Evoplay looked at crash games and saw something missing: the ball. Released in 2020, Penalty Shoot-Out isn’t a crash game at all. It’s a football penalty kick simulator where you take up to five shots, build multipliers, and decide when to collect or risk the next kick.
Quick Stats
| Provider | RTP | Max Multiplier | Max Win | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evoplay | 96% | 30.72x | ~$2,400 | 2020 |
What Is Penalty Shoot-Out?
You pick a nation. You place a bet. Then you take penalty kicks. Each successful goal increases your multiplier. After any successful kick, you can cash out and collect your winnings, or risk it to attempt the next one. Miss any kick and the round ends at zero, regardless of how many goals you scored.
That’s the entire game. Five kicks maximum. 30.72x multiplier ceiling if you nail all five. Plus a Super Bonus on top for perfect rounds.
The format is simple but the execution adds layers. You aim at five target zones in the goal, each with different difficulty. The crowd roars. Your chosen nation’s kit displays. It feels like a World Cup shootout, even though the outcome is pure RNG.
Released in 2020 by Evoplay, a Ukraine-based studio known for 3D instant games, Penalty Shoot-Out became a sleeper hit. The 96% RTP is below the 97% crash leaders. The 30.72x ceiling is tiny compared to 10,000x+ crash games. The ~$2,400 max win is modest. But the interactive format attracts players who want to DO something rather than just watch a number climb.
A Street edition arrived in 2023 with urban aesthetics and slightly tweaked multipliers (up to 32x). Same mechanics, different backdrop. Both versions run at most Evoplay casinos.
How to Play
1. Choose your nation. Pick your team from a list of countries. This is cosmetic (doesn’t affect odds) but adds flavor.
2. Set your bet. Minimum varies by casino, typically $0.10-$1. Maximum around $75.
3. Aim your first kick. Five target zones appear in the goal. Pick one. The zones have different difficulty ratings but the outcome is RNG. Your aim creates illusion of control.
4. Take the kick. Success = multiplier increases. Failure = round ends, stake lost.
5. Decide: cash out or continue? After any successful goal, you can collect your accumulated multiplier or risk it for the next kick. Each subsequent kick offers higher multiplier increases.
6. Complete all five kicks. Perfect round = 30.72x multiplier + Super Bonus. Any miss = lose everything accumulated.
The tension builds differently than crash games. In crash, you’re watching a curve, timing an exit. Here, you’re actively “kicking” (clicking) and hoping. The psychology of missing the fifth kick after scoring four is genuinely painful, much sharper than a standard crash at 1.5x.
The Five-Kick Progression
Each successful kick increases your multiplier by escalating amounts:
- Kick 1 success: Small multiplier bump
- Kick 2 success: Larger increase
- Kick 3 success: Substantial increase
- Kick 4 success: Major increase
- Kick 5 success: 30.72x + Super Bonus
The Super Bonus only triggers on perfect 5/5 rounds. It’s substantial — often matching or exceeding the base 30.72x payout. A perfect round can pay 60x+ total.
The cashout decision after each kick is where strategy lives. Take the money after kick 3? Or push for the bigger kick 4 reward? The optimal strategy mathematically is probably early cashouts (the 96% RTP includes all the missed late kicks), but emotionally, nobody quits after kick 3 when kick 4 is right there.
Provably Fair
No. Penalty Shoot-Out uses standard RNG without cryptographic verification. You’re trusting Evoplay’s implementation and casino licensing.
Unlike Aviator or blockchain crash games, you can’t personally verify round outcomes. The aiming mechanic creates skill illusion, but outcomes are predetermined by server-side RNG. Your click timing doesn’t affect whether the ball goes in.
Strategy
The 4% house edge is fixed. No aiming pattern or cashout strategy changes it.
Early cashout strategy. Collect after kick 2 or 3 consistently. Lower individual payouts but more frequent wins. Better for bankroll preservation, worse for adrenaline.
All-or-nothing strategy. Never cash out early. Always attempt all five kicks. You’ll lose most rounds, but perfect rounds pay enough to theoretically profit. High variance, high frustration.
Mixed approach. Cash out early on small bets, go for five on occasional larger stakes. Keeps base grind sustainable while maintaining lottery ticket hope.
What doesn’t work: “practicing” your aim. The outcome is RNG. The zones are illusion. Anyone selling penalty kick strategies is selling fiction.
Penalty Shoot-Out vs. The Competition
Penalty Shoot-Out vs. Football X: SmartSoft’s Football X is traditional crash with a football juggling theme (25,000x ceiling). Penalty Shoot-Out is sequential kicks (30.72x ceiling). Football X has higher mathematical ceiling, while Penalty Shoot-Out has more interactive gameplay. If you want to DO something rather than watch, Penalty Shoot-Out wins. If you want upside potential, Football X dominates.
Penalty Shoot-Out vs. Football Manager: Same provider (Evoplay). Football Manager has higher RTP (98% vs. 96%) and simpler mechanics — one kick, instant result. Penalty Shoot-Out has the five-kick progression and Super Bonus. Football Manager better math; Penalty Shoot-Out more gamification. Football Manager is a snack; Penalty Shoot-Out is a meal.
Penalty Shoot-Out vs. Aviator: No contest on specs. Aviator has higher RTP (97%), higher ceiling (10,000x), provably fair verification, and real multiplayer. Penalty Shoot-Out has football. If you want the best odds and biggest wins, Aviator wins easily. If you want to pretend you’re taking World Cup penalties, here’s your game.
FAQ
What’s Penalty Shoot-Out’s RTP?
96%. Below the 97% crash leaders but standard for Evoplay instant games.
Who makes it?
Evoplay, a Ukraine-based provider founded in 2003. Also behind Goblin Run, Football Manager, and October Pub.
Is it provably fair?
No. Uses standard RNG without cryptographic verification.
What’s the maximum win?
Approximately $2,400 / £2,304. The 30.72x multiplier at max bet gets you there.
Does my aim matter?
No. Outcomes are RNG-determined. The aiming creates skill illusion.
What’s the Super Bonus?
Extra payout awarded only for perfect 5/5 rounds, added on top of the 30.72x multiplier.
Should I play the original or Street edition?
Street edition has urban aesthetics and slightly higher ceiling (32x vs. 30.72x). Mechanics are identical. Pick your visual preference.
Can I play for free?
Most Evoplay casinos offer demo mode. Practice kicks without stakes.
Is there a strategy that guarantees profit?
No. The house keeps 4% long-term regardless of approach.
Verdict
7.2 / 10
Penalty Shoot-Out is an excellent football simulator masquerading as a gambling game. The five-kick format creates genuine tension. The Super Bonus rewards perfection. The nation selection adds personality. For football fans, it’s catnip.
But let’s be honest about the math. 96% RTP is a notch below elite. The 30.72x ceiling is tiny compared to crash specialists. The ~$2,400 max win is modest. This isn’t a game you play for life-changing money. It’s a game you play because you love football and want something interactive between matches.
If you’re chasing optimal odds and massive multipliers, play Aviator or hunt high-RTP configurations elsewhere. If you want to experience the tension of a World Cup penalty shootout without actually being good enough to play for your country, Penalty Shoot-Out delivers exactly that fantasy. Just don’t expect to get rich living it.