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The Wild World of Online Slots




Author: Dolly Gambler


Online slots are constantly evolving and so are the types of wild functions being used. Gambling City has put together a guide to the different types of wild features being used in today’s cutting edge slots and exactly how they work.

What is wild symbol? The function of wild symbols is in a nutshell to replace any other symbol on the reels to complete winning paylines. Hitting a wild symbol does not guarantee a winning combination, but gives players more opportunities to win. In some slots the wild symbols are the highest paying symbols, but in others you’ll find the wilds have no individual value other than to create a winning spin.

COLOSSAL WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that occupy an area or cluster of reels that replaces 9 symbols in a standard 5-reel, 3-row slot (3 rows x 3 reels).

EXPANDING WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that when appear expand to make the entire reel wild. Many times these expanding wilds are set to trigger only on certain reels, like the 1st and 4th reels, but many video slots feature expanding wilds that can appear on all reels.

LINKED WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that can turn other symbols wild on adjacent reels

REEL DESIGNATED WILDS
Some slots games feature wild symbols on certain reels only. The most common include wilds on reels 1, and 5 or on reels 1, 3 and 5.

SHIFTING WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that when appear stay on the reels for a certain number of spins. However, unlike Sticky Wilds, instead of remaining where they initially land, the wilds shift to other areas.

STACKED WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that appear one on top of the other on a single reel, normally filling up the entire reel.

STICKY WILDS
This type of wild features symbols that when make an appearance create winning combinations and then remain in place or ‘stick’ where they landed, for the next spin.

TRADITIONAL WILDS
This is the very first type of wild symbol ever created and simply serves as a substitute to create a winning combination with no bells or whistles