The excitement of spinning online slots while anticipating the appearance of special symbols is one of the many reasons slot machines have become quite popular in the iGaming industry.
Among the most sought-after special slot machine symbols are the wilds. You will find plenty of titles with this feature on leading online casino sites that offer deals, such as the ICE Casino promo code to award players extra perks to increase playing time.
It is safe to say that players will always choose a slot game equipped with wild symbols over one without them. That’s simply because special icons help boost the chance of multiplying the player’s winnings.
No wonder practically all online slot games offer enticing wild symbols as one of the most important special elements to level up the gameplay experience.
Currently, there are different types of wilds, and sticky or locked ones are among the most popular in the world of spinning slot machine reels.
If you’ve ever had any questions about sticky wilds, read on to understand their working mechanism and how they will boost your payout potential. So, what’s so special about their presence on an online slot grid?
What Are Sticky/Locked Wild Symbols?
Locked wilds are icons offered in video slot games to maximize the chance of racking up impressive wins. They do this by landing on the reels and remaining unmoved in place for a specified number of free spins or re-spins features.
In some games, such elements can appear randomly during any round, while in others, they only land when bonus features are activated. These symbols can boost your winning chances in three main ways:
- Complete the near-winning combinations of other regular symbols before being frozen;
- Trigger bonus features like respins and free spins;
- Remain in one position until a specific condition is met, increasing the chance of profitable spinning sessions with locked wilds.
Variations of Locked Wild Symbols
Wilds are often connected to other bonus features in the slot. They are primarily designed in bold, flashy colors and sometimes with the word WILD. The variations of sticky wilds can be as follows, depending on the game you are playing:
- Regular wilds may become sticky when they trigger free spins or re-spins and remain locked on various reels throughout the bonus rounds;
- Wild icons land and do not disappear after forming a winning combination; instead, they become locked for one or a couple of subsequent spins;
- Locked icons can remain on the reels during the cascading reels or respins feature, provided symbols land to reset the respins back to their original count;
- Some locked symbols can expand to cover the entire reel or reels;
- Sometimes, they can move around the reels during each spin and land in other reel positions until they fall off them.
To put it simply, such icons lock in place while others appear and disappear until the specific bonus round ends. If you want to learn how these symbols function in a particular slot machine, it’s advisable to check the slot’s paytable menu.
Do Sticky Wilds Make a Specific Slot More Profitable?
Of course, the overall profitability of a slot machine depends on its RNG, volatility, RTP, and the player’s luck. Nonetheless, the chance of hitting winning combinations with locked symbols is higher in these slots than in those that don’t have any feature.
Strategies for Benefiting from Slots with Locked Wilds
Slots are considered games of chance, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strategize your gameplay. You can employ a few strategies that work to make the most out of the locked feature. For example:
- Set and stick to a budget to ensure you are playing responsibly despite the enticing wins you may collect from locked symbols;
- Increase the bet size whenever you hit sticky wilds to increase the chance of higher profits;
- Read the game’s rules and review the paytable to understand how the special icons operate alongside others;
- Focus on unlocking free spins and respins for more potential risk-free wins because locked symbols typically drop during these bonus features;
- Prioritize fun over making profits. This helps you stay level-headed even after going through a losing streak;
- Embrace the availability of demo versions to practice and understand the features before staking real money;
- Check whether the game’s volatility and RTP suit your preferences. As a rule of thumb, the higher the slot’s RTP, the better.
Improve Your Spinning Experiences with Sticky Wilds!
There you have it! Now that you know what sticky wilds are all about, it’s up to you to make the most of your reel-spinning sessions by going for slot games with sticky wilds. While it’s never guaranteed you’ll win with locked symbols, their potential to boost your payout potential is good enough to keep you thrilled.
