All online casino games are governed by randomness; whether that’s how the reels end up when spinning a slot machine, to the end position of the roulette wheel and even the cards that are dealt at the blackjack table.
Some slot game developers have leant even further into the art of randomness by creating slots that feature random wilds; a type of symbol that, as the name suggests, appears at completely unpredictable moments on the reels.
Many online casinos offer slots with random wilds built into them. On most gambling platforms you’ll also find bonuses and promotions that can be used in games with this mechanic. If you haven’t tried these kinds of slots yet, it’s a good chance to explore something new while stretching your bankroll with the incentives.
So, if this is a feature that sounds interesting to you, here’s a deep dive into random wilds and what they bring to the slot gaming party.
What are Random Wilds?
A wild symbol, as you may know, has a very specific role to play in an online slot.
It can act as a substitute for all other base game symbols (except scatter and bonus symbols), forming part of winning combinations on a specific payline or in a pattern, if playing an ‘any way pays’ type slot.
Once you know what a wild symbol is, you can probably get the idea of how a random wild might work, too. These appear at random during any spin, acting almost like a ‘joker’ that can enhance the winning potential of any turn of the reels.
In some slots, random wilds can appear in the main game; in others, they are reserved exclusively for the bonus round or a free spins feature.
The Pros and Cons of Random Wilds
Ask any slot gamer what their three favourite symbols are, and they’ll often reply ‘bonus, scatter and wild’, in that specific order.
A wild can turn a basic spin of the reels, where only base game symbols are revealed, into something glorious – interjecting itself into matching combos and turning a losing spin into a winning one.
The wild may not hold the key to a slot’s biggest and best prizes, but in the pursuit of frequent wins that help to protect a player’s bankroll, their importance cannot be overlooked.
So, the pros of random wilds speak for themselves; an otherwise losing spin can be transformed into a handy payout when the wild is in play. They also make the game less predictable, which helps it feel more varied from spin to spin.
As for the cons of random wilds, there really aren’t many to write about. The only possible factor to consider is that feature-packed slots, with unique symbols, bonuses and modifiers, can typically have a low RTP, high volatility or both.
However, you can consult the information for any slot before you play it to see how that particular game might pay out based upon its specifications.
The Random Wild Slots
Slot gamers are typically huge fans of random wilds, hence why so many developers have been keen to include them in their titles.
Random wilds have been integrated into one of the most popular slot franchises in history. Starburst Galaxy, an offshoot of the original Starburst game from NetEnt, boasts five different special features – in this case, random wilds can appear in the base game, with any number from three to nine symbols replaced by wilds to increase the possibility of landing a matching combination.
Pragmatic Play’s 3 Buzzing Wilds is another good example of how random wilds can shape a game in different ways. Here, the special hive symbol unlocks free spins, and players are given a choice of three wild features – one of which is random wilds. In that mode, wild symbols drop into unpredictable positions across the reels, staying fixed for the duration of the bonus and giving every spin a different feel.
Random wilds have also been combined with other mechanics to create truly one-of-a-kind gaming. Take The Dog House Megaways from Pragmatic Play, for example, where there’s more than 117,000 different ways to win with each spin – land a random wild or two on your reels here and there’s fantastic potential for winning combos to be hit. However, these random wilds appear only in the Raining Wilds bonus round.
Random wilds can also be used in more creative ways when combined with other mechanics. NetEnt’s Wild Worlds is a good example: during the free spins, players are transported into different “worlds”, each offering its own wild feature. In the Fire Lands world, random wilds appear across the reels, while other worlds introduce spreading or stacked wilds instead. It’s a neat twist that shows how random wilds can form part of a wider set of features rather than standing alone.
