Stick 'Em slot review

Stick 'Em slot in brief

Stick 'Em came out in September 2019, about a year after Hacksaw Gaming launched. It’s an early example of the studio’s style: a compact grid, a clear gimmick and features you can follow at a glance on a phone.

There are three separate ways into extra value: the sticky thumbs respin, a bonus wheel and a free spins round. The headline numbers are moderate, with a 96.1% RTP and medium volatility, which makes it a middle-of-the-road choice rather than an extreme one.

How the features work in Stick 'Em

Sticky thumbs-up respins

The thumbs-up symbol is the star of the game. When thumbs land, they can lock where they are while every other position on the grid spins again. If another thumb lands during that respin, it locks too and the respins continue. The sequence stops when a respin adds no new thumbs.

1. A paid spin lands one or more thumbs-up symbols.
2. The thumbs lock in place; the other positions respin at no extra cost.
3. Any new thumb that lands also locks, and another respin follows.
4. When a respin brings no new thumbs, the sequence ends and the grid is paid.

The bonus wheel

Three bonus symbols in one spin trigger a wheel. The wheel’s segments and prizes are shown in the game when it appears, so read them there rather than relying on summaries elsewhere.

Free spins

Three or more scatter symbols start free spins. The number of spins and any special rules for the round are set out in the paytable. Like every UK slot, there’s no option to pay your way in: feature buy-ins aren’t offered to British players.

We don’t quote how often the wheel or free spins land. Trigger rates on third-party listings aren’t confirmed by Hacksaw, and every spin is random.

Why Stick 'Em has 1,024 ways

Instead of paylines, the game pays for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any row. With four rows on each of five reels, the count is 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 1,024 ways. That’s the same arithmetic that gives a three-row game 243 ways.

More rows mean more chances for symbols to connect, which suits the sticky mechanic: each locked thumb can sit in any of the four rows and still count. It doesn’t raise the RTP, which is fixed by design.

Stick 'Em RTP and what a session costs

At 96.1% RTP, the house edge is 3.9%. Expected loss is the total you stake multiplied by that edge, the same method Wizard of Odds uses for house edge (opens in a new tab). The table assumes a 30-minute session of 300 paid spins, about one every six seconds; respins that cost nothing extra aren’t counted as stakes.

These are long-run averages. One session can end well up or well down. If you want to compare with lower-edge games, our list of high RTP slot apps is a starting point, and is RTP lower on casino apps explains why you should check the version in your app.

A £20 budget on Stick 'Em at 10p, 50p or £1

Medium volatility means a mix of small regular wins and occasional bigger ones. That’s a reasonable fit for a modest budget, but losing streaks still happen.

• 10p a spin: £20 covers 200 spins before any wins come back. That gives the respins, wheel and free spins plenty of chances to show up, and a session can last most of an hour.
• 50p a spin: 40 spins from £20. One decent respin chain can extend the session, but two or three quiet minutes can also use most of it.
• £1 a spin: 20 spins. At this stake you’re relying on an early feature, so many sessions will be short.

Whatever stake you pick, decide the amount first and treat it as the cost of the entertainment. Our guide to budgeting for casino apps has a simple way to set one.

Playing Stick 'Em on a phone

Stick 'Em loads inside your casino app on iPhone and Android, with no separate install. The 5 × 4 grid is compact, so locked thumbs are easy to spot. Which orientations the game supports depends on the version your casino loads; our page on games made for portrait mode explains the difference.

1. Sign in to your app; UK rules require age and ID checks before you can play, including demos.
2. Type “Stick 'Em” into the lobby search, including the apostrophe if results don’t appear.
3. Tap the game’s info button to confirm the RTP and stake range.
4. Set your stake and tap spin. Respin sequences play out on their own; each new paid spin needs a fresh tap.
5. Keep an eye on the net spend and time display and stop at your limit.

UK rules for the Stick 'Em slot in casino apps

Hacksaw holds a Gambling Commission licence, and every UK casino that offers its games must follow the Commission’s slot rules:

The Commission’s stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) defines a game cycle as running until all money staked is lost or winnings are paid, so free respins sit inside the spin you paid for. More detail is on our autoplay ban and slot stake limits pages.

Who makes Stick 'Em? Hacksaw Gaming

Hacksaw Gaming launched in September 2018 and is based in Malta. Its parent, Hacksaw AB, has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 25 June 2025. As well as slots it makes scratchcards and instant-win games, and its best-known slot is Wanted Dead or a Wild.

Hacksaw is licensed by the Gambling Commission under licence reference 000-054059, which is why its games can appear in UK-licensed apps.

Stick 'Em pros and cons

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Where to play Stick 'Em with a welcome offer

Because partner apps don’t list every game they carry, search for Stick 'Em in the lobby before registering. Welcome spins are for the casino’s chosen slots. 18+ and terms apply.

• PlayOJO: a first deposit of £10 or more gets new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each. Winnings are cash with no wagering; the offer is only available through the designated link and can’t be combined with others.
• Coral: bet £10 or more on slots after depositing to get 100 free spins worth 10p on selected games. Accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days. No wagering on winnings; PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafe, prepaid and some debit cards don’t count.
• Ladbrokes: spend £10 or more on slots after depositing and get 50 free spins a day for your first 10 days, to a maximum of 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 daily and use within 7 days. No wagering.

As LC International Limited runs both Coral and Ladbrokes, you may not be able to take new accounts at both. Our best slot apps page has the full comparison.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.