Online slots are by far the most diverse and most entertaining casino games. Players can enjoy them at both land-based and online casinos and they can experience decent rewards, especially if they are wagering at progressive slots.
Slots can be divided into numerous categories. Since we mentioned rewards already, if we are talking about the featured jackpot, slots can be standard/fixed or progressive. Then, we can diversify slots based on their theme (Ancient Egypt, Aztec, adventure, Wild west, space, oceans, jungle, etc), as well as their payline system (left-to-right, right-to-left, Megaways, Cluster Pays, Infinity Reels, etc.).
But we are not here to talk about slot diversification and the types of slots. We wanted to shift our attention to one slot symbol that many newbies might find difficult to understand – the Wild symbol. As you may know, every slot has regular symbols such as the Royals and card suites, as well as special symbols that make the gameplay a bit more dynamic.
Wilds are among those special symbols and below, we’ve explained everything that you need to know about them.
What are Wild Symbols?
A Wild symbol is a non-regular symbol that is a player’s biggest asset. Not only is this symbol able to form winning combinations on its own, but it also substitutes other regular symbols and will help you form a winning way.
Let’s provide you with an example that will help you understand its mechanic easier. When you spin the reels on most slots, you will need at least 3 matching symbols on a payline to form a win. If you land 2 matching symbols plus a Wild, the Wild will act as the third symbol and thus, provide you with the adequate win.
However, it is worth noting that in order to form a win, the Wild symbol needs to land at a position that is featured as a payline.
Types of Wild Symbols
Back in the day, there was just one Wild symbol – the regular Wild. This symbol had just one task which we explained above. But as the gambling industry progressed, game providers started becoming far more innovative and came up with various types of Wild symbols.
These days, you can come across regular Wilds, Expanding Wilds, Stacked Wilds, Sticky Wilds, Wild Scatters, etc. Expanding Wilds are Wild symbols that expand on a certain reel. In some slots, Expanding Wilds can cover the whole grid and provide players with the highest jackpot exposure.
Stacked Wilds are similar to Expanding Wilds as they can cover an entire reel. Sticky Wilds are Wild symbols that drop and stay fixed on that position for the next spin or next couple of spins and thus, increase players’ chances of hitting a winning combination.
Finally, we have the Wild Scatters, which are a combination of Wild symbols and Scatters. A Scatter is a special symbol that in most cases, triggers the free spins feature. Some slots combine these two symbols and if you land 3 Wild Scatters anywhere on the reels, you will trigger the free spins mode and possibly, be provided with a reward.
Does The Wild Symbol Pay?
One of the biggest questions about Wild symbols is whether they pay if you land 3 or 4 of them on the reels. The answer is that it really depends on the slot. Some slots might provide you with a reward if you land 3 Wilds on a paylines, some might not.
On the other side, some slots might provide you with rewards if you land more than 3 Wilds anywhere on the reels. To see whether the Wild offers these types of rewards, you will have to study the paytable of the slot itself. That way, you will learn everything there is to know about the Wild and the other features of the slot.
Which Slots Feature Wild Symbols?
Considering the fact that it is one of the favourite features of all players, the Wild symbol is featured at a vast majority of slots. After all, it has a very important role and aside from increasing players’ chance of hitting a winning combination, it also makes the gameplay far more dynamic and fun.
It is worth noting that some classic slots might not feature the Wild or any other special symbol or bonus feature for that matter. Why? Because classic slots are focused on the base game only. They do not have any bonus features and that is what makes them the perfect choice for newbies. Thanks to classic slots, new players can get a general idea of how these games work.
After they build a solid foundation, they move on to video slots that feature Wild symbols and are far more dynamic.
Finally, many players are wondering whether Wild symbols are featured at both land-based and online slots or just online slots. The answer is that both types of slots feature these symbols, but your chances of coming across a slot that features a Wild are much higher online. That’s because online slots are far more diverse and game providers are much more innovative in that field.