A respin spins some reels again without a new bet. That simple idea hides very different features: a Wild that holds its reel, a board of coins that resets a counter, Scatters that drop into place, or a paid repeat of the last spin. The games we review use five kinds, and they behave differently enough that it is worth knowing which one you are looking at.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Five kinds of respin
| Type | Triggered by | Example | Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild respin | A Wild that expands or moves | Miss Cherry Fruits, Better Wilds, Victoria Wild, Tropical Wilds | Yes |
| Hold-and-win | 6+ bonus symbols | Miss Cherry Fruits Jackpot Party, Vikings Wild Feast, Born Wild | Yes |
| Scatter respin | Scatters that can still drop into place | Lobster House | Yes |
| Paid repeat spin | The game’s offer after a spin | Gator Hunters, Gator Hunters 2 (xTra Spin) | No |
| Last-chance spin | Balance below the bet | Mighty Hot Wilds (Spin Chance) | Uses what is left |
Wild respins
- Expanding Wild, held in place. In Miss Cherry Fruits a Wild expands over its reel and gives one respin with that reel held; each new Wild adds another respin, up to three in a row.
- Walking Wild. In Better Wilds a diamond Special Wild on reels 3–5 triggers a respin, moves one reel left on every respin and grows by a row from the second one. The sequence lasts while a diamond is on screen.
- Locked Wilds. In Victoria Wild a Tornado that meets a Sandstorm Wild starts Tornado Respins: the Wilds lock and the rest of the reels spin again until no new Wild lands.
- Moving Wilds. In Tropical Wilds a Tornado Wild moves across the reels with a respin each time, for as long as one is on screen.
All four keep the base game moving with short bursts rather than long bonus rounds. How these Wilds compare with sticky and multiplier Wilds is in our Wild symbols guide.
Hold-and-win
The Jackpot Party edition of Miss Cherry Fruits uses the classic hold-and-win format:
- Six or more Disco Balls start a round on a board with only Disco Balls and Coins.
- The round begins with 3 respins; every Coin that drops adds 3 more.
- Filling one, two or three rows wins the Mini, Major or Mega jackpot.
The round ends when the respins run out without new Coins, so it can be very short or run for a long time.
Vikings Wild Feast uses the same format without jackpots: six coins start 3 respins that reset with every new coin, and Magic Cauldrons and clovers multiply the coin values before they are paid. Four Scatter tiers start stronger versions of the round. Born Wild‘s Lion’s Roar is stricter: each new lion resets the counter to a single respin, and a full screen of lions pays the top prize.
Kong Wonder Wilds applies the format to Wilds: six or more start a round on three lives, and special Wilds add spins and line multipliers.
Respins with a guaranteed win
In Wild Wild Chest, a Lucky Chest can award a Lucky Respin: one more spin that is guaranteed to win. It is the rare respin that removes the risk instead of adding a chance.
Scatter respins
In Lobster House, when Scatters are on screen and can drop one position without leaving the grid, their reels move down by one and the other reels spin again. It is a second chance at the third Scatter needed for free spins — not a feature you can count on, but it explains why near-misses there sometimes turn into a bonus.
Paid repeat spins: the xTra Spin
Nolimit City’s xTra Spin offers to repeat a spin for a price while keeping what has built up:
- in Gator Hunters it keeps the total multiplier and any Revolvers that still hold bullets;
- the price depends on what is kept, and the offer appears only when it costs no more than the previous spin won;
- in Gator Hunters 2 it is offered only after a scatter win in the main game.
An xTra Spin is a new bet, not a free respin. Its price is capped by the last win, so accepting it can hand back everything that spin just paid.
Last-chance spins
Mighty Hot Wilds has Spin Chance: when your balance falls below the current bet, the game can offer one more spin for whatever is left. If it does not win, the remainder is gone. It is not a respin in the strict sense, but it is the same idea — one extra spin outside the normal rules.