Balloon Race: Rules, Strategy & Best Casinos [2026]

Evolution doesn’t exactly need an introduction – they’re the studio behind half the live casino games you’ve already lost track of, including the ever-loud Crazy Time. So when they dropped something genuinely different called Balloon Race, I had no choice but to see what the fuss was about.

At first glance, you might expect another dressed-up slot pretending to be live. It isn’t. Balloon Race rolls out in three stages, with the final level turning into the real event – where the live action actually kicks off. With a respectable 96.09% RTP and medium volatility, it’s surprisingly fun, occasionally tense, and just rewarding enough to keep you watching balloons like your rent depends on it. Here’s how my experience played out.

Balloon Race is a unique three-stage game that blends slot mechanics with live-hosted gameplay in a colorful, cloud-themed setting. The goal? Qualify, top up, and race to win.

Stage 1: Qualifying Round

You’ll start with a 5x3 slot game featuring 10 paylines and seven symbols, including a Scatter (hot air balloon) and an Expanding Wild. To qualify for the race, you need to land three Scatters or three Wilds. You can spin manually – there’s no auto-spin – or use Xxxtreme (5x your bet) or Super Xxxtreme (50x your bet) modes to speed things up by guaranteeing Wilds and Scatters.

Scatters can come with multipliers, which carry forward. Wins during this round are modest (up to 15x), but the excitement builds as you move closer to the live event.

Stage 2: Top-Up Round

Once qualified, you can optionally top up your multipliers. Four balloons (red, purple, green, yellow) begin ascending toward their respective multiplier lines. If any balloon reaches the line before popping, its multiplier activates for the upcoming race. It’s risky, but potentially rewarding.

Stage 3: The Balloon Race

In the final stage, hosted live from a balloon among the clouds, the host draws from a bingo-style machine containing 80 colored balls. Before the race begins, an airplane drops surprise multipliers onto the board. Each ball drawn advances a matching-colored balloon upward. The first to reach the multiplier line wins, and all players who backed that balloon win based on the total multiplier they accumulated.

From start to finish, Balloon Race delivers a fresh twist on live casino game shows online, mixing bright visuals, rising tension, and a chaotic blend of slot-style pacing and pure chance.

More Information About Balloon Race

Balloon Race doesn't have any distinct bonus features that I can focus on, except the last level of the game, which is sometimes referred to as the bonus rounds. Nevertheless, it's a fairly new invention in the iGaming scene, so I'll go over its top three distinguishing features with you.

Balloon Race looks cute, but it’s really just a nerves test at the best live casino online, wrapped in bright colors. You’re not outsmarting the game – you’re deciding when to blink.

1. Cash Out Early and Often

The biggest mistake is getting greedy. Small, early cash-outs keep your balance alive and stop Balloon Race from humiliating you repeatedly.

2. Don’t Chase the Max Multiplier

Yes, watching balloons float higher is exciting. No, waiting for the top multiplier isn’t a strategy – it’s a donation. Treat big multipliers as bonuses, not expectations.

3. Set a Cash-Out Point Before the Round Starts

Decide your exit before the balloon rises. If you don’t, emotion will make the decision for you – and it hates you.

4. Keep Bets Modest

Medium volatility still means streaks. Smaller bets let you survive long enough to catch a good run instead of flaming out on one bad round.

5. Ignore Patterns

Previous rounds don’t matter. Balloons don’t “warm up,” and the game doesn’t owe you anything.

6. Walk Away After a Win

Balloon Race loves giving you a nice win and immediately trying to take it back. When you hit something decent, leave. The balloons will still be there tomorrow.

Additional Details About the Balloon Race Live Game Show

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