Trailblazer, pioneer, ground breaker – all of these words describe someone or something that has innovated and revolutionised within their time or industry, and it is no exaggeration to say that Lightning Link is exactly that for gambling. 

As a slot player today, can you imagine a world without Hold and Spins? No, I can’t either. Or at least I don’t want to. Hold and Spins are one of life’s pure pleasures and we only have them because of Lightning Link.

Back in 2014 an Australian games designer by the name of Scott Olive had a eureka moment while showering. 

As a keen slots player himself, he dreamt up a game that included great characters, unique themes, stunning graphics, attractive sounds, and of course, the wonder of the Hold and Spin bonus as well as other new features.

Little did he know that within a year it would become a global sensation that would change the face of gambling on an international stage. It would also catapult Aristrocrat Gaming to the top of the industry.

So, what is it about Lightning Link that makes it so special? I’ll look into all the different features and variations as well as where you can play this fun game.

Lightning Link entered the scene in 2015 with four variations – Happy Lantern, Magic Pearl, Sahara Gold and High Stakes. It then released eight more variations, taking the total to 12. These are:

• Happy Lantern
• Magic Pearl
• Sahara Gold
• High Stakes
• Bengal Treasures
• Best Bet
• Dragon’s Riches
• Eyes of Fortune
• Heart Throb
• Moon Race
• Tiki Fire
• Wild Chuco

Although not yet released in the US, some further versions have been developed by Aristocrat and are available in Australia. These are Magic Totem, Fire Idol, Mine Mine Mine, and Raging Bull.

On its initial release, Lightning Link was completely unique in the marketplace. 

Firstly, it had player-selectable multi-denominations and incorporated the Aristocrat patented ‘Hyperlink’ feature that meant that big jackpots could be won on every spin. 

Secondly, as well as a free games feature, it also introduced the innovative and much-loved Hold and Spin bonus for the first time. 

Lightning Link was the inspiration for a whole series of games that followed from Aristocrat. If it works don’t fix it right?

Using the base game from Lightning Link, Olive capitalised on the winning formula developing Dragon Link (2017), Dollar Storm (2019), Buffalo Link (2021) and Lightning Dollar Link (2022). 

By 2021, Lightning Link was the industry’s top grossing slot title.  As a result, Olive was inducted in the EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame in Las Vegas in 2021.

High-Limit Lightning Link

Although the original game offered bets of up to $25 a spin, there’s always a demand for even higher-stakes games. Mind, I must admit that betting anything more than $10 a spin gives me a nose bleed!

Lightning Link responded with a high-limit version offering 10c, 25c, 50c, and $1 denominations with a minimum bet of $5 and max bet of up to $500 per spin.

Another version of the game was also released called Lightning Cash. This game looks exactly the same as the original and comes with the same themed games. However, there are two main differences. 

Firstly, Lightning Cash offers a different range of denominations than Lightning Link. Secondly, Lightning Cash machines are not linked in any way, so the Grand Progressive Jackpot is self-contained to that slot alone.

This means that often the Grand Progressive isn’t as big as some of the linked Grand Progressive Lightning Links. However, it also means that someone playing that exact machine is guaranteed to win the Grand when it pops!

Lightning Link, as with most Aristocrat games, uses a traditional five reel, 5x3 setup, with 25 to 50 paylines on each spin. 

Lower value symbols are made up of the standard mix of card game ranks – K, Q, J, 10, 9. While the higher paying symbols are tailored to each specific game. 

For example, in Tiki Fire, the high paying icons include parrots, butterflies and flowers whereas High Stakes has supercars, Las Vegas showgirls and roulette wheels.

Despite these differences, all Lightning Link games have three main features – Hold and Spin, Free Games and Progressive Jackpots. 

This familiarity of format combined with the varying but distinct themes is what makes Lightning Link so playable time and time again.

Hold and Spin

As I’ve already established by now, I’m a Hold and Spin fan. Although I’m just one of millions across the world – this bonus feature is a crowd-pleaser on every level.

Not only has Aristocrat duplicated this bonus feature across many of their titles, but other game developers have also copied and developed their own. So, if you don’t enjoy Hold and Spins, they are quite difficult to avoid these days.

The Hold and Spin feature in Lightning Link is triggered by landing six of one specific symbol. These symbols always come with a value but they differ in appearance according to the game. 

The differing Lightning Link games with their relevant symbols are listed below: 

• Happy Lantern - Lanterns
• Magic Pearl - Pearls
• Sahara Gold - Coins
• High Stakes – Casino Chips
• Bengal Treasures - Rubies
• Best Bet - Trophies
• Dragon’s Riches - Coins
• Eyes of Fortune - Emeralds
• Heart Throb - Hearts
• Moon Race - Moons
• Tiki Fire – Fire Balls

Each Hold and Spin symbol contains either a numerical value (such as 100 or $10 depending on your denomination) or a progressive word (such as MINI).

