Updated by John Bonello
Content Editor
Fact Checked by Lee James Gwilliam
Senior Vice-President
If you’ve played slots in online casinos for long enough, you’ve probably experienced some near misses. You know those heart-breaking moments when the reels almost line up for that much-needed win? We’ve all been there. Luckily, the clever people who develop these games have come up with respins, a kind of magic do-over button.
These clever features freeze specific reels or sometimes winning symbols while letting the others spin again. They can come as sticky wilds that cling on or entire reels that lock in wins, turning close misses into sure wins. Read on to learn all about these features and how to take advantage of them.
A respin is the slot machine’s version of a second chance. When triggered, the game freezes certain reels or symbols in place while giving the remaining positions another spin at no extra cost. It’s important not to confuse these with the cascade feature, where winning symbols are removed from the reels and replaced with new ones while the reels spin again.
Any symbol can be locked in during a respin; it all depends on the game and developer. Some prefer to lock in sticky wilds for an increased chance of winning, while others feature special symbols that can fetch your jackpots. This is also one of the more popular slot features, and it is common in both the base game and bonus rounds.
In most slots, respins don’t just come out of thin air; you need to trigger them. But here’s the thing: there’s no one universal way to activate respins, as developers like to get creative when it comes to these things.
Some slots require you to land a unique bonus icon, while others will get you started with special wilds. The number of bonus symbols or wilds you’ll need to trigger the feature also differs from game to game.
In certain titles, like Atlantis 10K Ways from ReelPlay, respins are the main bonus feature, so you need to hit a specific number of scatters (6 in this case) to trigger the round.
Since you can’t always be sure going into a game, I advise that you always check the slot’s paytable for more details before you send the reels spinning.
Alright, you’ve heard about multipliers, but did you know they come in different flavors? Like toppings on a pizza, each type of multiplier brings its own unique spice to your slot gaming experience.
Some are predictable, some are wild (literally), and others pop up without warning to give you a pleasant surprise. Understanding these types of multipliers is how smart players maximize their wins. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you might encounter on the reels.
This is a simple “try again” mechanic where you land certain symbols or even a partial win on some reels, and the game respins the remaining reels. Deco Diamonds Elite features respins that trigger when you land two scatters.
The wilds start to get clingy here. Land a wild, and it sticks while other reels respin. Sometimes, the wilds get sticky and stay around through multiple respins, creating wins as they go. Wild Wild Joker from Pragmatic Play features Respin Wilds along with Bonus Wilds.
This is like a gift that keeps on giving. Symbols from the initial win lock in place for multiple respins. Atlantis 10K Ways comes with this feature, and if you manage to fill up the reels with scatters, you can win instant jackpots of up to 2,000x.
You land special symbols, represented mainly by coins or bonus coins, and these symbols hold their place while other reel positions spin again. With every new coin you hit, you get a fresh respin until you fill the entire grid with coins or run out of respins. Then you’ll be given a bonus prize or jackpot based on the number of coins you landed. You can check this feature out in the Rhino Hold and Win slot.
If you think regular respins are awesome, prepare for their expanding cousins in which symbols grow to fill multiple reel positions. Sometimes, like in the Queen of Alexandria WowPot slot, it’s the wilds that expand and also remain sticky.
For starters, respins are free. The fact that players get to see the reels spin without a deduction in their balance is a big plus on its own. It even gets better as this feature gives you another shot at completing a winning combo by locking certain symbols on the reels.
In slots with sticky wilds that expand, every respin has the potential for big wins, as you have fewer paylines to fight for and a wild that can step in at any time as the ultimate substitute.
Also, respins are your ticket to fixed jackpots in Hold and Win slots, and in some slots, you can hit multiple small jackpots in just one respin run. Let’s not forget that these features are also fun to watch. Few things in the slots world are as exciting as watching sticky wilds pile up during consecutive respins. What started as a simple spin can transform into a massive payout. Isn’t that the joy of slot gaming?
At first glance, respins and free spins seem like the same thing with different names. After all, they both give you extra chances to win without dipping into your balance. But if you look deeper, the differences start to show.
Respins freeze your best symbols or reels and spin only what’s left, turning near-wins into actual payouts. They might even be your pathway to jackpots through the Hold and Win feature. There are no specific rules as to how you can trigger them; it depends on the slot.
Free spins, on the other hand, are the flashy features of the slot world. They give you completely new spins, with all reels spinning each time. While respins tweak a single outcome, free spins usually come in bundles of five or more, often with multipliers, special symbols, and even respins in certain games. In most cases, you can trigger a free spin bonus by landing scatter symbols, most often three or more.
Want to start exploring respins in online slots? Here are some of the top casinos offering the best releases with this feature.
With a passion for words, John is always thinking about what to write next. He has over 12 years of experience working with online content and as an Editor at Casinos.com, John makes sure that readers get the latest and most accurate information about the online gambling industry.
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