Respin
A respin in slots is an extra spin awarded by a feature, in which some reels or symbols stay where they are while the rest spin again, at no further cost. Respins usually come in short bursts of one to three, triggered by a wild, a stacked reel or special symbols, and they continue the same game round rather than starting a new one.
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Key takeaways
- A respin replays part of the screen while keeping something in place, such as a wild or a full reel.
- It costs nothing extra and plays at the stake of the spin that triggered it.
- Respins are short and frequent; free spins are longer and rarer.
- Hold and win bonuses are built from respins with a resetting counter.
- Category
- Slot feature
- Also written
- Re-spin, re-spin feature
- Typical length
- 1 to 3 respins
- Extra cost
- None
- Usual trigger
- A wild, a full reel or special symbols
Respin: what the word means on a slot
In ordinary play every spin is separate: you pay, the reels stop, and the next spin starts from scratch. A respin breaks that pattern. Something on the screen earns a second look, so the game holds it in place and spins the rest again. Whatever happens on the respin is added to the original spin’s result, and the game round only ends when the respins run out.
The most famous example is Starburst. When a wild lands on one of the middle three reels it expands to cover the reel, stays there, and triggers a respin. Each new wild that lands on a respin does the same, up to three respins. It is a compact feature that turns up far more often than a typical free spins feature, which is one reason the game is known for steady, low-volatility play.
The main kinds of respin feature
| Respin type | What stays in place | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Expanding wild respin | A wild that has grown to fill its reel | Starburst |
| Walking wild respin | A wild that moves one reel each respin until it leaves the grid | Jack and the Beanstalk |
| Stacked reel respin | Reels already filled with the same symbol | Fire Joker’s Respin of Fire |
| Locked symbol respin | Cash or coin symbols, with the counter resetting on new ones | Hold and win rounds such as Wolf Gold’s Money Respin |
| Mystery reveal respin | A mystery stack that nudges and reveals on each respin | Razor Shark’s Nudge & Reveal |
In Jack and the Beanstalk, wilds step one reel to the left on each respin, so a wild that lands on the far right can contribute to several spins in a row. Fire Joker gives a respin when the first two reels fill with the same symbol but no win forms, offering another chance on the remaining reel. Razor Shark moves mystery stacks down one position at a time, revealing their symbols as they go.
A respin sequence worked through
The amounts below are illustrative, on a 10-line expanding wild slot at a £1 total stake (10p a line).
- A wild lands on reel 3, expands to fill the reel and creates two winning lines worth 50p in total. A respin is triggered.
- On the respin, reel 3 stays wild. Another wild lands on reel 2 and expands. Four lines now win, paying £1.20. A second respin follows.
- On the second respin both wild reels stay. No new wild lands, but three lines win for 90p.
- The sequence ends. Total for the round: 50p + £1.20 + 90p = £2.60, from a single £1 stake.
Sequences like this are part of how a low-volatility game spreads its return across many smaller events. The respin’s value is already counted in the slot’s RTP, so it does not tilt the odds in your favour; it is simply one of the ways the game pays. Losses over time remain the likely outcome because the house edge applies to every spin.
Respin, free spin and retrigger compared
These three terms are easily muddled. A respin replays part of the screen once or a few times within the same game round. A free spins round is a separate bonus mode of several spins, often with its own modifier. A retrigger adds more spins to a free spins round that is already running.
- Respin: short, frequent, keeps something on screen.
- Free spins: longer, rarer, often changes the rules.
- Retrigger: extends free spins already in play.
A respin is never something you pay to enter. Paid shortcuts into a feature, known as bonus buys, are not offered to players in Great Britain, so every respin you see on a UK slot has been earned on the reels.
Where respins appear
Respin features are listed in the help screen with their trigger and any limit, such as ‘up to three respins’. They are especially common in classic-looking games with few reels, in expanding wild slots, and in the respin rounds at the heart of hold and win bonuses. UK design rules set a 2.5-second minimum for each paid spin and require the balance and net position to remain visible, features included.
Related terms
The expanding wild and walking wild are the two symbols most often linked to respins. The nudge is a close relative from fruit machines that moves a reel rather than spinning it again.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a respin in slots?
A respin is an extra spin given by a feature, in which some reels or symbols are held in place while the others spin again, without taking another stake. It usually follows a specific event, such as a wild expanding to fill a reel, and the respin’s result is added to the original spin. Respins tend to come in short bursts of one to three. Our slot features guide explains how respins sit alongside wilds, scatters and free spins.
Do respins cost money?
No. A feature-awarded respin is charged nothing and simply reuses the original bet. It is part of the same game round, so it does not take a new stake from your balance, and your balance display will show only the original bet for that round. Any wins from the respin are added to the round’s total before the game moves on. Our total bet entry explains what your stake covers.
How many respins do you get?
It depends on the feature. Expanding wild respins, as in Starburst, usually allow up to three. Walking wild respins carry on until the wild walks off the grid. Hold and win rounds start with three respins and reset whenever a new symbol lands, so they can last much longer. Stacked reel respins often give just one. The help screen states the number and any reset rule. Our hold and win entry explains the resetting counter in detail.
What is the difference between a respin and a free spin?
A respin replays part of the screen within the same game round, keeping something such as a wild or a stacked reel in place. Free spins are a separate bonus round of several spins, usually triggered by scatters and often with special rules like multipliers. Respins are short and frequent; free spins are longer and rarer. Both are already included in the slot’s RTP. Read our free spins feature entry for how that bonus round works.
Are respin features good?
They are neither good nor bad in themselves; they change how a slot spreads its return. Games with frequent respins, such as Starburst, tend to pay smaller amounts more often, which suits players who prefer a steadier session. A respin feature does not raise a slot’s RTP. If you like frequent action, look for low or medium volatility games where respins are a main feature. Our low volatility slots page explains what to expect from that style of game.
Can a respin trigger free spins?
On some games, yes. If scatter symbols can land on the reels that respin, and the total on screen reaches the trigger number, the free spins round can follow once the respins finish. On other games the respinning reels cannot carry scatters, or the rules prevent it. The help screen will say which applies. Every outcome is decided by the random number generator, so a respin is never a sign that a bonus is coming. Our page on how slot features trigger covers the odds.