Pragmatic Play Begins the Year with Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin

Pragmatic Play Begins the Year with Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin

Pragmatic Play

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698

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2015

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Pragmatic Play has chosen a familiar path to open its 2026 release schedule, launching Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin as the first slot title of the year. Rather than introducing a complex structure or layered mechanics, the provider has focused on refinement, placing established features within a visually traditional framework. The release suggests a deliberate approach, prioritising recognisable formats while maintaining space for high-value outcomes.

Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin is built around a 5×3 reel setup, a format that continues to define classic slot design. The layout is straightforward, keeping the game's core mechanics immediately clear. Visual elements follow the same philosophy. The setting relies on bright, neon-inspired colours and a central joker figure, with supporting symbols that draw from long-standing jester imagery. Musical instruments and performance props appear across the reels, reinforcing the theme without adding mechanical complexity.

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RTP%

96.52

Volatility

High

Layout

5×3

Max Win

Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin

Gold

0 plays

05/01/2026

Pragmatic Play

The base game uses fixed paylines, where matching symbols must land consecutively to trigger a win. Three to five identical symbols on a payline trigger payouts, with the highest base-game return reaching 1,000x the stake. This structure positions the main game as a steady lead-in rather than the primary source of extended play, a choice that aligns with the overall focus on the bonus feature.

That focus becomes clear through the game's use of money symbols and a Hold & Spin mechanic. These symbols act as the gateway to the title's main feature, appearing independently of paylines and carrying fixed cash values. When at least three money symbols land on the reels, the Hold & Spin round is triggered, shifting the pace of play and introducing a separate sequence governed by respins rather than spins.

Once activated, the bonus locks the reels in place and provides an initial set of three respins. The objective during this phase is not to form symbol combinations but to add further money symbols to the grid. Each time a new money symbol appears, the respin count resets, extending the feature and increasing the potential payout. This reset mechanic encourages sustained engagement without altering the underlying rules, maintaining consistency throughout the bonus.

Each money symbol has a predefined value, and individual symbols can award payouts of up to 5,000x. At the conclusion of the respin sequence, all visible values are collected and paid out. The feature's highest possible result is achieved when every position on the 5×3 grid is filled with money symbols. In that scenario, the total win reaches the game's stated cap of 10,000x the original stake.

From a design perspective, Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin does not attempt to modify or expand the Hold & Spin format beyond its established boundaries. Instead, it relies on pacing and clarity. The absence of additional modifiers or secondary features keeps attention on grid coverage and timing, two elements that define this type of bonus. This restraint appears intentional, offering structure while still allowing varied outcomes.

As Pragmatic Play's first release of 2026, the slot also serves as an indicator of the company's early-year direction. The title follows a series of releases from late 2025 that focused on recognisable brands and expanded formats, such as Fortune of Olympus and Big Bass Splash 1000. In contrast, Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin stands as a standalone concept, suggesting a return to contained ideas after a period of franchise development.

The company has also continued its emphasis on high win ceilings, a trend visible across much of its recent output. While the 10,000x maximum aligns with industry standards for Hold & Spin titles, its inclusion ensures that Joker's Jewels Hold & Spin remains competitive within regulated markets where such caps are increasingly expected.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, described the release as a combination of a classic theme and a widely recognised mechanic. Her comments underline the company's intention to balance familiarity with relevance, using known structures rather than introducing untested ideas at the start of the year.