Slot features explained
Features are where slots differ, and where high volatility games pay.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Wilds substitute; scatters trigger.
- Free spins usually add an enhancement.
- Tumbles chain wins.
- No bonus buy or autoplay in Britain.
At a glance
| Feature | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wild | Substitutes for symbols | Starburst: expands |
| Scatter | Triggers from any position | Book of Dead: also wild |
| Free spins | Extra spins with an enhancement | Big Bass Bonanza |
| Expanding symbol | Grows to cover reels | Book of Dead |
| Tumble | Winners vanish; new symbols fall | Sweet Bonanza |
| Multiplier | Multiplies a win | Gates of Olympus |
| Collect | Gathers cash values | Fishin' Frenzy |
| Pick bonus | Choose for a prize | Fluffy Favourites |
Features and RTP
Features are part of a slot's return, not extra to it. A spectacular bonus round is paid for by a leaner base game; that trade is what volatility measures.
Not in Britain
- Bonus buy.
- Autoplay.
- Turbo spin.
- Slam stop.
More: free spins explained and the glossary.
More guides: UK slot rules and stake limits, Slot and spins glossary and How online slots work.
Wilds in more detail
A plain wild fills in for other symbols. Expanding wilds grow to cover a reel, as in Starburst. Some wilds carry multipliers or collect values, as the fisherman does in the two fishing slots.
Scatters and triggers
Scatters ignore paylines. Three is the usual trigger on five-reel slots and four on the six-reel pays-anywhere games. More scatters can mean more spins: Big Bass Bonanza gives 10, 15 or 20.
Multipliers
Some apply to a single win, some add together across a tumble, and some build across a whole feature. Gates of Olympus does all three: orbs on any spin, added at the end of a tumble, and cumulative during free spins.
Tumbles
After a win the winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, which can create another win from the same stake. A tumble sequence is one spin, however long it runs.
Expanding symbols
In Book of Dead one symbol is picked for the free spins. When enough land they stretch over their reels and pay on every line, even when the reels are not adjacent.
Pick and collect
Pick bonuses reveal a prize from hidden options: Fluffy Favourites' claw gives a multiplier per pick. Collect features gather cash values shown on symbols.
Reading a paytable
Every slot's information screen lists the symbols, what each pays, how features trigger and the RTP. Two minutes there explains more than any review.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; your casino may run a lower RTP. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wild?
A substitute symbol.
What is a scatter?
A symbol that triggers from any position.
Can I buy features?
Not in the UK.
Do features change the odds?
They are part of the RTP.