Sticky Bandits slot

Sticky Bandits slot explained

Quickspin is a Stockholm studio, owned by Playtech since May 2016, with a catalogue of about 150 video slots, including Big Bad Wolf and Sakura Fortune. It holds Gambling Commission account 38516. Sticky Bandits arrived in 2017 and puts its wild-west theme on a taller-than-usual 5x5 grid.

It's a game with one clear idea. Big wilds land in the base game, and in free spins they stick. If you want to compare it with other titles, our slot reviews hub has the full list.

A 5x5 grid with 30 fixed lines

Most classic slots show 15 symbols. Sticky Bandits shows 25, five on each reel. The 30 paylines are fixed, so every line is active on every spin and your stake covers all of them; you can't reduce the number of lines to cut the cost.

The taller grid matters for the wilds. A two-reel-wide Massive Wild on a five-row grid covers a big block of the screen, which is how one symbol can touch many lines at once. The paytable inside the game shows the line patterns and symbol values at your stake.

How the features work

Massive Wilds on reels 2 and 4

Massive Wilds are two reels wide and land only on reels 2 and 4. Like any wild, they substitute for regular symbols to help complete wins. Because each one spans two reels, it can join symbols on both sides into a line.

Triggering the 7 free spins

Free spins need two things on the same spin: a Bonus symbol on reel 1 and a Massive Wild. Land both together and you get 7 free spins.

Sticky wilds during the feature

When the free spins start, any wilds already in view stay where they are. Any further wilds that land during the round are also held, and they all remain until the 7 spins end. So the board can only gain wilds as the round goes on, never lose them.

1. A Bonus symbol lands on reel 1 alongside a Massive Wild.
2. The 7 free spins begin, and the wilds on screen are held.
3. Each free spin can add more wilds, which are also held.
4. Wins are paid on every spin with all held wilds in place.
5. After the seventh spin the round ends and the held wilds clear.

The exact rules, including how wins are counted with held wilds, are on the game's help screen. Read them in the app before staking.

Sticky Bandits RTP and volatility

The default RTP is 96.58%, meaning £96.58 of every £100 staked is paid back over a very long run and £3.42 is kept. "Default" signals that other settings may be available to casinos. The game's information screen in your casino app shows the one you're on.

Medium-high volatility sits between steady and swingy. The base game tends to give a steadier flow of smaller wins than high-volatility games, but a good share of the return depends on the free spins, where held wilds can build up. That's still random; a round with few wilds is just as possible as one with many.

Sticky Bandits on a £20 budget: the numbers

Expected loss = stake × 3.42% × number of spins. These are averages; real sessions spread widely around them.

With 200 spins at 10p there are far more chances for the Bonus and a Massive Wild to coincide than with 20 spins at £1. Lower stakes don't change the edge, but they make the budget last long enough to see what the game does. Our low stakes games page has more on playing small.

Sticky Bandits on iPhone and Android

There's no standalone Sticky Bandits app. You'll find it, where available, in a casino's app or mobile site. A 5x5 grid needs more vertical space than a 5x3 game; how the casino's version handles portrait or landscape isn't in the specification, so turn the phone and see which suits you.

Before playing, confirm the developer shows as Quickspin and check the RTP on the info screen. Setup help for each platform is in our iPhone guide and Android install guide. Slots use little data compared with live games, as our data usage guide explains.

UK rules on Sticky Bandits in casino apps

The stake limits for online slots allow up to £5 a spin if you're 25 or over and £2 if you're 18 to 24, in force since 9 April and 21 May 2025. The Commission's online slots stake guidance (opens in a new tab) covers how casinos apply age-based limits.

These come from the Commission's RTS 14 responsible design standard (opens in a new tab). If you want to stop gambling across all UK-licensed sites and apps at once, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) lets you self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.

Sticky Bandits vs other western slots

Dead or Alive is the long-standing NetEnt western from 2009, with a slightly higher top RTP but higher volatility. Wanted Dead or a Wild shares the 5x5 shape. Deadwood is for players who accept extreme swings.

Where to play Sticky Bandits with a welcome offer

Partner lobbies change and we can't confirm Sticky Bandits is in one today, so search for it after you've signed in. None of the offers below is a Sticky Bandits offer; each gives spins on its own eligible slots. 18+, terms apply.

PlayOJO: at PlayOJO, a first deposit of £10 or more gets new UK customers outside Northern Ireland 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each. Winnings are paid in cash with no wagering, via the designated offer link only.

Coral: at Coral Casino, new players who deposit and bet at least £10 on slots receive 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each, during the offer period of 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. They must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Deposits made with PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafe, prepaid cards or certain debit cards are not eligible.

Ladbrokes: at Ladbrokes Casino, new customers who spend £10 on slots get 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, a maximum of 500, at 10p each on selected games, with no wagering. Claim by 23:59 each day and use within 7 days. One operator runs both Coral and Ladbrokes, so you may not be able to take new accounts at both.

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.