What is the hold and win feature in online slots?

Hold & Win slots are ubiquitous, and you’ll find them on every casino roster and in the portfolios of most developers. First popularized in 2019, following the release of Relax Gaming’s Money Train, Hold and Win slots attract players with the promise of a unique feature and the potential for big wins.

What are hold and win slots and where did they come from?

So, what are Hold and Win slots?

Well, the feature actually goes by many names. In Money Train, it formed the foundation of a “Money Cart Bonus”, but Relax Gaming didn’t use the Hold and Win name. In the years since, we’ve seen variations listed as Hold & Spin, Hold n Link, Stick n Win, and more.

The Hold & Win feature is a bonus round often triggered by three scatter symbols, as with many 1spin4win slots. It directs players to a special game grid where triggering symbols remain, and they have three respins to land as many more as possible. Every new symbol locks in place, the respins reset, and the grid gradually fills, promising greater rewards the busier it gets.

How the hold & win feature works: basic slot mechanics

Slots with the Hold and Win feature various themes, and there’s no definitive approach to the slot itself. For example, Gold Oceanica Hold and Win takes players into an underwater magical kingdom with 243 ways to win and fixed jackpots, while Easter Prize Hold and Win is a colorful slot featuring Easter bunnies and 27 paylines.

It’s all about the main feature, which is similar in all Hold and Win slots:

The triggering symbols and feature launch activation

Most Hold and Win slots use scatters as triggering symbols, but sometimes, they launch free spins, and other special symbols (such as coins) launch the Hold and Win feature.

The slot may follow a traditional reel and payline structure, but in recent years, we’ve seen more games incorporate elements of Hold and Win features in the base game. Cash the Gold Hold and Win and Mega Cash Amplifier don’t have traditional paylines and instead opt for a base game built around their titular features, along with a high max payout.

Other popular slot mechanics use similar elements and may even incorporate Hold and Win. Many fishing-themed slots, for example, contain cash symbols (often various types of fish) that do nothing in the base game but pay when they land in the main feature.

Accumulating symbols and rewards

The Hold and Win feature often takes place on a unique reel set, with only the triggering symbols active. Players receive three respins and must fill as many spaces as possible with jackpot symbols, cash/coin symbols, or other special symbols.

The reels typically spin independently and show either a blank space or a special symbol, but this is where developers add their own twist. In many 1spin4win slots with a Hold and Win option, for instance, the player sees the triggering scatters alongside blank coins. These coins then explode and reveal either a blank space or a special symbol. Such is the case with slots like Xmas Lucky Time Hold and Win and Sound of Steel Hold and Win.

Landing jackpot symbols triggers respective progressive or fixed jackpots, and in most cases, filling all spaces activates the game’s biggest jackpot. Hold and Win slots may also include other bonus features and modifiers, including wilds, multipliers, and free spins.

Why players love this mechanic and what it means for casinos/developers

One of the great things about Hold and Win features is that they work well with other popular mechanics. The feature doesn’t completely consume the slot, and developers can experiment with themes, modifiers, free spins, and bonuses, as we’ve seen with some of the best slots with Hold and Win features.

It’s a USP, but it doesn’t need to be the only one. For example, it’s a key feature of Beersburg Fest Hold and Win, but players will be equally drawn by its Megapot jackpot, Octoberfest theme, and high 97.1% RTP.

As noted in our guide to what makes Hold and Win so popular, it’s also a very engaging mechanic. It keeps players’ eyes on the screen and their fingers on the spin button, and that’s great news for the developers making the games and the casinos hosting them.

In any case, developers must allow players to find and explore these features for themselves with a free play mode. All 1spin4win online slot games are available in demo mode, so every player can try a Hold and Win slot demo, whether they’re new to the feature and want to know how it works or simply want to explore their options.

Pros & cons of hold and win slots for casinos and developers

Hold and Win slots are an enticing prospect for players, but a tricky one for developers. By deviating from the traditional route of paylines and free spins, they may deter complete beginners. On the plus side, they may appeal more to experienced players seeking something different in a saturated market, and as these slots don’t use complicated features, even beginners should get the hang of them quickly.

For casinos, it’s good to include a mix of slot themes, styles, and features to encompass all types of players, while also posting helpful guides (such as a “how to play Hold and Win slots online”) to help beginners learn the ropes.

Top hold & win slot games

Some of the best slots with Hold and Win features are those that stick with retro themes, as they offer players a familiar experience in the base game, with the gameplay then building toward a big feature.

Royal Coins from Playson is a prime example of this, and it’s a style also seen in Cash’n Fruits 27 Hold and Win. Golden Joker 243 Hold and Win and Lucky Retro Fruits Hold and Win take it a step further by adding 243 ways to win.

On the other side of the coin, you have slots like Aztec Fire Hold and Win from 3 Oaks Gaming, which introduces a 5x4 grid, five jackpots, and beautiful wildlife graphics, similar to the quirky Lucky Robbery, a Wild West/animal cross with 243 ways to win and two jackpots.

The slot developer has free rein to do as they please, and for that reason, the best Hold and Win slots come in all shapes and sizes.

1spin4win’s hold & win collection

We’ve already highlighted some 1spin4win slots with a Hold and Win feature, but there are many more. Whether they’re joining Detective Hook on his next doggy noir adventure or embracing the spirit of Mystical Luck, players have a wide assortment of games to choose from, and we offer all of these to our online casino partners.

Here are a few more slots found in our Hold and Win section:

• Dolphin’s Wealth Hold and Win: A merry underwater adventure where players encounter a myriad of marine creatures on a hunt for pirate treasure.

• Lucky Sakura Hold and Win: The majesty of a bucolic Japanese setting and the might of Hold and Win combine in this 243 payline slot.

• Lucky Safari Hold and Win: Explores the enduringly popular safari theme, with 243 paylines across a 5x3 grid packed with lions, giraffes, hyenas, zebras, and more.

• Lucky & Brave Hold and Win: A lighthearted take on the Viking theme popularized by massively successful TV shows, films, video games, and slots.

• Buffalo’s Wealth Hold and Win: Depicts the vast and beautiful American landscape, with 243 paylines, jackpots, and the titular Hold and Win feature.

Key takeaways

Hold & Win slots are as diverse as they are fun, and that’s why they’re listed as some of the most popular online casino games. Built around a respin mechanic that challenges players to collect special symbols and fill the grid, it features on hundreds of top games from countless developers, and thanks to its popularity and high engagement rate, it’s a feature that appeals to both casinos and developers, as well as players.

FAQs about hold and win slots

What does hold & win mean in slots?

Hold and Win is a respin mechanic tied to big payouts, including progressive and fixed jackpots.

Are hold & win slots the same as free spins?

No, but there are similarities in the sense that the player must unlock the feature and can then spin for free. Some slots include both free spins and Hold and Win features.

Do hold & win slots have high volatility?

It varies, and ultimately depends on the specific slot game. Clover Fest Hold and Win has high volatility, for instance, while Spartans Luck Hold and Win is medium.

Should casinos offer hold and win slots in demo mode?

It’s the casino’s choice, but we think it helps. Beginners may want to trial a Hold and Win slot demo to learn the rules and mechanics before wagering real money, while experienced players may turn to free play to test a new online slot game.

What are the best hold & win slot games?

Some standout titles include Money Train 2 from Relax Gaming, Apollo Pays from Big Time Gaming, which also features the Megaways mechanic, and Gems and Cash Hold and Win from 1spin4win.

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