This article shows all the ways to gamble on RuneScape and Old School RuneScape (OSRS). The article also distinguishes two types of RuneScape gambling: classic gambling and player-run gambling.
Classic gambling modes on RuneScape
In RuneScape, classic gambling refers to various in-game activities that resemble gambling, despite Jagex's strict stance against it.
Jagex, the developer behind RuneScape, actively discourages any form of gambling and has implemented measures to sanction or ban players engaged in such practices.
However, within the game, there exist several methods that players have historically associated with gambling. These include staking in duels, participating in the Falador Party Room events, and using features like the Squeal of Fortune.
Each of these activities offers RuneScape players a chance to wager or risk in-game assets in exchange for potential rewards, drawing the attention of gamblers looking for excitement within the virtual world.
Staking
Staking in RuneScape represents a game of chance where players wager in-game wealth against one another.
Members have the liberty to stake unlimited amounts, while free players are capped at staking up to 40,000 coins. This mode inherently offers a 1:1 win-loss ratio among players of equal skill, framing it as a balanced and competitive activity.
Free players often go beyond this limit by engaging in "trust staking," a practice fraught with risks as it is not endorsed by Jagex. Participating in trust staking significantly heightens the likelihood of encountering scammers, leading potentially to scams and loss of in-game assets.
Players are advised to approach staking with caution and stay within the secure parameters set by the game to avoid unsanctioned risks.
Rat Pits
The Rat Pits in RuneScape offered a unique gambling game tied intricately to a members-only minigame, which was available until its discontinuation in 2016.
To participate, players needed to have completed the Ratcatchers quest, equipping them to engage in this intriguing minigame.
The game was played by placing bets on cats, which competed in catching rats. It was categorized as "Dangerous" due to the high stakes involved, including the potential death of the cats during the matches.
Participants were required to bring their cats, kittens for the Ardougne pit specifically, along with a rat pole for enhanced performance, and optionally, a Catspeak amulet. This amulet was particularly strategic as it prevented cats from maintaining static stats, thus altering their combat outcomes.
The betting mechanics were straightforward: bets had to be matched by both players to initiate the game, emphasizing fairness in the wagering process.
The rewards for winning in the Rat Pits were strictly monetary. No other in-game items or bonuses were awarded, and items could not be staked. This minigame served as both a quest enhancer and a money-making method, although it was eventually removed due to quality concerns and the specific removal of the Ardougne pits.
Falador Party Room
The Falador Party Room in RuneScape 3 offers a distinctive method of gambling through community engagement and celebratory events.
Located in the heart of Falador, the Falador Party Room allows players to contribute items or money into a communal chest, which is then used to fill numerous balloons. During a drop party, these balloons are released into the room, and players have the chance to pop them and claim whatever items were concealed inside.
This method, while relying on random chance, stands out as perhaps the most entertaining way to engage in gambling within the game. However, the occurrence of drop parties featuring valuable items is relatively rare, making it a game of chance with unpredictable rewards.
Since the World List Update on 13 December 2012, World 9 (P2P) has become the designated official world for hosting activities in the Party Room, optimizing player participation and interaction during these events.
Squeal of Fortune
The Squeal of Fortune offers players a unique form of gambling through the use of a spinning wheel.
Introduced in an update on April 2, 2012, the Squeal of Fortune allows players to purchase spins using real-life money, thereby granting them opportunities to win a range of rewards. These rewards include experience lamps that accelerate skill leveling, coins, valuable items, and exclusive "lucky" or cosmetic clothing.
Although the Squeal of Fortune incorporates an element of risk, it can also provide substantial benefits. Players who invest in spins might achieve the fastest experience rates for certain skills, which underscores its appeal and utility within the game.
Jagex has sanctioned this activity, and the Squeal of Fortune has evolved into what is now known as Treasure Hunter, maintaining its role as a key component of RuneScape’s gameplay.
Conquest
Conquest in RuneScape introduces a strategic layer to gambling through its PvP (player vs. player) mechanics.
This members-only minigame, part of the Void Knights quest series, allows players to stake money against each other in a turn-based tactical war game. Reminiscent of chess in its strategic demands, Conquest diverges by allowing players to command a squad of Void Knights. Each player starts with equal resources to recruit troops, selectable through a dialogue with Knight Dorian.
The gameplay centers on choosing troops, configuring starting formations, and deploying powerful special Commands. Each unit in Conquest varies significantly in terms of Damage, Range, Health, and Movement rates, offering a complex array of tactical choices.
