Hold and win is a bonus round in which cash or coin symbols lock in place and the rest of the grid respins, with the respin counter resetting each time a new coin lands. The round ends when the counter runs out, and you are paid the total of the coin values on screen, plus any jackpots won.
What hold and win is
The feature goes by several names, including hold and spin, link and win, and cash respins. It started on land-based machines and is now common online. During the round only coin symbols matter. Each coin shows a value, usually as a multiple of the stake, or a jackpot label such as Mini, Minor, Major or Grand.
How it works, step by step
- In the base game, you land a set number of coin symbols in one spin.
- The round begins. The trigger coins lock in place and all other positions clear.
- You get a set number of respins, commonly three.
- Only the empty positions respin. If a new coin lands, it locks and the counter resets to the full number.
- If a respin lands nothing, the counter goes down by one.
- The round ends when the counter reaches zero or every position is filled.
- All coin values are added up and paid. Jackpot coins pay their jackpot. Filling the grid often awards the top fixed jackpot.
Common variations
- Collector coins: a special coin collects the values of others, see money collect.
- Multiplier coins: a coin that multiplies other values on its row or the whole grid.
- Grid unlocks: filling rows opens extra rows, a form of grid expansion.
- Upgrades: coins that increase other coins' values, see symbol upgrades.
- Progressive jackpots: some versions link the top prize to a progressive jackpot.
- Mystery coins: values revealed only at the end, see mystery symbols.
What it does to the maths and the feel
Hold and win rounds vary enormously. Many end with just the trigger coins and one or two more, paying a modest sum. A small number go on for a long time and pay a large multiple of the stake. The reset rule builds tension, but each respin has the same chances whatever happened on the last one.
Because the coin values and jackpots carry much of the game's return, the base game tends to pay back less than the headline RTP between triggers. The spread of outcomes is usually wide, so many hold and win games sit at medium to high volatility.
Rules in Great Britain
Hold and win games are available on GB-licensed sites, under the usual stake limits and game design rules. The respins are part of the feature and cost nothing extra. Any option that adds an extra stake inside the feature counts towards the stake limit for that game cycle.
Questions people ask
Is hold and win the same as hold and spin or link and win?
They are names for the same broad mechanic, used by different studios. The details, such as the number of respins and the jackpots, vary between games.
How do I trigger hold and win?
Usually by landing a set number of coin or cash symbols in one spin, often six, though it varies. The paytable gives the exact figure.
Do I get a jackpot for filling the screen?
In many hold and win games, filling every position awards the top fixed jackpot. It is rare, and the chance of it is part of the game's RTP.