Hold and Win’ Casino Games: From Basics to Pro Strategies

The ‘Hold and Win’ mechanic has become an increasingly popular feature in online sweepstakes slots over the past few years. As the name implies, Hold and Win centers around holding or freezing special symbols on the reels to trigger extended gameplay and bonus jackpots.

The origins of this mechanic trace back to physical slot machines in land-based casinos during the 1990s. Popular games like Reel ‘Em In and Wheel of Fortune introduced the concept of holding or locking reels and symbols to give players more control over outcomes. As online slots started gaining traction in the early 2000s, developers incorporated and expanded on the Hold feature for digital play.

One of the first widely known online Hold and Win slots was Money Train, released in 2019 by provider Relax Gaming. This game allowed players to freeze ‘Money Cart’ symbols during free spins for a chance to win escalating Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini jackpots. Following the huge success of Money Train, many other providers like Pragmatic Play, Booongo, Wazdan, and GameArt jumped on the Hold and Win bandwagon.

So how exactly does the Hold and Win game mechanic work?

The basic premise involves landing a specific number of bonus symbols (often denoted by their own unique icon) to trigger a round of respins. The triggering bonus symbols then stay fixed, or “held”, in place while the remaining reels respin. If additional bonus symbols land on the respins, they will also become held in place while resetting the number of remaining respins.

This allows players to progressively fill the reels with more and more bonus symbols over multiple respins. Filling a certain number of spots (such as an entire row or the full grid of positions) leads to escalating jackpot prizes.

The appeal of Hold and Win slots lies in the extended gameplay and anticipation generated through the accumulating respins. Compared to regular slot spins, players get more engagement with the game across the succession of respins while aiming to build up the reels for the biggest rewards possible. The holding element also adds skill and decision-making that is absent from purely luck-driven slots.

Comparing Hold and Win Mechanics

While unique in its own way, Hold and Win shares some similarities and differences compared to other popular slot game mechanics like Cascading Wins and Megaways:

Hold and Win	Cascading Wins	Megaways
Bonus symbols are held in place during a round of respins to progressively fill positions.	Symbols explode and disappear when they form winning combinations, causing new symbols to cascade down and fill the empty spaces. This can create chain reactions of multiple consecutive wins.	Games have an adjustable number of symbol positions on each reel, leading to thousands of possible winning combinations per spin.
Creates anticipation through the controlled build-up of symbols over successive respins.	Provides fast-paced, action-packed excitement through frequent payouts.	Provides huge win potential through the sheer number of combinations available.
Adds skill by letting players choose when to start locking symbols for the highest wins.	No player input beyond selecting bet size. As such, outcomes are entirely random.	No player input aside from setting bet amount. Outcomes are random.

Mobile vs. Desktop Play

Modern Hold and Win slots can be played on online sweepstakes gaming sites across both desktop computers and mobile devices. However, the latter offers some advantages that make it the preferred option for most players:

• Convenience: You can play on the go anywhere without being restricted to a computer. This is great for filling spare moments.
• Better access: Gaming apps provide quick access without needing to log into an account each time.
• Touch controls: These include optimized and intuitive tapping/swiping gestures and features.
• Horizontal mode: The wider view of the reels is better suited to mobile screens.
• Multi-tasking: You can easily jump between games and other phone apps.

On desktop, larger displays allow seeing games in more fine detail – probably the only major advantage desktops have over mobile. Tactile interactions like tapping held symbols and swiping through menus come very natural on mobile touchscreens. Also, both portrait and landscape orientation work well. This versatility cements mobile as the top platform for Hold and Win gameplay.

Top 10 “Hold and Win” Games

Hold and Win slot themes cover a hugely diverse range, from mythical worlds filled with magic to modern pop culture icons. Below are some of the most popular Hold and Win titles found across top online sweepstakes gaming sites:

Expert Hold and Win Strategies

A key advantage Hold and Win has over traditional slots is that you can apply some tactics and strategies to optimize your wins beyond simply relying on chance. In this section, we share a few of those tips to help boost your chances of winning big prizes playing these games:

Patience is key

The whole idea behind hold and win mechanic is to build up bonus symbols slowly. Don’t rush to lock all of them right away and instead wait for more to organically land.

Analyze paytable

Carefully study the paytable so you know exactly how many symbols you need for each level of jackpots.

High volatility = bigger wins

Highly volatile Hold and Win slots have less frequent but larger payouts. On the other hand, lower volatility leads to smaller but more consistent wins.

Bet max when close to jackpot

Increase your bet once you’ve built up symbols close to a big prize in order to maximize the payout value.

Review autoplay settings

Many games let you customize autoplay conditions. If provided, set limits to avoid missing big wins from unattended auto spins.

Use free spins strategically

Try to build up bonus symbols during any free spins when you have nothing at stake.

Quit while you’re ahead

After hitting a big win, strongly consider calling it quits and banking the earnings.

Avoid chasing losses

Have a predetermined limit on how much you’re willing to spend. Never desperately try to recoup losses.

Capitalize on bonuses

Reload bonuses, free spins and any other offers provide extra opportunities to play Hold and Win games using the house’s money.

Select games with higher RTP

Return-to-player percentage indicates how much is paid back over time. This is why slots with higher RTPs are recommended as they give you better odds.

Safety and Fair Play

When playing Hold and Win slots (or any other game) at a sweepstakes casino, safety and fairness should be top priorities. Here are some key features and pointers to consider:

• RNG testing

All reputable game providers have their RNG software certified fair and random by regulators like eCOGRA and iTech Labs.

• RNG transparency

Major game providers and casinos openly share technical details on the sophisticated RNG systems used to ensure random outcomes.

• SSL encryption

Ensure that the casino you’re joining has a 128-bit or higher SSL encryption to secure your sensitive data including banking information.

• Trusted sites

Only use regulated, licensed gaming/sweepstakes sites known for integrity like Chumba, Pulsz and Sweeptastic casinos.

• Responsible gaming

Set deposit limits, take breaks, and keep gambling recreational. Never chase losses and always understand that over time, the house has an edge.

Conclusion

In just a few short years, Hold and Win has carved out a major niche within the competitive online slots vertical. For players, this mechanic opens up new dimensions beyond just passive spinning.

The dynamic pays and interactive holding features allow you to actively influence payouts using skill and strategy. Combine this with the innovative themes spanning every genre, and Hold and Win provides a slot gaming experience like no other.

Pick from the Hold and Win games we shared in this guide and put your skills to the test for a chance at striking gold! Good luck!