Regardless of which types of slot games you enjoy, there are a few common aspects you’ll discover in most titles. Among these select components are wild symbols, which can turn unsuccessful bets into moments of excitement.
Some wild symbols in slots are straightforward, simply acting as a stand-in symbol that can take the place of another in a winning combination. Some wilds, however, have additional capabilities that can have dynamic effects on your slot gameplay. Two examples of these wilds with a twist are expanding wilds and sticky wilds.
Curious to find out more? Borgata Online offers several slots with wild features for players to test out both of these bonuses, but before you start spinning the reels, read through this guide on how sticky and expanding Wilds work in online slot games.
What are Wild Symbols in Slots?
Slot bonus symbols come in many forms, but perhaps the most common of these is the wild. On the most basic level, wild symbols substitute for other symbols in potential paylines. So, for example, if you’re spinning the reels of a slot game and two standard paytable symbols land on a payline, a wild on the same payline could potentially take the place of the last symbol you would need to form a winning combination, depending on how that particular slot game works.
Wild symbols form components of the slots likely to hit the most, but are not guarantees that players will win in and of themselves. Certain types of wild symbols do more than just replace other symbols, too.
Expanding Wilds
Slots with bonus features that include expanding wild symbols introduce players to a creative take on the wild game mechanic. As the name suggests, expanding wilds enlarge on the screen to cover more than a single spot on the game grid, giving players a better chance to land a winning combination.
For example, in the Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead slot, wilds randomly expand in the free spins feature to cover entire reels. Any hits you receive as a result are collected simultaneously.
Sticky Wilds
Expanding wilds escalate the thrills when they hit, but the effect fades as quickly as it occurs. Sticky wild slots offer a more sustained bonus.
When these symbols drop, as they do in the Starburst slot, they lock in place for subsequent spins. For each of these effects, there are details unique to each slot.
How Do Expanding Wilds and Sticky Wilds Work?
The first rule that players should know about expanding wilds and sticky wilds is that their exact effects fluctuate from one slot to the next. The same unique framework also applies to the odds of landing either of the symbols associated with these features.
Smart players confirm this information in the help section of each slot they are considering before placing their first bets. That way, they know exactly what to expect in terms of how frequently these symbols appear, what the symbols look like, and how they alter gameplay.
It’s crucial to inform yourself of what bet denomination activates chances at these bonuses, and whether these special wilds are unique to certain slot bonus rounds in the games. The more information you have, the better prepared you are to manage your gambling bankroll the wise way.
Getting the Most Out of Expanding Wilds and Sticky Wilds in Slots
If you’re interested in winning slot play, then you’re also interested in responsible gambling. These things are one and the same.
As soon as you set your wager and initiate the game’s action, the result of your bet is completely beyond your control in online slots. Whether you see an expanding wild or sticky wild appear on the reels is decided by the game’s random number generator.
For that reason, you need to weigh the risk of trying for hits, including expanding wilds or sticky wilds, against the potential reward and your gambling budget. Taking calculated risks that respect your boundaries for money and time spent is a winning plan.
Are There Other Types of Special Wild Features in Slots?
Wilds that expand and stick are popular among players, but they aren’t the full scope of innovations with slot wilds. There are also wilds with multipliers and stacked wild slots.
The Colossal Diamonds slot is a great example of a game with wilds that double as multipliers. In these titles, landing a wild or a series of wilds automatically multiplies the value of any paylines you collect with them.
Other slots like Hoard of Poseidon utilize a stacking feature that can include paylines with wilds. Like many other twists on wilds, the limits and value of these bonuses depend on the specific game’s rules.
Borgata Online’s Top Slots With Expanding Wilds and Sticky Wilds
Players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are already enjoying the stellar selection of slots with chances at expanding and sticky wilds at Borgata Online. A shortlist of some of the best slots with different wild features includes:
- Dead or Alive — when you activate this game’s free spins feature, Sticky Wilds remain in place for the duration of your bonus spins
- Electric Tiger — charge entire reels with expanding wilds that are as ferocious as they are valuable
- Honey Rush 100 — Sticky Wilds that are part of paylines can increase win multipliers in this flowery slot
- Narcos — this game has an extremely unique Sticky Wild bonus, wherein the wilds travel across the reels as a preset number of spins play out
- Super Fruits Wild — land expanding wilds in the Hot Spins feature to fill the entire grid with wilds for a huge payout
- Wildwood Buffalo — hit the trail in this Western-themed slot with wilds that expand according to the number of scatters on the reels
All these games and many more are available when you register for Borgata Online, which you can do now as long as you’re at least 21 years old. While you might not see these wild symbols in all of your sessions, you’re in for a wildly good time with Borgata.