Hold and Spin slots have become a popular choice on many online casino sites in the UK, offering a unique feature that stands apart from traditional slot games. For those new to this type of slot, the mechanics can seem a bit complex at first glance.
This guide explains how Hold and Spin features work, what shapes the rounds, and how Lock and Spin compares. You will also find clear explanations of symbols, payouts, and key terms used in these games.
By clarifying the basics, this article aims to help players understand what to expect before playing. Set limits that suit your circumstances and only play with money you can afford to lose.
What Is Hold And Spin Slots?
Hold and Spin slots are online slot games with a bonus round where certain symbols stay on the reels while the rest spin again. During this feature, the fixed symbols are held for a set number of respins, giving the round a more structured, collection-style feel.
All licensed slots use random number generators, so each spin is independent and cannot be influenced. The feature usually begins when a specific number of special symbols land together in the base game.
These rounds often link the held symbols to visible values, such as cash amounts, multipliers, or named jackpots. The appeal comes from watching the grid build and seeing whether more prize symbols arrive before the round ends.
Curious what that looks like in practice? The next section walks through how a typical Hold and Spin round plays out.
How Does Hold And Spin Work?
Hold and Spin creates a separate bonus round where triggering symbols remain in place, and only the empty positions respin. Each new respin gives the chance for more special symbols to land and lock. Outcomes are always determined randomly.
What Triggers The Hold And Spin Feature?
Most games require a set number of special symbols, such as coins, orbs, or discs, to land on the same spin. The exact count and symbol type vary by title and are explained in the game’s information panel and paytable. Some versions allow additional triggers, like filling a meter or landing symbols on specific reels.
Triggering the feature simply starts the round. The rules shown in the information section detail how many respins you get, how symbols behave, and how prizes are awarded.
How Do Respins And Counters Work?
A common format gives three respins to start. Each time a new special symbol lands, it locks in place and the respin counter resets to its starting number. If no new symbols land, the counter decreases by one. The round ends when the counter reaches zero or when all available positions are filled.
For example, you might begin with five coin symbols showing values like £1, £2, and £5. As the grid respins, any new coin that lands also locks, and your respin counter resets. When the feature finishes, the game totals the values on all held coins and applies any multipliers or jackpots according to its rules.
How Does Lock And Spin Differ From Other Hold And Spin Variations?
Lock and Spin is a variant where the emphasis is on how symbols stay fixed and how the grid evolves between respins. Some games lock only specific symbol types or lock symbols that connect in a cluster, while others lock every qualifying symbol regardless of position.
Compared to a standard Hold and Spin, Lock and Spin may add elements like expanding rows, symbol upgrades, or cluster-based collection, depending on the game. Certain versions unlock extra positions as more symbols land, or they introduce helper symbols that boost values or add extra respins.
The main difference lies in the locking rules and progression. One title might lock only symbols that contribute to a cluster, another may keep all special symbols, and a third could upgrade locked symbols over time. Understanding those rules helps make sense of the pace and potential of each round.
With the structure in mind, it helps to know what type of symbols you might be collecting.
Which Symbols And Bonus Prizes Appear In Hold And Spin Games?
Hold and Spin features usually revolve around special symbols that are easy to spot, such as coins, gems, or orbs. These can carry visible values in currency or in multiples of your stake, and they may sit alongside labelled symbols like Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand that correspond to fixed or progressive jackpot tiers.
Many games add variety with multipliers that boost either the total at the end or individual symbol values. Others include symbols that add extra respins, expand the grid, or collect and combine values from nearby symbols. The exact behaviour is always shown in the paytable.
Regular reel symbols still matter for the base game, but once the Hold and Spin begins, the focus shifts to landing and holding the special symbols that drive the feature’s prizes.
How Are Payouts Calculated During The Feature?
Payouts are usually determined by adding up the values shown on the locked symbols when the round ends. If the symbols display flat amounts, the game totals them in £. If they show values like 5x or 10x, those are typically multiples of your current stake. Some titles apply multipliers to the entire final total, while others apply them to specific symbols before adding everything together.
Jackpot symbols, when present, either award a fixed amount listed in the paytable or trigger a separate jackpot prize. If a full screen is filled with symbols, some games also apply a completion bonus.
For instance, a round ending with £2, £2, £10, and a 2x total multiplier would pay £28, while a round with 1x, 2x, 5x, and a £20 fixed symbol might calculate each part separately, then add them according to the game’s rules. The paytable explains which method applies.
Key Terms Used In Hold And Spin
Hold and Spin: A bonus round where certain symbols remain on the reels while other positions respin.
Respins: Spins within the feature that continue as long as new special symbols land and lock, or until the respin counter runs out.
Locked Symbols: Symbols that stay fixed throughout the feature, often showing a cash value, a multiplier, or a jackpot label.
Paytable: The in-game reference that explains symbol values, feature rules, and prize mechanics.
Multiplier: A value that increases a payout. It may apply to individual symbols or to the total at the end of the round.
Jackpot: A larger predefined prize, often shown as Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand, with amounts listed in the paytable.
Random Number Generator (RNG): Software that ensures each spin is independent and unpredictable.
How Do Game Settings Affect RTP And Volatility?
Game settings shape the experience, but do not change the randomness of each spin. The paytable and information panel list the key figures.
RTP, or Return to Player, is the long-term theoretical percentage of total wagers paid back to players, on average, over a large number of spins. Some studios release multiple RTP configurations of the same game for different sites. The version in use is shown in the game information. Certain settings, such as activating fewer paylines where available, can influence the displayed RTP for that session, and the info panel will detail any such changes.
Volatility describes the pattern of potential returns. Higher volatility games tend to produce less frequent but larger possible payouts, while lower volatility games lean toward smaller, more frequent results. Bet size and any optional feature toggles can change the feel and frequency of triggers but do not ensure any particular outcome. Checking RTP, volatility, and feature rules before playing gives a clear picture of what to expect.
What Common Variations And Add‑Ons Should I Expect?
Hold and Spin features come in many formats. Some expand the grid by unlocking extra rows or reels as more symbols are collected. Others introduce prize boosters, such as symbol upgrades, additive multipliers, collectors that pull in neighbouring values, or symbols that add extra respins.
Progressive jackpot versions link the feature to jackpot tiers that can be won through specific symbols or by filling the grid. Cluster pays, where prizes are awarded for groups of adjacent symbols rather than lines, can also appear, and they may change how symbols lock and how the round advances.
Each game mixes these ideas in its own way, so the paytable is the best source for the exact rules.
How To Compare Hold And Spin Variants Before Playing
Start with the paytable. It shows how to trigger the feature, how many respins you get, whether the respin counter resets, and how values are added or multiplied. Look at the symbol set too, including any labelled jackpots and how they are awarded.
RTP and volatility give a broad sense of the game’s structure over time. If a game offers optional add-ons, such as ante bets or feature boosts, check how they affect the trigger chances, bet cost, and stated RTP. The bet range matters as well, so make sure the minimum and maximum stakes fit your budget.
If you choose to play, set limits that work for you and take breaks to keep decisions clear. Never wager more than you are prepared to lose. If gambling begins to affect your well-being or finances, seek help early. Organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware provide free, confidential support.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.