Once you land six, you have triggered the Hold and Spin bonus. You are then given three free spins to land another symbol. Every time you do, you reset the counter to give another three spins. 

This continues until you fail to land another symbol. At that point all of the values on the symbols are added up to give you a winning total.

The Hold and Spin is super exciting. You’re effectively given three chances to retrigger the bonus over and over again. Most importantly though, you have no way of knowing what value will land on each symbol. 

Casino players crave a progressive jackpot ball landing, but you can also land a high value symbol out of nowhere too. Plus, the whole bonus is accompanied with awesome sound effects throughout that really builds the suspense.

Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are what we call the pots of money which are displayed at the top of all Lightning Link machines. 

There are four Lightning Link progressives which go up in value – MINI, MINOR, MAJOR, and GRAND.

On Lightning Link, the MINI and MINOR progressive jackpots are fixed based on your denomination level. For example, on the 10c denomination, the MINI is $100 and the MINOR is $500 no matter what stake you play at that denomination. 

The MAJOR is a progressive jackpot that grows independently on each slot until it hits its maximum level which is $1000 on the regular slot but higher on the high-limit version.

Meanwhile, the GRAND is a linked progressive jackpot which is combined across the bank of Lightning Link machines that it stands within.

The beauty of progressive jackpots is that they are accessible to all, no matter what denomination or bet level you are playing. 

Even if you’re betting 50c a spin on a 1c denomination, you can still land a $10 MINI or a $50 MINOR as well as the MAJOR in a Hold and Spin Bonus.

The only way of winning the GRAND jackpot is to fill in all the squares and land all 15 symbols in the Hold and Spin bonus.

Free Games

Although the Hold and Spin and the Progressive Jackpots are mostly standard across all the Lightning Link games, the Free Games bonus has more variation.

Depending on which Lightning Link game you’re playing, you’ll get a different number of games and varying features too. They tend to come in pairs, so you’ll get two Lightning Link Games with the same free games format.

All Lightning Link Free Games bonuses are triggered the same way – by landing three of the scatter symbol in one spin. However, the scatter symbols are different in each game. 

The below table will show you the differences in each Lightning Link game:

During the free games bonus, it is possible to re-trigger the free spins by landing three of the scatter symbol again.

The best thing, though, is that you can also trigger the Hold and Spin bonus within the free spins bonus which is a double whammy of happiness. 

Lightning Link Audio/Visual

There’s nothing worse than sitting at a slot machine and hearing the sounds, sirens and trumpets of people winning around you. Especially if you’re not winning yourself.

But, when you do win, or even just trigger a bonus, then the sound effects, music and fanfare that accompanies it always adds to the experience and heightens the excitement.

Lightning Link has this down to a fine art. Aristocrat has perfected how to increase the fun of slots with a fully immersive soundtrack that is instantly recognizable on a casino floor.

The Hold and Spin is always accompanied with a fast-paced soundtrack that gives that feeling that you’re racing against the clock. Plus, every symbol that lands comes with a pow, a zing, or a whack. 

If you’re lucky enough to get down to the last couple of squares, the soundtrack speeds up even more building the anticipation of a potential Grand Jackpot win.

When the Hold and Spin counts up, every value is added with a ceremonial zap before a trumpeting fanfare leads into an up-beat celebratory tune.

And that’s just one bonus feature. Even a good line hit sets off a different buoyant ditty to dance along too.

When it comes to visuals, Lightning Link excels too. The different themes, characters and symbols are visually striking and the Lightning Link logo written in its distinctive blue background and gold lettering looks as if it has been struck by lightning itself.

Across North America many Lightning Link Lounges have been created, such as in Bally’s in Atlantic City, with a specific area dedicated solely to Lightning Link slots. The visuals on them are incredible and show what a strong brand image these games have.

What awards has Lightning Link won?

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Lightning Link was revolutionary within the gambling industry and subsequently received many accolades, just a few of these are below:

In 2016, Lightning Link was named the Platinum Award Winner on Casino Journal’s list of the “Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products” for 2015.

In 2018 Lightning Link won Land Based Product of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards.

Meanwhile, Lightning Link creators Aristocrat have been consistently recognized for their innovation too. In 2019 they won Land Based Industry Supplier in the 2019 Global Gaming Awards. 

