A sticky wild is a wild symbol that stays locked in its position for more than one spin, so it can help form wins again and again while the other reels keep moving. Most slots save sticky wilds for a free spins round, where they pile up from one spin to the next.
The wild holds its place for a set number of spins, a whole feature, or until a condition is met.
Sticky wilds usually build up during a bonus round, so later spins tend to be the most valuable.
“Sticky” on a slot has nothing to do with a sticky bonus in offer terms.
An interrupted feature is normally restored when you reopen the game, sticky wilds included.
Type
Wild symbol variant
What it does
Stays in place across later spins
Usually found in
Free spins and respin features
Well-known examples
Dead or Alive, Dead or Alive 2
Where to check
Game rules in the slot’s menu
What makes a wild sticky
An ordinary wild symbol disappears when the reels spin again. A sticky one is held: the game freezes it on its position, usually with a frame or glow, and spins only the symbols around it. Because it stays, each later spin starts with a substitute already in place.
Games differ on how long the hold lasts. The three common patterns are below, and the rules screen in each slot says which applies.
Pattern
How it works
Typical setting
Fixed count
The wild stays for a stated number of spins, often with a counter on it
Base game features
Whole feature
Every wild that lands remains until the round ends
Free spins rounds
Conditional
The wild holds while new wins or symbols keep arriving, then clears
Respin features
Sticky wild slots you may recognise
NetEnt’s Dead or Alive is the classic case. Its free spins round, triggered by scatters, keeps every wild that lands in place for the rest of the round, which is why the game is described as high volatility: most rounds collect only one or two wilds, while the rare round that gathers many can pay far more.
Its sequel, Dead or Alive 2, offers three free spins modes, each built around sticky wilds with a different twist such as multipliers. Starburst shows a short-lived version: an expanded wild stays in place during the respins it triggers and then clears.
Compare that with an expanding wild, which spreads across its reel but usually doesn’t persist beyond its own feature, or a walking wild, which moves one reel at a time until it leaves the grid.
A sticky wild example, spin by spin
Picture a 10-spin feature on a 5×3 slot where any wild that lands stays to the end. The table tracks how the grid fills up.
Spin
New wilds
Wilds on screen
Positions still spinning
1
0
0
15
2
1
1
14
3–5
0
1
14
6
1
2
13
7–10
0
2
13
The wild from spin 2 works on nine spins and the one from spin 6 on five. That is why early sticky wilds are worth more than late ones, and why the same round can feel flat or exciting depending on timing. At a £1 stake, a round like this might return a few pounds or much more, depending on what lands around the wilds; nothing about it is predictable.
Sticky wild versus sticky bonus
The word turns up in a different sense in bonus terms. A sticky bonus is bonus money that can’t be withdrawn and is removed when you cash out, as opposed to a non-sticky bonus, where your own deposit is played first. That has nothing to do with symbols on the reels. If an offer page mentions “sticky”, it is talking about the bonus funds, not a slot feature.
Sticky wilds on a phone: display and interruptions
In portrait, locked wilds are usually marked with a border, a shimmer or a small counter showing spins remaining. Feature spins run on their own once triggered, so you mostly watch. If the counter is hard to read, landscape mode gives the grid more space.
What if your signal drops or the app closes during a round full of sticky wilds? The result of each spin is decided on the game server, and most games restore an unfinished feature the next time you open them, wilds in place. Follow these steps if that doesn’t happen.
Reopen the casino app and launch the same slot again, ideally on Wi-Fi.
Wait for the game to load fully; an unfinished round normally resumes or shows a summary.
If it doesn’t, check your account history for the round’s result.
If the history doesn’t show it either, contact support with the game name and the time.
Free spins: the bonus round where most sticky wilds appear.
Respin: many respin features hold wilds while other reels spin again.
Multiplier: some sticky wilds carry one that applies every time they help a win.
Hold and win: a feature where cash symbols, rather than wilds, lock in place.
Where to try sticky wild slots on mobile
Ladbrokes gives new customers aged 18+ up to 500 spins at 10p, credited as 50 a day for 10 days, after a £10 deposit and £10 spent on slots, while PlayOJO gives new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p for a first deposit of £10 or more. Neither has wagering on spin winnings, and terms apply.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sticky wild in slots?
A sticky wild is a wild symbol that stays locked on its position for more than one spin. While the other reels keep spinning, it can help complete wins on each of those later spins. Depending on the game, it lasts a fixed number of spins, the whole of a bonus round, or until a condition ends it. The game’s rules screen says which. Our free spins entry explains the round where most sticky wilds appear.
Which slots have sticky wilds?
Dead or Alive and Dead or Alive 2 from NetEnt are the best-known, with sticky wilds at the centre of their free spins rounds. Starburst holds its expanded wilds in place during respins, a short-lived form of the same idea. Many newer releases use sticky wilds too, sometimes with multipliers attached. The quickest way to check a particular game is its paytable inside your app. See Dead or Alive 2 for a detailed example.
Are sticky wilds good?
They make a feature more likely to build towards a bigger result, but they don’t make a slot better value. How often they appear and how long they stay are part of the game’s published RTP. Slots built on sticky wilds often have high volatility, meaning long quiet spells and occasional larger wins. If that pattern doesn’t suit your budget, a lower-volatility game may be more comfortable. The volatility entry explains the difference.
What is the difference between a sticky wild and an expanding wild?
One stays where it lands for later spins; the other, an expanding wild, grows to fill its reel. Some slots combine the two, so a wild expands and then stays in place during a respin, as in Starburst. Others use only one: Dead or Alive keeps single wilds locked through its free spins without expanding them. The expanding wild entry has a worked example of how a full wild reel completes several lines.
What happens to sticky wilds if my casino app crashes?
In most cases nothing is lost. Spin results are decided on the game server, and most slots resume an unfinished feature when you reopen them, with the sticky wilds still in place. If the round doesn’t reappear, check your account’s game history, where the outcome should be recorded. If it isn’t there, contact support with the game name and time. Our casino app troubleshooting guide covers crashes and freezes step by step.
Is a sticky wild the same as a sticky bonus?
No. The wild is a slot symbol that holds its position on the reels. A sticky bonus is a type of casino bonus where the bonus money itself can’t be withdrawn and is removed when you cash out. They simply share a word. If you are reading offer terms, “sticky” refers to the bonus funds; inside a slot’s rules it refers to symbols that stay put.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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