The Guide to Wild Symbols in Slots

Nearly every slot game incorporates Wilds in its repertoire of symbols in the base game or bonus rounds, increasing chances of hitting winning combinations. This special feature holds huge potential, and this guide will dissect the concept of Wild, how it's beneficial to a gaming session, and the different types of Wild symbols encountered on the reels.

What Are Wild Symbols and How Do They Work?

The easier way to describe the role of a Wild symbol in a slot game is to compare it to a Joker in card games. Jokers are used to replace other cards and complete a winning hand, and in online casino games, a Wild symbol has the same function. Wilds can substitute any other symbols on the reels and form a winning payline if the other symbols are in alignment for a predetermined payline.

The only symbols a Wild cannot replace is a Scatter or another bonus symbol such as Free Spins. Typically, a Wild symbol has no intrinsic value, but in some slot titles, it can act as the highest-paying symbol in the game. No method is available to regulate the appearance of wild symbols. They land randomly on the reels. Yet, most games specify on which reels a Wild can appear.

An example of a Wild in action can be viewed in Starburst, a timeless classic. In this game, the Wild appears as a rainbow-coloured symbol on reels 2,3 and 4. If it lands on the specified reels in the base game, it will expand on the entire reel and trigger a respin pin.

Another theoretical example of Wild mechanics includes a game in which you need three matching symbols to secure a win. However, on reels 1 and 3, you have a 10-card deck symbol, which tends to be generic in slots. If you land a Wild on reel 2, you receive a winning payline.

Variations of Wild Symbols

Wilds are available in most slots but can come in different varieties. Some game providers tweaked the concept and added additional functions to a Wild symbol, making the gameplay more intriguing. Below, we explained the most common versions of Wilds featured in many slot games.

Expanding Wilds

The name hints at the concept of an Expanding Wild symbol, which, unlike a standard Wild, which lands on a specific position on a reel, an Expanding Wild will occupy the entire reel. The expansion process occurs after the reels stop moving, and every symbol on the given reel transforms into a Wild, creating multiple opportunities to achieve a winning combination. In some slots, an Expanding Wild does not spread only in a vertical direction. Rather, it can expand in any direction. This type of Wild can land in a base game or bonus round.

Multiplier Wilds

It’s not uncommon to find a Wild symbol with a secondary role as a multiplier. Multiplier Wilds increase the potential of a winning combination by doubling or tripling the winning amount. The multiplier aspect of a Multiplier Wild triggers only when the symbol is part of a winning combination.

Stacked Wilds

Stacked Wilds are similar to Expanding Wilds, which pile on top of each other on a reel, improving chances of securing a win. However, this type of wild does not have to occur in the entire reel; it can come in pairs of two or three. Although covering an entire reel is an option, and in some games, they can merge and form a larger Wild symbol, taking over the entire reel.

Sticky Wilds

Sticky Wilds also act as a substitute symbol but can stay in place on a reel for the next spin, and that option to stick around is the reason for the name. Sticky Wild can remain in place for a predetermined number of spins, and that number will depend on the chosen game. This type of Wild can function differently on different games and is often provided as part of a bonus feature.

Walking Wilds

Walking Wild symbols can transition between reels during the game. The symbol can move one reel to the right or left on every spin until it disappears from the screen. Some slots offer two Walking Wilds moving in opposite directions from each other.

Replicating Wilds

Replicating Wilds transforms regular symbols into a Wild symbol. This is done with a symbol on adjacent positions, creating more opportunities for formulating winning paylines. The feature is available in a base game or a bonus round.