Hold and win meaning: a hold and win feature is a slot bonus in which prize symbols lock in place while the empty positions respin, usually starting with three respins. Every new prize symbol locks too and resets the count to three. The feature ends when the respins run out or the grid fills, and the locked values are added up and paid.
Prize symbols lock; empty spaces respin; a new symbol resets the counter, usually to three.
Play stops when respins run out or every position is filled.
Many games add fixed jackpot labels such as Mini, Minor, Major and Grand on the symbols.
Values are shown as multiples of stake, so the £5 and £2 UK limits cap what each symbol is based on.
Definition
Respin feature where prize symbols lock
Usual starting respins
3, reset on each new symbol
Also called
Hold and spin, cash respins, link-style feature
Common extras
Collectors, multipliers, fixed jackpots
Ends when
Respins reach zero or the grid is full
Hold and win meaning in three rules
Lock. When the feature starts, the prize symbols that triggered it stay where they are.
Respin. Every other position spins again, usually with three respins on the counter.
Reset. Each new prize symbol that lands also locks and puts the counter back to three.
When the counter reaches zero, or every position holds a prize, the feature stops and the values on the locked symbols are added together. That is the whole mechanic; studios then layer extras on top. For design history, studio-by-studio variations and a longer list of games, see the full hold and win guide. This entry is the quick-reference version.
Other names for hold and win
The same structure appears under many labels: hold and spin, cash respins, money respins, link-style features and studio trademarks. Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass Hold & Spinner puts it in the title; Relax Gaming’s Money Train series calls its version the Money Cart bonus; Kalamba has released Triple Nugget Trail Hold and Win; and Pragmatic Play’s Wolf Gold pairs a money respin feature with fixed jackpots. Whatever the name, look for the lock, respin and reset steps in the help screen.
The symbols you meet in a hold and win round
Typical hold and win symbol types
Symbol
What it does
Shown as
Cash or coin
Carries a prize value
A multiple of stake, such as 2× or 5×
Jackpot label
Carries a fixed jackpot
Mini, Minor, Major or Grand
Collector
Adds up the values of other symbols and takes them
A character or special coin
Multiplier
Multiplies one or all locked values
2×, 3× and so on
Unlocker
Opens extra rows or positions
Varies by game
Jackpot labels on these games are usually fixed jackpots, meaning a set multiple of your stake rather than a growing pot. In many games, filling every position awards the top fixed prize too, but that is a game-by-game rule worth checking in the paytable.
Hold and win meaning in pounds: a respin tally
An illustrative 5 × 3 feature at 50p stake, starting with six locked cash symbols worth 1×, 1×, 2×, 2×, 5× and 1× stake.
Start: six symbols locked, worth 12× stake in total. Counter: 3.
Respin 1: nothing lands. Counter: 2.
Respin 2: a 3× symbol lands and locks. Counter resets to 3. Total: 15×.
Respins 3 and 4: nothing. Counter: 1.
Respin 5: a Minor jackpot symbol lands, set at 20× stake in this example. Counter resets to 3. Total: 35×.
Respins 6, 7 and 8: nothing. The feature ends with 8 of 15 positions filled.
Payout: 35 × 50p = £17.50.
Two things stand out. Most of the value came from one late symbol, and the result depended on resets rather than on any single respin. That is typical of these features, and it is why they sit at the higher end of volatility. The average value of the feature is already included in the game’s RTP.
How hold and win differs from similar features
It is easy to confuse with neighbouring mechanics. A sticky wild also stays in place, but it substitutes for symbols rather than carrying a prize. Cascading reels remove symbols instead of locking them. A standard feature-spin bonus round gives a fixed number of spins with no reset. What defines this mechanic is the reset: each new prize buys more time.
UK rules that shape hold and win features
Every value in a hold and win round is a multiple of the triggering stake, so the stake limits cap the base. Players aged 25 and over can stake up to £5 per spin, since 9 April 2025, and players aged 18 to 24 up to £2, since 21 May 2025; the £5 slot stake limit page covers how the age bands are checked. On a 20× Minor jackpot, that means £100 at £5 or £40 at £2.
Respins cannot be skipped or sped up. Since 31 October 2021, UK slots have had no turbo, no slam-stop and no autoplay, with at least 2.5 seconds per game cycle; these sit in the Commission’s remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab). Features cannot be bought on slots supplied to British players, so a hold and win round is only reached through normal play.
Glossary terms related to hold and win
Fixed jackpot: the Mini to Grand prizes printed on many hold and win symbols.
Feature trigger: usually six or more prize symbols in the base game.
Multiplier: a symbol that multiplies locked values.
Jackpot network: when the top prize is shared across games instead of fixed.
Neither offer is built around a hold and win game. For new players aged 18+, Coral pays out 100 spins at 10p on selected slots after a deposit and £10 or more of slot bets, claimable for 48 hours and usable for 7 days, with spin winnings free of wagering; the qualifying deposit cannot be made with PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafe, a prepaid card or certain debit cards. PlayOJO’s offer for new UK customers aged 18+ outside Northern Ireland is 80 spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of £10 or more, and anything they win is paid in cash with no wagering. Terms apply. If you want to talk about your gambling, GamCare’s live chat (opens in a new tab) is free and runs alongside the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Neither offer names a hold and win game: Coral gives 100 spins at 10p on selected slots after a £10 slots bet, and PlayOJO gives 80 spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza after a £10 first deposit. 18+, terms apply; checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does hold and win mean in slots?
It is a respin feature where prize symbols lock in place and the other positions spin again, usually three times. Each new prize symbol locks as well and resets the respins to three. When the respins run out or the grid fills, the locked values are added up and paid. The hold and win guide goes into studio variations, and slot features explained compares it with other mechanics.
How many respins do you get in hold and win?
Most games start with three respins and reset to three each time a new prize symbol lands. Some games start with a different number, and some features unlock extra rows or add respins through special symbols. The counter is always shown on screen during the feature. Because every reset depends on a new symbol landing, the number of respins you actually play varies widely. Reading casino game help screens shows where each game states its rule.
What happens if you fill the whole grid?
Play stops immediately, because there are no empty positions left to respin. In many hold and win games a full grid also awards an extra prize, often the top fixed jackpot labelled Grand, on top of the values already locked. This is a game-specific rule rather than a standard one, and it can be very rare. The fixed jackpot entry explains how those labelled prizes are calculated from your stake.
Is hold and win the same as hold and spin?
Yes, in practice they describe the same mechanic: prize symbols lock, the rest respin and new symbols reset the counter. Different studios trademark different names, including hold and spin, cash respins and money respins, and Relax Gaming calls its version the Money Cart bonus. The details, such as collectors or multipliers, vary by game. The Relax Gaming studio profile covers the Money Train series.
Are the jackpots in hold and win games progressive?
Usually not. Most hold and win games show fixed jackpots, which are set multiples of your stake, such as 20× or 100×. A few games link their top prize to a jackpot network that grows across many casinos, and the game screen then shows a live amount in pounds. If the jackpot figure changes as you watch, it is progressive; if it moves only when you change stake, it is fixed.
Can you buy a hold and win feature in the UK?
No, slots supplied to British players do not offer a bonus buy, so the feature can only be triggered during normal play, usually by landing six or more prize symbols. Feature values are based on the stake of the triggering spin, which must be within the £5 limit for players aged 25 and over or £2 for those aged 18 to 24. The no bonus buy page explains how games are supplied to Great Britain.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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