Stick 'Em slot review

Stick 'Em slot: the essentials

Hacksaw Gaming launched in September 2018, and Stick 'Em arrived a year later, in September 2019. Long before the studio became known for high-volatility hits such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, this was a more moderate game: medium volatility, a 96.1% return and a straightforward ways-to-win grid.

You can find the rest of the studio’s games through our slots hub, which links every slot review on the site.

How the features work in Stick 'Em

Stick 'Em has three separate features, each with its own symbol.

Sticky thumbs-up respins

When thumbs-up symbols land, they lock in their positions and every other position on the grid respins. If more thumbs-up symbols appear on that respin, they lock too and the respins keep going. The sequence ends when a respin brings no new thumbs-up. Locking-and-respinning in this way is closely related to the mechanic in our guides to respins and hold and win slots, although what the locked symbols pay is set out in Stick 'Em’s own paytable.

Bonus wheel

Three bonus symbols trigger a bonus wheel, a separate mini-game where the wheel is spun to decide an award. The segments and possible prizes on the wheel are shown in the game’s rules. Our page on slot bonus rounds explains how wheel-style bonuses fit into slot maths.

Free spins

Three or more scatter symbols start the free spins round. As with most scatter triggers, the scatters do not have to sit on a particular line or way; landing the required number anywhere is enough. The number of spins awarded and any extras during the round are listed in the help screen. The SlotCatalog Stick 'Em listing (opens in a new tab) also outlines the features.

How 1,024 ways to win are counted

A ways-to-win slot does away with fixed lines. A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel, in any row. With four rows on each of five reels, the number of possible paths is 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 1,024.

The useful bit is how multiple matching symbols multiply up. If the same symbol appears more than once on a reel, each copy creates another path. The number of ways a combination pays is the product of how many matches there are on each reel.

This is where sticky symbols become interesting on a ways grid: anything that keeps symbols in place while others respin can raise the count on one or more reels. A missing match on any reel between the first and last breaks the chain, so a combination of 2–0–3 pays nothing.

Stick 'Em RTP and volatility: a £20 example

The 96.1% RTP leaves a 3.9% edge, so the average cost is 3.9p for every £1 staked. Here is what that means at three common stakes.

Medium volatility sits in the middle of the range. With three features feeding the return, rather than one big bonus, results tend to be less lopsided than on Hacksaw’s high-volatility games, but losing runs still happen. Over 200 spins at 10p you would stake £20 in total and lose 78p on average; the real result could be several pounds either side. The expected value page shows the sum.

What we know about the Stick 'Em max win

A confirmed top prize for Stick 'Em is not in our checked data, so we will not repeat figures from unverified listings. The help screen of the game at your casino shows the maximum payout. Whatever it is, your stake is capped by UK rules at £5 a spin for over-25s and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.

How to play Stick 'Em, step by step

1. Open the paytable and rules to check symbol values, the bonus wheel prizes, the free spins award and the RTP shown.
2. Pick a stake that fits your budget and the UK limit for your age.
3. Press spin. Every spin is started by hand, because UK slots cannot offer autoplay.
4. Look for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any row.
5. If thumbs-up symbols land, they lock and the rest of the grid respins until no more arrive.
6. Three bonus symbols spin the bonus wheel; three or more scatters start the free spins.
7. Keep an eye on the net position and session time shown, and stop at your limit.

UK rules that cover the Stick 'Em slot

Stick 'Em is subject to the UK slot stake limits: £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over since 9 April 2025, and £2 for players aged 18 to 24 since 21 May 2025. It must also meet the design rules announced in the Commission’s package of changes to make online games safer (opens in a new tab), in force from 31 October 2021: at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam-stop, no autoplay and no celebrating a return that is no bigger than the stake.

The Commission’s guidance treats a game cycle as running until all money staked is lost or winnings are made available, and a respin sequence triggered inside a paid spin is part of that spin rather than a new bet. Our game speed rules page covers timing in more detail.

Hacksaw Gaming slots similar to Stick 'Em

Mayan Stackways is the closest in structure, starting from the same 5×4, 1,024-ways grid. Wanted Dead or a Wild shows where the studio went later, with much higher volatility. For another game built around symbols that stay put, read about sticky wilds.

Is the Stick 'Em slot right for you?

It suits players who prefer moderate swings and plenty going on. If you need someone to talk to about your gambling, GamCare (opens in a new tab) runs the free National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.

Where to play Stick 'Em

Search for Stick 'Em in each partner’s lobby, as we can’t confirm which ones carry it. Their welcome deals are slot spin offers on selected or named games, for new customers aged 18+; terms apply.

• PlayOJO: deposit £10 or more for the first time and get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each. No wagering, cash winnings; Northern Ireland excluded and only via the designated offer link.
• Coral: between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, deposit and bet at least £10 on slots for 100 free spins on selected games, 10p each. They must be accepted within 48 hours and expire after 7 days; winnings have no wagering. Excluded deposit types include PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafe and prepaid cards.
• Ladbrokes: spend £10 on slots and collect 50 free spins every day for 10 days, up to 500, at 10p on selected games. Claim before 23:59 daily; spins last 7 days; no wagering. PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, Moneybookers and prepaid card deposits don’t qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both LC International Limited sites. Our guide to whether free spins have wagering explains how no-wagering spins differ from older offers.

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.