Empire Gold: Hold and Win (Playson) – Review & Demo Play

The Empire Gold: Hold and Win Slot Game

Empire Gold: Hold and Win drops me into war-torn Rome with polished visuals, lively animations, and an epic soundtrack that fits the legionary march. The action runs on a 5x3 grid with 25 fixed lines and bets from £0.20 up to £100, so it suits casual spins and longer sessions. It’s a streak-style respins title at heart, backed by stacked symbols, stacked Wilds, Free Spins, and a Hold and Win bonus with fixed jackpots, giving a stated top win of 5,524x the stake.

Symbols and Payouts in Empire Gold: Hold and Win

The paytable mixes eight basic icons with three specials. Lows are the J to A card ranks, paying up to 2x for five of a kind. Highs include shields, a helmet with sword, and two legionnaires, topping out at 10x for the red soldier. Wilds, styled as a Centurion, substitute and also pay on their own, reaching 12x for five. Scatters are eagle banners on the middle reels, while Coin symbols act as Bonus icons for the respins feature.

All symbols can land stacked, which helps hits roll in across multiple lines. Wilds always arrive in stacks of three, sometimes partially visible, so they can bridge gaps or form full-line wins when they nudge into view. The Scatter trio on reels two to four pays 1x and launches free games. Bonus Coins do not pay in the base game but carry values or jackpots in the Hold and Win round, keeping the focus on feature-triggering setups.

Empire Gold: Hold and Win Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Wild
	5	x12
	4	x2.4
	3	x0.6
	Scatter
	3	x1
	5	x10
	4	x1.6
	3	x0.4
	5	x8
	4	x1.2
	3	x0.2
	5	x6
	4	x1
	3	x0.2
	5	x4
	4	x0.8
	3	x0.2
	5	x2
	4	x0.4
	3	x0.2
	Bonus

Empire Gold: Hold and Win Slot Bonus Features

Free Spins arrive when three eagle Scatters land on reels two, three, and four, awarding 8 spins with +8 on a retrigger. During this round, low symbols are removed, so only high-pays, Wilds, Scatters, and Coins appear, which tightens the hit quality. Wilds behave the same as in the base game, still stacked, and can build chunky line wins when they line up with legionnaire premiums. The audio lifts a notch here, matching the higher hit potential feel.

The Hold and Win bonus triggers with 6 or more Coins anywhere. You start on 3 respins, Coins stick, and any new Coin or Mystery Coin resets the counter to 3. Coin values range from 1x to 16x, and Mystery Coins reveal Mini, Minor, or Major jackpots worth 20x, 50x, or 150x. When respins end, all values add up. Fill all 15 spots and the Grand Jackpot of 5,000x drops on top, which is the standout target in this slot.

How to Win at Empire Gold: Hold and Win Slot

Wins come from left to right on the 25 fixed lines, with three to five matching symbols doing the work most of the time. In my sessions, stacked sets make the screen feel busy, and the Centurion Wild stacks of three often bridge neat five-line clusters. The base game can chip away with frequent small results from card ranks, but it’s the legionnaire highs and full Wild stacks that push line totals into more interesting territory.

The rhythm is helped by a reported 19.87% hit frequency, so roughly one in five spins lands something. Features are said to appear about every 140 spins, which matches the streak-style pacing. I’ve had dry patches, then a burst of Coins building into a tidy board. Keeping an eye on balance during those gaps matters, as the respin round is where the slot’s weight sits, with sticky Coins carrying values that can climb quickly when space fills.

Auto-play handles the grind well on a steady stake, and I like nudging the bet only after the meter has recovered from a featureless run. The aim is simple: chase stacked highs in the base, then lean on Coins for the bonus, where resets turn two or three drops into a swing. You start each session knowing the headline paths to wins are clean, and the mechanics are easy to follow without fiddly side rules.

Empire Gold: Hold and Win Slot RTP & Volatility

The RTP is listed at 95.76%, which sits a touch under the common average. Variance plays in the medium-to-high range, backed by a top win of 5,524x and fixed jackpots peaking at 5,000x in the respins. I set stakes between £0.20 and £100 depending on the bankroll, accepting that streak-style rounds can bunch outcomes. On balance, the profile feels fair for a Hold and Win title, with regular line hits offsetting stretches while you wait on the stronger features.

The Final Thoughts on Empire Gold: Hold and Win

I rate the presentation highly, and the stacked Wilds, trimmed Free Spins, and fixed jackpots make for a tidy loop. It does tread familiar ground, and the Roman wrap won’t surprise anyone, but the numbers hold up and the respins deliver proper swings when boards pack out. For me, it’s a solid pick when I’m in the mood for streak-style play, steady line hits, and a clear shot at a board-fill Grand, even if the theme plays it safe.