Sticky Wild
A wild symbol that stays locked in its position for one or more following spins instead of disappearing after a single spin.
Definition
A sticky wild behaves like a normal wild, substituting for other symbols to help form wins, but once it lands it remains fixed on the grid for a set number of subsequent spins or for the duration of a feature. This raises the chance of repeated wins from that position while the wild is held. Sticky wilds appear most often in free-spin rounds, where several may accumulate and overlap. They can increase a session's swing in both directions, but they do not change the game's built-in long-run edge for the operator.
Worked example
During free spins you land a wild on the middle reel and it becomes sticky. Over the next several free spins it stays put, so every spin has a better chance of completing a line through that reel. When the feature ends, the sticky wilds clear.
Why it matters
For a learner, sticky wilds explain why free-spin rounds can feel more generous than the base game. For a professional, the number of spins a wild sticks for is a precise tuning point that trades base-game return against feature excitement.