Retrigger meaning in slots

Retrigger meaning and how it differs from a trigger

A feature trigger takes you from the base game into a bonus. A retrigger happens once you're already in it: the game's rules allow the same or a similar event to add more of the feature. The classic case is free spins: land three scatters during the round and another batch of spins is added to the counter.

Retriggers can take other shapes too. Some games add a fixed number of spins for each extra scatter; some upgrade the round (a higher multiplier, more sticky wilds); in hold and win rounds, every new coin symbol resets the respin counter, which works the same way. Because the feature's outcome sits inside one paid spin, a retrigger never takes a fresh stake from your balance.

Common retrigger rules you will see

Big Bass Bonanza, the game PlayOJO's welcome spins are played on, uses a collection approach: fisherman wilds collected in free spins can add extra spins and raise the multiplier. Our guides to slot features and multipliers cover these mechanics in detail.

Worked example: how much a retrigger adds on average

Say a feature awards 10 free spins, and each batch of 10 has a 20% chance of retriggering another 10, which can itself retrigger. The average total is 10 ÷ (1 − 0.2) = 12.5 spins. Most features (80%) end at 10 spins; about 16% reach 20; about 3% reach 30; a small fraction go further. The average sits well above what most players actually see.

In pounds at a 20p stake, if each free spin returns 40p on average, the typical 10-spin feature is worth about £4, and the average feature, retriggers included, about £5. Those figures are illustrative: real games publish rules, not retrigger rates. The point is that retriggers are already built into the game's RTP; they are part of how the advertised return is reached, not extra value on top. Our entry on expected value shows the method.

Retrigger caps and max win limits

Many games cap retriggers, for example 'free spins can be retriggered up to a maximum of 50 spins' or 'once per feature'. Others allow unlimited retriggers in principle but end the feature once a max win, expressed as a multiple of stake, is reached. Our slot data lists Big Bass Bonanza's maximum win as 2,100x stake, so at 10p a spin a round could not pay more than £210 however many retriggers landed. The max win guide explains how caps work.

Offer terms can add a separate cap on free spin winnings. Check both the game rules and the offer terms; our free spins with no max win page explains the difference.

Retriggers and UK rules

Under the stake limits, a game cycle runs from the start of a game until all stakes are lost or all winnings delivered, according to the Commission's stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab). A retriggered feature is part of the cycle begun by the spin that started it, so it plays at your original stake, which can't exceed £5 (25+) or £2 (18 to 24).

The Remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab) also govern how games present results. Since 31 October 2021, a slot shouldn't celebrate a return equal to or less than your stake, so a long, retriggered feature that pays back less than you staked to trigger it shouldn't be dressed up with win fanfare. Our game design rules page lists every related rule.

Why retriggers matter (and why to keep perspective)

Retriggers shape how a slot feels. Games where big results depend on chains of retriggers are usually high in volatility: most features end small and a few run very long. That means typical sessions differ sharply from the average, and a memorable long feature can make a game feel more generous than its RTP. Judge a game by its published RTP and volatility rather than by a single feature, and use limits to keep sessions within budget.

Related terms

See feature trigger, bonus round, scatter, hold and win and bonus spins. Every other term is in our casino glossary.

Where to play: spins offers where retriggers play at 10p

With both partner offers, any feature or retrigger landed during offer spins plays at the offer's 10p value, and its winnings follow the offer terms. PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers outside Northern Ireland): 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each with a first deposit of £10 or more; no wagering, winnings paid as cash, designated offer link only.

Coral (18+, new players, offer period 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027): deposit and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, accepted within 48 hours and valid for 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Deposits via PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Checked 5 October 2026; terms apply. Our Coral free spins page has more detail.

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.