Stake.com Launches a Brand New Originals Game 'PUMP'

Today we’ll be taking a look at Stake’s latest casino game, Pump—how it works, what strategies you should use to win, and whether it’s worth your time. To start, we have to answer the obvious but crucial question: What is Pump?

Pump is the latest in a long line of original casino games released on Stake.com. As you can imagine, the word ‘original’ means the game belongs to and can only be played on the Stake platform. This novel yet simple casino game was just released and is already attracting both casual and veteran gamblers alike. But how does it work? Scroll down to find the answers as I break down the game in excruciating detail.

How Does Pump Work?

In Stake’s Pump, we follow the journey of a balloon facing the trials and tribulations of being blown up by a pump. With each pump, the balloon either inflates or pops. Every successful pump increases the multiplier on the balloon, allowing you to cash out for a larger sum—but at the risk of the balloon bursting.

The game offers four difficulty settings: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. As Stake explains:

"Increasing difficulty increases the multipliers but also increases the chances of popping."

Once you place a bet, it remains locked for the duration of the game until you either cash out or the balloon pops. At every interval, you have two options:

1. Cash Out – Take your winnings and walk away.
2. Pump – Roll the dice and add more air to the balloon.

While it’s not a complex game, that doesn’t mean there’s no strategy involved. Let’s dive into some tips and tricks to help you maximize your chances of winning.

How to Win

First, let me clarify: There is no way to consistently win at Pump. The game, like all casino games, is 100% luck-based and designed to favor the house. That said, here are some tips to improve your experience:

Avoid the Hot Hand Fallacy

This common trap is the belief that past results will influence future outcomes. Each pump is independent, so don’t rely on “hot streaks” or assume the balloon won’t pop after several successful rounds. Base your decisions solely on the odds and your comfort level with the winnings you’ve already secured.

Know When to Cash Out

If you hit a x3 or x4 multiplier, consider yourself lucky and cash out. Greed often leads to loss—don’t let it crush your dreams of walking away a winner. As Ian Fleming said in Casino Royale:

"At gambling, the deadly sin is to mistake bad play for bad luck."

Best Difficulty to Play On

Pump offers four difficulties:

• Easy: Safe but low rewards (e.g., x1.02, x1.07).
• Medium: Moderate risk and rewards (e.g., x1.27, x1.69).
• Hard: Higher stakes with better payouts (e.g., x1.55, x2.56).
• Expert: Extreme risk with massive potential rewards (e.g., x2.80, x9.08).

Having tested the game extensively, I recommend Medium or Hard difficulty. Easy mode’s payouts are too small to justify the number of pumps required, while Expert mode often leads to quick losses. Stick to Medium or Hard for a better balance of risk and reward.

Auto-Play Options

Pump includes an Auto-Play feature, allowing you to customize gameplay with these parameters:

• Bet Amount: The amount wagered per game.
• Difficulty: The game mode.
• Pumps: Number of pumps per game.
• Number of Bets: Total bets to be played.
• On Win/Loss: Adjusts the bet amount based on outcomes.
• Stop on Profit/Loss: Ends Auto-Play when profit or loss limits are reached.

This feature is ideal for players who prefer a hands-off approach or wish to test specific strategies.

The Best Odds

Here’s a quick breakdown of the odds for each difficulty level:

Easy Mode

• 1 Pump (x1.02): 96% chance
• 2 Pumps (x1.07): 88.32% chance
• 3 Pumps (x1.11): 77.72% chance

Medium Mode

• 1 Pump (x1.11): 88% chance
• 2 Pumps (x1.27): 67.76% chance
• 3 Pumps (x1.46): 45.4% chance

Hard Mode

• 1 Pump (x1.23): 80% chance
• 2 Pumps (x1.55): 50.4% chance
• 3 Pumps (x1.98): 24.7% chance

Expert Mode

• 1 Pump (x1.63): 60% chance
• 2 Pumps (x2.80): 21% chance
• 3 Pumps (x4.95): 4.2% chance

Evaluation

Looking at the numbers I would probably have to revise my recommended difficulties to Hard and Expert. What I wrote above was just from the feeling I got and the experience of playing the game. But with the math and the actual probabilities we can uncover the standout betting options. One of these, is the 1 Pump x1.23 bet on Hard mode which has an 80% chance of success. By contrast, you only have a 68% chance of hitting the comparable x1.27 multiplier with 2 Pumps on Medium mode making it a far weaker option.

Additionally, I would even point towards the x1.63 multiplier on the 1st Pump on Extreme difficulty which has a 60% chance of hitting. This is probably one of the best and most probable options in the game to make a decent return. However, as you can see the odds in the Expert level get quite bleak when you start pumping the balloon more than once which speaks more to the points I was making before.

Ultimately, I think the best strategy to succeed as this game is to keep it simple. Pump the balloon once on Hard mode or once on Extreme and cash out. This will give you the best chances of making a couple of humble bucks and not pissing your hard-earned cash away. In the end, this game, like all casino games, heavily favors the house and if you keep playing it you will eventually lose. That’s why it’s vital to recognize when fortune has favored you and cash out with whatever winnings you might have. 

As for established betting strategies, you could try adopt a type of martingale system. Coined by French mathematician Paul Pierre Levy in the 20th century, the martingale betting strategy relies on the gambler doubling his bet after a loss in order to eventually recoup any losses and continue betting. The drawback of this strategy is twofold:

1. For starters, it is usually played at the roulette table on Red/Black. In this case, your odds of winning are practically 50/50 making the strategy much more reliable since there’s a high chance you will eventually get your money back.
2. The second issue with this strategy is that it usually requires a huge bankroll to effectuate since you have to keep doubling your bet on losses. Fortunately, this can be counteracted on Stake.com as the platform allows you to make very small bets of 0.01 dollars making it possible to run the strategy with smaller amounts. 

However, because your odds on Pump are so varied and inconsistent playing the martingale strategy is less advisable. I would say if you were to do it the best option would be to play on Extreme difficulty with the aim being to hit the 2nd multiplier of x2.80 and then cashing out. But honestly, because you’re on Extreme mode it means the chances of actually hitting this multiplier will be quite low at 21% (60/100 * 35/100 = 2,100/10,000 = 21/100).  

Final Thoughts

Pump is a simple yet entertaining game that delivers the highs and lows of gambling. Its straightforward mechanics can be a refreshing change from more complex games, but it lacks the sense of control offered by titles like Mines or Blackjack.

Ultimately, the best strategy is to play conservatively: aim for one pump on Hard or Expert mode and cash out. Remember, this game is designed to favor the house, so don’t get greedy. Recognize when you’ve won and walk away with your winnings intact.

Happy pumping, and may fortune favor you! 🎈