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- Virtual credits only. No real money, coins or skins.
- Survival odds for k picks with m mines on 25 tiles: C(25−m, k) / C(25, k).
- Fair multiplier = 1 ÷ survival probability. Real sites pay slightly less.
- No tile pattern, corner or "hot" cluster changes the odds. See our Mines strategy myths post.
What is the Mines game?
Mines is a 5×5 grid with 25 tiles. You choose how many mines (typically 1 to 24) are hidden. Each safe tile you reveal raises the multiplier; hit a mine and the round ends with a loss. You can cash out at any point after at least one safe pick. Our simulator replicates this with virtual credits, a mine-count selector, auto-pick for batch testing and a running profit chart.
How to use the simulator
- Set your bet in virtual credits.
- Choose a mine count. Start with 3 to learn the rhythm.
- Click tiles one by one or use "random pick" for speed.
- Cash out when the multiplier reaches your target, or set an auto cash-out after k picks.
- Run 100 rounds and compare the result to the theoretical return.
The math: survival probability
The number of ways to pick k tiles from 25 is C(25,k). The ways to pick k tiles that avoid all m mines is C(25−m,k). So:
P(survive k picks) = C(25−m, k) / C(25, k)
The fair multiplier is 1 / P. Real implementations multiply by (1 − edge), commonly 1% to 4%.
| Mines | Picks | Survival chance | Fair multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 96.0% | 1.04x |
| 1 | 5 | 80.0% | 1.25x |
| 3 | 1 | 88.0% | 1.14x |
| 3 | 5 | 49.6% | 2.02x |
| 5 | 3 | 49.6% | 2.02x |
| 10 | 3 | 19.8% | 5.06x |
| 24 | 1 | 4.0% | 25.00x |
Worked example
With 3 mines and 5 picks: C(22,5) = 26,334 and C(25,5) = 53,130, so the probability is 26,334 / 53,130 ≈ 49.6%. A fair payout is about 2.02x. At a 1% edge, the site would pay roughly 2.00x. If you bet CA$10 you receive CA$20 on a win, and the expected return is 0.496 × 20 = CA$9.92, an expected loss of about CA$0.08 per round. Over 1,000 such rounds (CA$10,000 wagered), the expected loss is about CA$80.
Notice the symmetry: 3 mines/5 picks and 5 mines/3 picks give the same survival odds here. The mine count and the number of picks trade off, so choose the combination that suits your preferred variance.
Step-by-step multipliers
Each additional pick multiplies survival probability by (25−m−i)/(25−i) for pick i (starting at i = 0). With 3 mines: 22/25 = 88%, then 21/24 = 87.5%, 20/23 = 87.0%, 19/22 = 86.4%, 18/21 = 85.7%. Multiply those five terms and you land on 49.6%. Each next pick is individually a roughly 86% shot, but the cumulative risk grows quickly.
Strategies to test
Cash out early (1 to 3 picks)
Low variance. The balance chart looks smooth, but the fee is still a fixed percentage of volume.
Target roughly 2x
Choose any mine/pick pair near 50% survival, such as 3 mines and 5 picks. Easiest to compare with coinflip or crash at 2x, as in the crash simulator.
High mines, low picks
For example 20 mines and 1 pick: P = C(5,1)/C(25,1) = 20%, multiplier about 5x. A pure variance bet.
Full clears
With 1 mine, clearing all 24 safe tiles has probability 1/25 = 4%, paying the fair equivalent of 25x. Adding more mines lowers the number of tiles you need.
Tip: patterns like "avoid edges" or "click diagonals" feel convincing after small samples. Run 1,000 auto-picks in the simulator and compare corner versus centre tile survival; you will find no difference.
How the simulator relates to real sites
Mines is one of the "originals" found on crypto-focused sites such as Stake, Shuffle, BC.Game, Rainbet and Roobet, and on some CS2 sites with originals sections. House edges are commonly around 1%, but each site sets its own, and the grid size or multiplier table can differ. Reputable sites publish provably fair seeds so you can verify mine positions after the round; see provably fair explained. For a tour of what each platform offers, check our ranking of CS2 gambling sites in Canada.
Before depositing, use the wagering calculator to see how much bonus turnover will cost you in expected losses, and the bankroll calculator to size your bets.
Bankroll tips
- Bet 1% or less of your bankroll per round if you pick high-variance setups.
- A 10-mine, 3-pick strategy has about an 80.2% chance to lose each round; expect streaks of 10 or more losses regularly.
- Define a stop-loss and a win goal before you begin.
- Never chase losses by increasing mines or bet size.
Responsible gambling: real-money Mines is gambling and can be habit-forming due to fast rounds. Adults 19+ (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec). If you need support, call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 or visit our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
How is the chance of surviving in Mines calculated?
With m mines on 25 tiles, the chance of picking k safe tiles in a row is C(25-m,k) / C(25,k).
Does the simulator use real money?
No. It uses virtual credits only and has no deposits or withdrawals.
What is the best number of mines?
No count beats the house edge. More mines raise multipliers and variance; fewer mines give smaller, steadier wins.
Can I predict where the mines are?
No. Mines are placed randomly before you play and pattern-spotting is a myth.
Is cashing out after one pick safer?
It has lower variance but the same percentage house edge applies to whatever you wager.
Play responsibly: CS2 gambling is for adults 19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC). Set limits, never chase losses, and use self-exclusion if it stops being fun. Free, confidential help: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 or your provincial helpline — see our responsible gambling page.