Hold and Win is a respin feature: when enough coin, cash or bonus symbols land, they lock in place and you get three respins to add more. It is one of the most popular slot mechanics today, and in July 2026 one of its best-known land-based families, Aristocrat's Lightning Link, arrived online in Canada.
How the feature works
The round triggers when a set number of qualifying symbols lands; the exact number depends on the game. Those symbols lock in their positions and the round starts with three respins.
Each new qualifying symbol that lands locks in too and resets the counter to three. The round ends in one of two ways: a full set of respins produces nothing new, or the grid fills up completely. Your prize is the total of the values on the locked symbols, plus any jackpot they carry.
Names and jackpot tiers
The same core mechanic appears under several names, including Hold and Spin, Hold and Link and Stick N Win. Games may differ in visuals and extra rules, but the lock-and-respin idea is the same.
Most of these games use a ladder of jackpot tiers, commonly called Mini, Minor, Major and Grand. Some tiers are fixed amounts and some are progressive, depending on the game, so read the paytable to see which is which before you play.
Lightning Link goes online
Aristocrat's Lightning Link, known for its Hold and Spin feature, premiered in land-based casinos more than a decade ago and is one of the most successful land-based slot families. On July 23, 2026, it launched online across regulated US states and Canadian provinces.
The online versions include shared progressive jackpots, among them a Grand Jackpot. A shared progressive grows from play across many players, which is why it can reach sizes a single game could not.
As with any slot, the result of each respin is random. Knowing how the feature works helps you follow the game, but it does not change the odds.
Gambling is for adults (19+ in most provinces, 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec) and costs money; free, confidential help is available from ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 or your provincial helpline.