Additionally, in 2023 Aristocrat Gaming was awarded “Best Overall Supplier of Slot Content” for an incredible fifth consecutive year at the EKG awards.

(Note: If you're unsure about how denominations work on a slot machine, then check out our handy guide)

The original Lightning Link games offer denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c. Higher denominations are available on the high-limit Lightning Link games.

The lowest bet you can place is 50cent on the 1c denomination. The highest bet you can place is $25 on the 10c denomination. This is one of the reasons the game is so popular because it is accessible and appealing to a wide variety of players and budgets.

Choosing which denomination you want to play is entirely up to you. Some players will tell you that you can only win big on the bigger bet levels. While plenty of low-rollers have shown me examples of huge wins on a $1 bet.

Some players even have their favourite bet. For example, I have a friend who swears by the 10c denomination $5 bet and she only ever plays at that level.

However, you need to find the bet level you’re happy with and don’t be afraid to switch up the denominations to add more variety. 

Experimenting with different denominations can be fun and it doesn’t mean you have to increase your stake either.

As an example, if you want to keep your overall stake between $1 and $2.50 on each spin you could play any of the following bets on Lightning Link:

Increasing the denomination might give you fewer paylines in some cases, but it will also increase the progressive jackpots.

Lightning Link creator Scott Olive famously called Lightning Link a ‘10-year game’ when it was released in 2015. Now, 9 years later, although Lightning Link is still widely found and played, it has started to drop off slightly in terms of casino floor space.

Certainly, in my Las Vegas trip in March 2024, there were fewer Lightning Link machines than I’d seen previously. It does seem to be a pattern that I’ve seen over the last couple of years. 

Of course, they have been mostly replaced with more Aristrocrat games from the same family – Dragon Link, Dollar Storm, Lightning Dollar Link and Buffalo Link. 

However, that doesn’t mean that it’s hard to find Lightning Link. It’s still everywhere. And that’s not just the US and Australia, its available in six continents worldwide.

According to the American Gaming Association,, there are currently 1011 casinos in the US, with the highest concentration in Nevada. 

The vast majority of casinos in the US will carry at least one bank of Lightning Link slots, if not a whole lounge of them. Even according to Aristocrat, Lightning Link games can be found in every US state that has a casino. 

Although it may now be overshadowed somewhat by its more recent relations, Lightning Link games remain highly popular today.

Some of the locations you can play Lightning Link in the US are:

• Las Vegas - Every casino in Las Vegas has Lightning Link, including giants such as Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Caesars Palace.
• Atlantic City - You can play Lightning Link at all Atlantic City properties, including Caesars and Bally's.
• Pennsylvania - Lightning Link is very common in Pennsylvania at casinos such as Parx and Mount Airy.
• Michigan - It will feature heavily at all or most Michigan casinos, including MGM Grand Detroit and Gun Lake.
• Florida - Lightning Link has pride of place in major Florida casinos, especially Hard Rock Hollywood and Hard Rock Tampa.

Unfortunately for online slots fans, you won't currently find Lightining Link games even at the best online casinos. They are available on some social casino apps, though. 

Why is Lightning Link so popular?

Undoubtedly, Lightning Link has been one of the most successful game franchises in the history of the gaming industry.

It’s revolutionary format and features struck a chord with players worldwide and that is why is still remains so popular almost a decade on.

Game development is a huge business. Get it right and it can transform both the supplier and the industry. That is exactly what Lightning Link did.

There’s two key things that every slot player wants – we want to be entertained and we want to be given opportunities to win. And if its really good it can entertain enough that you don’t mind not winning!

Lightning Link draws players in with fun themes, top graphics, large progressives and an eye-catching brand. The multi-denomination and varying bet levels means it’s accessible and attractive to all regardless of budget.

Then, once you start playing, you are immersed into a world of sounds and music, striking symbols, up to 50 paylines, and two exciting bonus features that bring with it high levels of anticipation and potentially huge wins too. 

I mean, what’s not to love?

It is obvious just how successful Lightning Link has been from the way Aristrocrat basically took the Lightning Link model and remodelled it over and over again to create a series of hugely successful games. 

It is also significant that many other game developers then went on to replicate the format and features in their own games. Imitation is the biggest form of flattery right?

Personally, I love playing Lightning Link and its for a number of reasons. My favourites are probably Sahara Gold (love the graphics), High Stakes (love the sound the chips make when they land), and Tiki Fire (love the bonus feature).  

I’ve been fortunate to win some nice payouts from these games too, but ultimately I play them for the entertainment, in the hope of triggering a hold and spin or free games feature, and the potential of landing a big jackpot.

If that’s not the absolute perfect slot machine dynamic for any operator, then I don’t know what is.