Stick 'Em slot

Stick 'Em slot: what kind of game it is

Stick 'Em is a cartoon heist slot with cash, gold coins, diamonds and a cheerful thumbs-up symbol. It comes from Hacksaw Gaming, a Malta-based studio that launched in September 2018, later became known for Wanted Dead or a Wild, and has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since June 2025. Stick 'Em arrived a year into the studio’s life, before Hacksaw moved towards the very high-volatility style it is now associated with.

The result is a calmer game than the studio’s later hits. The 96.1% RTP and medium volatility mean returns are spread more evenly between ordinary spins and features. The cartoon art is bright, but the game is an adult gambling product like any other slot and is only available to players aged 18 and over.

How the Stick 'Em slot machine pays: 1,024 ways

Stick 'Em uses a 1,024-ways layout. Each of the five reels shows four symbols, and 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 1,024. A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from reel one, in any row, so there are no lines to set. If two copies of a symbol land on reel one and one on each of reels two and three, that is two separate three-of-a-kind ways and the prize is paid twice.

The 20p figure is purely illustrative to show the multiplication; real symbol values are in the in-game paytable at your stake. Our explainer on ways-to-win slots covers the arithmetic for other grid sizes.

What happens on each Stick 'Em spin

1. You choose a total stake; it covers all 1,024 ways.
2. The random number generator picks a stop on each of the five reel strips.
3. The 20 visible symbols are checked for matches from reel one across adjacent reels.
4. If the sticky feature conditions are met, qualifying symbols lock and the other positions respin.
5. If enough scatters land, the free spins round starts after any wins are paid.
6. The game adds up the round’s wins and shows your balance and net position.

Every step after the first is decided by the random draw at the start of the round. Animation and timing only display the result, and in the UK each game cycle must last at least 2.5 seconds.

The Stick 'Em sticky respin feature explained

The feature that names the game is a sticky respin. Published game descriptions say it is built around the thumbs-up symbol: when enough of them land, they lock in place and the remaining positions spin again. Each new matching symbol that lands also sticks and resets the sequence, and the respins continue until a respin adds nothing new. The grid can fill up as the sequence goes on.

Why sticky respins change the swing of the game

A normal spin is one draw. A sticky sequence is several linked draws where each one builds on the last, so a feature that starts small can grow if new symbols keep landing. That is the same family of mechanic as sticky symbols and respins in other slots, and it explains why Stick 'Em’s best results tend to come from a long sequence rather than a single lucky line. Most sequences stop after a respin or two.

Hacksaw’s help screen is the place to check exactly which symbol sticks, how many are needed to start the sequence and how it is paid. We have only described what published sources agree on.

Stick 'Em free spins and bonus round

Alongside the sticky respin, Stick 'Em has a free spins round started by scatter symbols, with more scatters giving more spins. Free spins play at the stake that triggered them, and in the UK they play out one after another without autoplay being involved, because the feature is a single game round.

Triggers are random every spin. The explainer on how free spins work on slot machines explains why a bonus is never “building up” behind the scenes.

Stick 'Em RTP, volatility and cost per session

The Stick 'Em RTP is 96.1%, which gives a house edge of 3.9%. Over a very large number of spins, the game is designed to keep about £3.90 of every £100 staked. Medium volatility sits between the frequent small returns of a low volatility game and the long droughts of a high one, which is why it can suit a moderate budget.

The 1,000-spin column shows how cost accumulates with time rather than stake alone. At the UK minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin, 1,000 spins take at least 42 minutes. Our guide on how long £100 lasts on slots explores the same idea with other games.

Stick 'Em max win at UK stakes

We have not found a Stick 'Em max win figure from Hacksaw Gaming that we could verify, so we do not quote one. Different sources give different figures, and the help screen in the casino’s version is the reliable reference. What is fixed is the stake ceiling in Great Britain: £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18–24, set out in the government’s announcement of the £2 limit for under-25s (opens in a new tab).

UK rules for the Stick 'Em slot

Stick 'Em at a UK-licensed casino follows the Gambling Commission’s responsible product design standard (opens in a new tab). In practice that means:

• a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin, with no turbo or slam-stop;
• no autoplay, so each spin needs a fresh press;
• no celebration of a return equal to or less than the stake;
• your balance and session net position on screen at all times;
• no bonus buy, as UK versions are supplied without one.

Stakes are capped by the online slot stake limits introduced in 2025, and casinos must check your age before you can play at all, including in demo mode.

Is the Stick 'Em slot worth playing?

Stick 'Em suits adults who like a feature that unfolds in steps rather than a single all-or-nothing bonus. If you prefer something with more swing, Hacksaw’s later games are rated much higher for volatility; if you want gentler play still, look at medium volatility slot machines from other studios.

Slots similar to Stick 'Em

Quickspin’s Sticky Bandits shares the sticky idea and a medium-high rating, with 30 fixed lines on a 5 × 5 grid and a 96.58% default RTP. For another Hacksaw game with a medium rating, Le Bandit uses cluster pays on a 6 × 5 grid with a 96.34% RTP and a 10,000x max win. Within Hacksaw’s range, Wanted Dead or a Wild shows how far the studio’s style moved after 2019. Our guide to hold and win covers a related family of lock-and-respin features.

Stick 'Em myths to ignore

• “The sticky feature is due.” It is not; every spin is independent. Read about the gambler’s fallacy on slots.
• “Higher stakes trigger the feature more often.” The trigger chance is the same at every stake; only the prize size scales.
• “Two thumbs-up symbols means it nearly started.” A near miss is not a sign of anything; the result was set before the reels moved.
• “The demo is looser.” Demo modes must reflect real outcomes under UK technical standards.

Stick 'Em demo and checking the RTP

1. Complete age verification with the casino first.
2. Open Stick 'Em and choose demo mode if offered.
3. Open the information page from the menu.
4. Check the RTP shown matches 96.1%; if it is lower, the casino uses another setting.
5. Read the sticky respin and free spins rules for exact counts.

Demo play uses play money only. The rules behind it are on our page about demo slot age verification.

Where to play Stick 'Em in the UK

Our partner offers are not linked to Stick 'Em, and lobbies change, so search each casino’s game list. Coral gives new players aged 18+ 100 free spins after they deposit and bet £10 on slots; the spins are 10p each on selected games, with no wagering on winnings. Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins over 10 days (50 a day) after a £10 slots spend. PlayOJO gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of at least £10, with winnings paid in cash. Terms apply, including excluded payment methods.

Set a budget and a deposit limit first, and if gambling stops being fun, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) lets you self-exclude from all UK-licensed sites. The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133. Find more games in our slots hub.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.