Those who want to play Conquest can begin by speaking to Captain Ethar, who provides an in-game tutorial to navigate this compelling minigame.
Is classic gambling on RuneScape illegal?
Yes, classic gambling activities in RuneScape, like staking in the Duel Arena, are sanctioned by Jagex and comply with game rules.
Player-run gambling modes
Player-run gambling in RuneScape refers to any gambling games created and operated by players themselves.
As of 18 March 2013, Jagex has declared all forms of player-run gambling against RuneScape’s terms and conditions. This policy includes significant amendments to the game to restrict these activities.
Any player found hosting or promoting gambling games may be subject to a mute, emphasizing the strict enforcement of these rules.
Classic cape game
The Classic Cape Game in RuneScape was a gambling method where players would wager on which of the various classic cape emotes would appear next.
The Classic Cape Game relied on the unpredictability of the emote outcomes associated with the classic capes, creating a chance-based betting scenario.
However, the Classic Cape Game was effectively nullified when changes were made to the classic capes, standardizing the rune hatchet emote as the only outcome.
Flower games
Flower Games were a popular player-run gambling method where participants bet on the color of flowers that would appear when planted. To curtail these games, Jagex implemented a change ensuring that all planted flowers would display the same color, thereby removing the element of chance that was essential for betting.
Although picked flowers retained their varied colors, they no longer held any value for gambling purposes within the game. This change was designed to enforce RuneScape's policies against unregulated player-run gambling activities.
Seal game
The Seal Game in RuneScape was a player-run gambling game where participants would wager on the outcome of which seal variant a host would transform into using the seal emote.
To contain this form of gambling, Jagex modified the game mechanics so that the seal emote would always result in the same seal variant, effectively removing the element of randomness and unpredictability that facilitated betting.
Easter ring
The Easter Ring game in RuneScape was a popular form of player-run gambling where participants bet on the outcome of which color egg the host would transform into using the Easter ring.
Originally, to combat this unregulated gambling, Jagex set the transformation result to always be a blue egg with a yellow zigzag pattern. However, in a subsequent update, they altered the feature to allow players to choose the egg's color manually, effectively neutralizing the gambling aspect since the outcome could be directly controlled by the player.
Dice games
Dice games in RuneScape, once a popular player-run gambling method, were officially removed from the game on November 14, 2011.
Initially, players could use dice bags to roll dice and place bets on the outcomes. However, Jagex, aiming to contain unregulated gambling, halted the ability to roll dice and subsequently eliminated dice bags from RuneScape entirely.
Today, the terms "dice" and "dicer" have evolved within the community to denote exceptionally lucrative moneymaking methods and exceptionally wealthy players, respectively. For example, achieving success in challenging content like "Araxxor" might be described as "dice tier" due to the substantial rewards.
Horse game
The Horse Game in RuneScape was a form of player-run gambling where players would place bets on specific phrases a horse would say upon interaction.
However, to combat the spread of unregulated gambling activities, Jagex disabled this game on January 13, 2012.
With this update, all horses in RuneScape were programmed to say only one phrase: "Just say neigh to gambling!" This clever play on words not only ended the betting aspect of the Horse Game but also reinforced Jagex's stance against gambling within the game environment.
Jadinko games
The Jadinko Games emerged as a form of gambling introduced during the 2015 Easter Event. Players could bet on whether a Jadinko pet would spawn in front of or behind the host after being dropped.
The game is typically advertised as "Front/Back" or "Back/Front." Bets are placed based on the pet’s spawn position relative to the host’s initial orientation, with diagonal spawns also considered. If the Jadinko spawns directly to the left or right, it results in a reroll.
However, the randomness of the spawning is questioned, leading to suspicions that hosts might predict outcomes to manipulate bet acceptance based on their likelihood of winning.
Horn games
Horn Games were a gambling format where players used the Starting Horn to summon the Master of Races.
Participants would then place bets on which cardinal direction the Master of Races would face upon spawning.
However, this game mechanism underwent a significant change on September 29, 2014, altering how the Starting Horn functioned.
Subsequently, to further contain unregulated gambling, Jagex completely removed the Starting Horn from the game on December 8, 2014, thereby ending the Horn Games.
Is player-run gambling on RuneScape illegal?
Yes, player-run gambling on RuneScape is illegal and against the game's terms of service.
How can you safe gamble on RuneScape?
You cannot safely gamble within RuneScape itself due to game restrictions. However, OSRS and RuneScape gold can be used as real-life currency on external gambling sites like RainBet.