
Expanding wilds, sticky wilds, and walking wilds in online slots provide some of the most thrilling gameplay and biggest payout potential. Understanding how these features work and the strategic way to play them will help slot enthusiasts make the most of these lucrative bonus elements.
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How Expanding Wilds Spread Across the Reels
Expanding wild icons have become a popular feature in many of today’s top-rated slot titles on platforms like Level Up Casino Australia. As the name suggests, these special symbols “expand” to cover an entire reel when they land on the grid.
This differs from standard wilds that merely substitute for other symbols to form winning combinations. By filling an entire reel, an expanding wild can complete multiple wins simultaneously across paylines.
Some key advantages of expanding wilds include:
- Generate more winning combos with a single icon
- Lead to bigger payouts when stacked across a reel
- Trigger more frequently compared to other bonus features
- Provide excitement when spreading across the reels
When playing slots with expanding wilds, the ideal scenario is landing them early in a spin. This allows their payout-boosting effect to be maximized over subsequent cascades. Savvy players will adjust their strategy based on whether expanding wilds are present.
Sticky Wilds Remain on the Grid for Multiple Spins
Sticky wild icons have emerged as another popular slot feature alongside expanding wilds. These act like standard wild symbols in completing winning patterns.
However, as the name denotes, sticky wilds “stick” or persist on the reels for multiple spins even after an initial win. This provides the chance for more payouts over an extended series of spins.
Some advantages to slots offering sticky wilds include:
- Lead to more winning combos over time
- Allow bigger wins when combined with high-paying symbols
- Remain on reels independently each spin to boost odds
- Add larger payout potential within bonus free spin rounds
With sticky wilds potentially generating a cascade of wins, playing max bet is recommended to capitalize. Their payout-boosting effects also get amplified even further when combined with expanding wild features.
How Walking Wilds Move Across the Grid
Walking wilds put an exciting spin on the expanding wild concept. Like sticky wild icons, these symbols “walk” or move across the reels with each spin.
The walking wild feature first landed on a particular reel. It then proceeds to shift one reel over after each cascade whether a win occurs or not.
Benefits and playing tips for slots with walking wilds include:
- Lead to multiple payouts as they land on different reels
- Generate big wins when combined with high symbols
- Remain on the grid for a set number of spins
- Produce more excitement compared to standard wild features
As walking wilds move closer to early reels with each spin, the odds for big wins rise. This is because their payout-boosting effect has a greater chance to combine with valuable symbols across more paylines.
Wild Type | Key Attribute | Playing Strategy |
Expanding | Spreads to cover entire reel | Land early in spin to maximize effect |
Sticky | Remains for multiple spins | Play max bet to capitalize on repeated payouts |
Walking | Moves reel over reel each spin | Anticipate expanding payout potential |
Tips to Maximize Winnings from Innovative Slot Features
When playing slots with any of these special wild types, experts recommend a few key tips to optimize winnings:
- Understand rules – Learn specifics on when wild features trigger and how they function during free spins for your particular slot. This allows properly anticipating their payout-boosting effects.
- Play max lines/bets – To capitalize on wilds spreading or moving across reels, covering all paylines via max lines and bets ensures their impacts are fully realized.
- Focus bankroll on feature slots – Concentrating your slot bankroll on titles with expanding, sticky or walking wilds provides more return potential versus standard slots.
- Run hot and cold – When wild-enhanced bonus spins hit, play through hot streaks but walk away to avoid going cold. Protecting wins lets you maximize upside from key features.
Slot games with innovative expanding, sticky or walking wilds unlock some of the biggest winning potential in online casinos today. Understanding exactly how these features work, when they trigger, and adjusting strategy allows enthusiasts to get the most enjoyment and payouts from these lucrative icons.