Bonus buy slots allow players to pay a fixed price to trigger a game’s primary bonus feature immediately. Regular spins require players to play through the base game and wait for the necessary symbols to land naturally. The choice between them depends on your budget, risk tolerance, and how much time you want to spend on a single session.
What are bonus buy slots
Bonus buy slots, also called feature buy slots, include a mechanic where you bypass the standard spinning process. Instead of waiting for three scatter symbols to land, you click a button, pay a multiple of your current bet, and the next spin triggers the bonus round. The cost usually ranges from 50x to 100x your stake, though some high-volatility games charge 500x or more.
This mechanic first appeared in Big Time Gaming’s White Rabbit in 2017. It changed how players interact with slots by removing the uncertainty of when a bonus will occur. In regular spins, you might trigger a bonus in five spins or 500 spins. The bonus buy removes that variable by making the feature a purchasable commodity.
How the cost is calculated
The price of a bonus buy is tied to the average payout of that specific feature. If a bonus buy costs 100x your bet, the game’s math model suggests that, on average, the bonus returns somewhere near that amount. However, averages are deceptive in gambling. You might pay $100 for a feature and win $2, or you might win $1,000. The cost is a flat entry fee for the opportunity to hit the game’s highest payout potential.
Mathematical differences: RTP and Volatility
There is a technical difference in how a slot performs during a bonus buy compared to regular play. Most developers adjust the Return to Player (RTP) percentage slightly higher for the buy option.
For example, a slot might have a base RTP of 96.2% during regular spins. When you use the bonus buy, that figure often climbs to 96.5% or 96.8%. This happens because the base game, which usually has a lower return to accommodate the “big win” potential of the bonus, is removed from the equation. You are playing only the most generous portion of the software’s code.
Volatility increases significantly with bonus buys. In regular spins, your bankroll depletes slowly as you win small amounts in the base game. When you buy a bonus, you commit a large chunk of your balance to a single event. This creates a “peak or valley” scenario where your balance moves in large, sudden increments.
Comparing regular spins and bonus buys
Regular spins represent the traditional way to play. You experience the theme, the animations, and the small base game wins. This style of play is better for those who enjoy the tension of the chase and want their money to last for a longer session.
Bonus buys are for players who find the base game tedious. If you only care about the free spins or the multiplier rounds where the maximum win potential lives, buying the feature saves time. However, it can also lead to much faster losses.
| Feature | Regular Spins | Bonus Buy Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Cost | 1x Bet per spin | 50x to 2,000x Bet |
| Time to Bonus | Random (can take hundreds of spins) | Instant |
| RTP | Standard (e.g., 96.1%) | Often higher (e.g., 96.7%) |
| Volatility | Medium to High | Extremely High |
| Bankroll Longevity | Higher | Lower |
The role of RNG in both modes
The Random Number Generator (RNG) determines the outcome in both scenarios. Buying the bonus does not guarantee a win. It only guarantees that the bonus round will start. The RNG still decides what happens inside that round. Some players believe that buying a bonus “forces” the game to pay out, but the software treats a bought bonus the same way it treats a naturally triggered one. The only difference is the entry price.
Popular games with feature buys
Different developers handle feature buys with varying levels of intensity. Some offer a single choice, while others provide a menu of options with different risk levels.
- Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play): A classic example where players pay 100x the bet to get 10 free spins. The volatility is high, but the potential for 100x multipliers makes it a frequent choice for feature buyers.
- Money Train 4 (Relax Gaming): This game offers multiple buy options. You can buy a standard bonus or a “Persistent” bonus, which costs significantly more (up to 500x) but guarantees one of the best symbols in the game from the start.
- San Quentin xWays (Nolimit City): Known for extreme options. Players can buy the top-tier feature for 2,000x their bet. This is a high-stakes move where the result is usually either a massive win or a total loss of the 2,000x stake.
- Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play): Similar to Sweet Bonanza, it offers a 100x buy. It also includes an “Ante Bet” feature, which increases the spin cost by 25% to double the chance of landing scatters naturally.
Bankroll management for bonus buys
The biggest risk with bonus buy slots is the rapid depletion of your balance. If you have $200 and you play $1 spins, you have 200 chances to trigger a feature. If you use that same $200 to buy two $100 bonuses, you only have two chances. If both bonuses pay back $10, your session is over in less than two minutes.
A safe approach is the 1% rule. Never buy a bonus that costs more than 1% to 2% of your total bankroll. If you want to buy a $100 bonus, you should have at least $5,000 in your account. Most casual players ignore this, which is why bonus buys are often associated with quick losses.
The “Ante Bet” middle ground
Many modern slots offer a compromise called the Ante Bet. This is not a full bonus buy. Instead, you pay an extra 25% or 50% per spin to increase the likelihood of scatters appearing. This maintains the “chase” of regular spins while slightly improving your odds of seeing the bonus. For many, this is a more sustainable way to play than the 100x flat fee.
Regulatory restrictions and the UKGC ban
Bonus buys are not available everywhere. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) banned the feature in 2019. The regulator argued that the high cost and instant nature of the feature encouraged problem gambling. Players could lose large sums of money much faster than the 2.5-second spin limit usually allows.
Other jurisdictions, like the Netherlands and parts of Germany, have followed suit or implemented strict limits. If you are playing from the UK, you will not see the “Buy Feature” button on any legal, licensed site. In most other regions, including MGA and Curacao-licensed casinos, the feature remains a staple of the experience.
The psychological impact of skipping the base game
Slot machines are designed around the “near-miss” and the anticipation of the bonus. Regular spins provide a cycle of tension and release. Bonus buys remove the tension and jump straight to the release. For some players, this makes the game less enjoyable over time. The “big win” feels less earned if you simply bought it. For others, the base game is just an obstacle to the part of the game that actually pays out.
Conclusion: Which is better
Neither method is objectively better for winning money because the house always has an edge. Regular spins are better for players who want to relax and enjoy a longer session with lower risk. Bonus buys are better for high-rollers or players with limited time who want to see the maximum potential of a slot’s mechanics immediately.
If you choose to use bonus buys, do so sparingly. The higher RTP is a factual advantage, but it is often negated by the extreme volatility. Treat a bonus buy as a high-risk gamble within a gamble, rather than a strategy for consistent winning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bonus buy slots have higher RTP?
Yes, most slots increase the RTP by 0.1% to 0.7% when using the bonus buy feature compared to regular spins.
Why can’t I find bonus buy slots in the UK?
The UK Gambling Commission banned bonus buys in 2019 because the feature allows players to spend large amounts of money too quickly.
Is it cheaper to buy the bonus or spin for it?
Statistically, spinning for the bonus is often cheaper in the short term, but buying it ensures you see the feature without the risk of going 500 spins without a trigger.
Can you win the jackpot on a bonus buy?
Yes, you can hit the maximum win of a slot during a bought bonus round. The win potential remains the same as a naturally triggered bonus.
What is the average cost of a bonus buy?
Most bonus buys cost 100x your current bet level, though they can range from 50x to over 2,000x depending on the game’s volatility.
