Hold & win slot games: mechanics, strategies & top titles
If you’re looking for some of the most popular and widely played casino games, look no further than slots. This category of game has been wildly popular for decades and is receiving even more interest as time passes. While there are a few reasons for this, perhaps the most prominent of them are the exciting features and game mechanics that slot games have to offer. These range from simple to incredibly complex and often offer players a unique and exciting gameplay experience that requires relatively little effort on their part. One of today’s most innovative slot features is the ‘hold and win’ mechanic.
Hold and win is a fan-favourite feature primarily because it’s easy to use and can result in impressive payouts for even modest initial stakes. In this article, we’ll explore hold and win slots (also known as hold and spin slots) so that you know exactly what to expect before you sit down to play.
What are hold & win slot games?
Have you ever played hold and win slot games? Whether you’re a returning enthusiast or are new to slot games entirely, chances are good that you’ve seen an increasing number of hold and win slots online. But what exactly does the feature do? Put simply, the hold and win feature allows players to collect ‘sticky’ symbols and trigger respins. We’ll explain this in more detail below, but for now, just keep the basic premise in mind.
Hold and win slots differ from traditional slots in a few ways. Most importantly, the majority of traditional slots offered over the past few decades don’t allow players to trigger respins or sticky symbols. Some older games might offer one or the other, but the combination of both features in one game has been relatively unique in modern slots. Thankfully, this is beginning to change as more and more developers release their own hold and win titles.
Note that hold and win games originated in land-based casinos, but have made their way to online operators in short order.
How does the hold & win feature work?
The best hold and win slots offer players a variety of features to amplify their wins – but before we dive into that, let’s discuss the basics. Hold and win slots allow players to spin the reels multiple times without making any bets in addition to their initial wager. This is done by ‘sticking’ certain symbols to the grid while the rest of the reels respin.
The way that the hold and spin feature is triggered varies from game to game, but typically happens when a set number of special symbols land on the reels. Once triggered, the game keeps those special, typically high-paying, symbols on the board in their initial positions while the reels spin again. Any additional special symbols are also made sticky, and the reels spin again. After all the respins have been completed, players receive typically hefty modifiers on their wins.
The mechanics of respins and sticky symbols can be simple or fairly complex. In the most straightforward games, you land symbols and respin. That’s it! In other games, however, the mechanics are more advanced. Mystery symbols, for example, are a staple of newer games. These symbols hide their true appearance until the hold and win feature is triggered, at which point they transform and add new multipliers to the board. The incorporation of jackpots is fairly new, but is a very welcome addition to the slot subgenre. Winning jackpots in a hold and win slot usually depends on your luck with the mystery symbols on the grid.
Strategies to maximise wins
Because it is a luck-based game using RNG to determine symbol positions, there is no true hold and win slot strategy that improves your chances of winning. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t strategies that can help you play better and maximise your wins, however, and we have four tips for you to keep in mind:
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- Understanding RTP and volatility
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- Bankroll management
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- Choosing the right games
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- Timing and session length
The best players take the time to understand RTP and slot volatility and how it impacts their chances of winning. RTP, also known as ‘Return to Player’, represents how much of their wagers players will eventually win from the game in the long run. An RTP of 96%, for example, means that players who play the game long enough will eventually receive 96% of their wagers back on average. The higher the RTP, the better. Volatility is another factor to consider. High-volatility games are more unpredictable than lower-volatility games. This means that they offer bigger win potential, but also bigger loss potential. Lower volatility is best for minimising losses and managing your bankroll.
Speaking of managing your bankroll, make sure that you are setting a realistic budget and sticking to it! The longer you make your money last, the more rounds you can play. Along the same lines, make sure to stay on top of timing and session length. Responsible gamblers play for short, infrequent durations. This helps them build healthy gambling habits.
Finally, remember to pick the right game! Select a game because it has the features you want to experience, not just because it’s popular.
Mobile compatibility
If you’re like the millions of gamblers around the world who use their mobile devices to game and gamble, you’re in luck! Hold and win slots are available on smartphones and tablets just as much as they are on desktop websites. LeoVegas offers an excellent app designed specifically for mobile gamers, and you can also find online operators that offer mobile-optimised websites.
Conclusion
Hold and win games are quickly ascending in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. From the innovative gameplay mechanics to the potential for big wins, hold and win slots are an appealing choice for players. Before you dive in, ensure that you make use of our responsible gambling tools! Betting should always be light-hearted entertainment, not stressful or damaging. Always play responsibly.