Comparing the Different Wilds You Might See in a Slot Game

A wild icon can come in very useful in any slot game. It will typically replace most of the other symbols you see in the paytable, except for scatter and bonus icons.

The wild also comes in different forms, so it is worth knowing what these are and how they work. If you thought there was just one wild that could stand in for other icons, get ready to discover a few more!

Standard wilds

These are your basic wilds. You usually get one per slot, but sometimes you might get two or more. They may appear on every reel, or only on a selected number of them. Moreover, they can sometimes appear stacked, or simply individually.

Expanding wilds

The clue is in the name. When an expanding wild appears, it will usually appear in one position first, before expanding to complete that entire reel. Only then will you receive any prizes that are awarded because of that expanding wild.

Sticky wilds

If a wild is sticky, it means it will remain in place after it appears. For example, let's say a sticky wild appears on reels two and four of a game. When this happens, those wilds might remain where they are, and you could get a free re-spin. This means everything else spins again while the sticky wilds stay put. Either that, or you will see the sticky wilds remaining where they are while you spin through a set number of paid spins. Re-spins are more likely, though.

Moving wilds

If a wild is moving, it means it will move one position to the right, left, up, or down with each successive spin made after its appearance. Say for example you get a moving wild on reel four, where the rules state it will move one position to the left with each following spin. This means the wild will remain on the reels for several spins following its appearance. Check the paytable to see how the wilds move in the game you are playing.

Stacked wilds

These appear in stacks on the reels, hence the name, so you might get two or three on a reel (or four, if there are four rows of icons instead of the more-typical three). It usually means there is a greater chance of seeing more wilds on the screen with each spin than you would get if you had standard wilds in play.