Key takeaways
- Substitutes to complete wins.
- Expanding: fills a reel.
- Sticky: stays for several spins.
- Usually cannot replace scatters.
In shortA wild symbol substitutes for other symbols to complete a win. Variants expand to fill a reel, stick in place, or move across the reels.
Kinds of wild
| Kind | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Substitutes for regular symbols | Fluffy Favourites' elephant |
| Expanding | Grows to cover its reel | Starburst |
| Sticky | Stays for following spins | Common in free spins rounds |
| Stacked | Appears in columns | Many video slots |
| Walking | Moves one reel each spin | Some respins features |
| Collector | Collects cash values | Big Bass Bonanza's fisherman |
Starburst's wild
It lands only on the middle three reels, expands, and holds while the others re-spin. Another wild repeats the trick, up to three times.
What wilds cannot do
They rarely substitute for scatters or bonus symbols, and on some machines they appear only on certain reels.
Elsewhere on the site: UK slot machine categories, PlayOJO slot machines, Sweet Bonanza vs Big Bass Bonanza and Book slot machines.
Wilds and volatility
A machine with frequent ordinary wilds tends to be gentle, because they complete many small wins. A machine with rare expanding or sticky wilds tends to be volatile, because most of its return waits on them.
Keep reading: Slot machine near misses, Reels and symbols, Fluffy Favourites slot machine and The hi-lo gamble.
Next: how slot machines work, or seven slots taken apart.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What does a wild do?
Substitutes for other symbols.
What is an expanding wild?
One that fills its reel.
Can a wild replace a scatter?
Usually not.
Which slot is known for wilds?
Starburst.