baked in. A general house-edge discussion shows casinos pay slightly below true odds — the mathematical source of the edge.
Step-by-step: play a Bitcoin dice round
- Pick Roll Under or Roll Over and set a target. Stake’s game page shows the 100-sided UI with roll-under/over choices and auto-bet options.
- Choose a stake size and, optionally, auto features (stop on win/loss, increase/decrease after outcome).
- Click Bet. The site combines server seed, your client seed, and the incrementing nonce to derive the result; you either land in green (win) or red (lose).
- Verify later by revealing seeds and recomputing outcomes with the site’s calculator or documentation.
Provably fair in practice: your 60-second verification
- Confirm the server-seed hash is shown before betting and that the revealed server seed later matches its hash.
- Ensure the algorithm uses server seed + client seed + nonce (often via HMAC-SHA256/512) to produce the roll. Stake’s docs detail nonce and cursor; Stack Overflow threads illustrate the common HMAC design.
Bankroll and settings that actually help
Use small, fixed units
Keep bet size a tiny fraction of your dice bankroll so losing streaks don’t force bad decisions. This doesn’t change RTP; it stabilizes your path.
Prefer conservative targets (or split tickets)
Lower targets (e.g., roll under ~60–70) win more often but pay less; mixing a small “flyer” at high payout with a base low-volatility bet only changes variance, not expectation.
Auto-bet with guardrails
If you use auto-bet, rely on stop-loss, stop-win, and a max number of bets. Stake’s Dice supports auto-adjustments and session controls; use them to avoid tilt.
Kelly is for positive-EV only
The Kelly Criterion prescribes bet size when you have a measurable edge; with negative edge (99% RTP dice) Kelly returns zero — i.e., don’t scale up. Some players use fractional Kelly only when promos or rebates plausibly flip EV.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Martingale and chase systems: they simply amplify variance; they don’t alter the built-in edge. House-edge tutorials show the edge stems from payouts being slightly under true odds.
- Not checking RTP or fairness: confirm the 99% RTP claim on the game’s official page and skim the provably fair docs before you stake.
- Assuming all dice are identical: rules and tie handling can vary; Wizard of Odds notes RTP/targets mapping depends on game settings. Always read your game’s info panel.
Quick comparison: classic on-chain vs modern off-chain dice
- On-chain (historic): SatoshiDice processed bets via Bitcoin transactions and published verifiable methods tied to chain data; transparent but slower and fee-sensitive.
- Off-chain (today): instant rolls, provably fair via seeds/nonce, with 99% RTP common among top operators (e.g., Stake Dice). Faster UX; verification happens off-chain using the seed-reveal model.
Checklist before your first Bitcoin dice session
- Verify a provably fair page with seed/nonce details and a way to recompute results.
- Confirm RTP/house edge on the official game page (aim for ~99% RTP dice).
- Set limits (loss, time, bet count) and stick to them.
- Start with manual bets before enabling auto features.
- Record results to understand your variance and comfort level.
FAQs
What RTP should I look for in Bitcoin dice?
Look for around 99% RTP (≈1% house edge) on the official game page; this is common for leading dice titles and is explicitly stated by Stake for its Dice game.
How do sites prove rolls aren’t manipulated?
They show the hash of a secret server seed before play, then later reveal the seed so you can verify each roll by recomputing server-seed + client-seed + nonce. Stake’s implementation explains nonce and hashing details.
Why does a 50% bet pay 1.98× instead of 2×?
Because of the 1% house edge: payout is scaled from 2× to 1.98×. Community and math resources demonstrate this 50%→1.98× example for 1% edge.
Can strategy beat the edge?
No. You can manage variance with sizing and targets, but long-run expectation follows the posted RTP. Basic house-edge explainers cover why casinos pay slightly under true odds.
