Wild
A wild is a slot symbol that substitutes for other symbols to complete a winning line, like a joker in cards. Many slots add twists, such as sticky wilds that stay put or wilds that multiply your win.
By Mark SmithChecked On this page 4
How wilds work
A wild has no value of its own in many games: its job is to complete wins with other symbols. In some slots it also pays when several wilds land together, sometimes as the top-paying symbol.
Common types of wild
- Standard wild: substitutes on the spot it lands.
- Expanding wild: grows to cover the whole reel.
- Sticky wild: stays fixed for a set number of spins, as in Lantern Luck.
- Multiplier wild: multiplies any win it helps make, for example 2x or 3x.
- Walking wild: moves one reel per spin until it leaves the screen.
- Guaranteed wild: some free spins rounds promise at least one wild per spin, like Hot Hot Fruit.
Do wilds make a slot better?
Not on their own. Every feature, wilds included, is already part of the slot’s RTP. A game with lots of wilds might pay small wins more often, while one with rare multiplier wilds might pay less often but bigger, which is a question of volatility. Read the paytable to see what wilds do in each game, and how they interact with scatter symbols.
Frequently asked questions
What does a wild symbol do in a slot?
It stands in for regular symbols to complete or extend a win. If you have two cherries and a wild on a payline, the wild counts as a third cherry.
Can a wild replace a scatter?
Usually not. In most slots wilds substitute for every symbol except scatters and bonus symbols, which trigger features. The paytable confirms the rule for each game.
What is a sticky wild?
A sticky wild stays in place for several spins, often for the whole free spins round, giving it more chances to complete wins.
Related terms
Mark has been writing about online gaming since 2007, covering everything from sportsbooks to casino and slot reviews, offering insights for players of all levels.