When playing video slots online, you would have encountered Scatter and Wild symbols at some point – even if you didn’t quite realise what they were. They are special slot machine symbols that help enhance gameplay and potentially generate expansive wins when found on the reels.
In classic 3-reel slots which replicate land-based fruit machines, special symbols were scarcely used. However, as modern day video slots became a prominent fixture in online casino lobbies, their inclusion has become an almost expected inclusion ever since.
Wild Symbol
The Wild has become an almost constant feature included in modern day video slots. It will be distinguishable from other game symbols, often represented by the world WILD itself, or by taking the form of a character related to the game’s theme. For example, in Big Bass Bonanza, the Wild is depicted by a friendly fisherman who’s just caught himself a nice catch.
The Wild will substitute for regular game symbols when found across a payline. In other words, it will step in to complete a winning combination where applicable. You could compare it with the Joker in a deck of playing cards, used to replace other card values where necessary.
Here is an example of how a Wild can help you win in a casino slot. In the game Wolf Hunters – should you have landed two green potion symbols across the central payline and the third symbol on the same row is the Wild – this will complete a winning spin automatically.
In addition, the Wild itself is often used as a game symbol in its own right – usually as high paying ones at that – meaning landing three or more across a payline will result in an impressive return. However, one important aspect of note is that the Wild will very rarely substitute for the other special casino symbols such as the Scatter or Cash Collect icons.
Types of Wild
As slot production became more inventive, the Wild was sometimes assigned additional roles to enhance gameplay within different games. These Wild modifiers include ‘Expanding Wilds’ which multiply to cover an entire reel as found in Book of Dead. ‘Stacked Wilds’ are similar, but will be depicted by an enlarged Wild symbol that can grow to cover the whole reel. Both make it highly likely that a winning spin is coming your way when activated.
There’s also ‘Sticky Wilds’ which are used in conjunction with respins – often activated during the bonus round. Using its normal function as a substitute symbol, the Wild will stay in place as consecutive spins are undertaken. In other slots, such as Dog House Megaways, the Wild symbols come equipped with multipliers which boost your winnings when forming a winning combination.
Scatter Symbol
The most coveted of all slot machine symbols is known as the Scatter. It is the key to unlocking the exciting bonus game, usually in the form of additional free spins. They are sometimes depicted clearly with the word SCATTER or BONUS, but can also be displayed as a distinctive icon just like the giant lollipop found in Sweet Bonanza.
In the majority of online video slots, you will need to reveal three or more Scatter symbols on the grid to activate the bonus round. Although in some cases they must land on specific positions to become active, they’ll usually burst into life when appearing anywhere in view.
Should the Scatter symbols land across a payline, the majority of slot games will also pay this out directly in instant cash winnings. And because of its high value, sometimes just one or two of these special casino symbols will be needed for a payout instead of the usual three.
The vast majority of contemporary video slots will incorporate a Scatter symbol in some shape or form. However, quite surprisingly, perhaps the most popular slot game Starburst doesn’t include a Scatter bonus round at all. It makes up for this with regular base game wins, as well as its famous Win Both Ways and Expanding Wilds features.
Types of Scatter Bonuses
The most common type of bonus feature triggered by finding Scatter symbols is that of additional free spins, usually played out on an exciting new grid with a higher win potential. This is where the game’s top payout multiplier can typically be won.
The number of free spins awarded can be a fixed amount or will relate to the number of Scatters in view. On the slot Book of Oz for example, landing three, four or five Scatter book icons will credit either 10, 12 or 25 free spins respectively.
Another common element is the chance to retrigger free spins from within the bonus feature itself. Land another set of Scatters and the spins (and hopefully big wins) will keep coming for a bit longer. Multipliers may also be attached during the free spins feature as is the case with Lucky Leprechaun where boosted wins of up to 5x are on the cards.
Find Scatters and Wilds in Online Slots
Wilds and Scatters are the most coveted casino symbols found in slots. They have become an expected part of modern day games, helping to create winning combinations or trigger the game’s bonus round. Here, an innovative feature can really bring the reels to life and payout incredible prizes at the same time.
If you’re unsure which symbols relate to which behaviour, take a look in the game info section before taking a spin of the reels. In some games, namely Book of Atem Wowpot, the Scatter and Wild are represented by the same symbol which is sure to generate some impressive wins when found on the grid.