What Are Buy Bonus Slots?
Understanding feature buy mechanics
Normal Trigger (Free)
- →Play regular spins at your chosen bet level
- →Wait for scatter/bonus symbols to land (typically 3+)
- →Average trigger frequency: 1 in 100-250 spins
- →Total cost varies (could be £10-£500 before triggering)
Buy Bonus (Instant)
- →Click "Buy Feature" button
- →Pay fixed price (50x-250x base bet)
- →Immediately enter bonus round
- →Example: £1 bet × 100x = £100 buy-in cost
Alternative Names
The feature is known by several names across different game providers:
- • Feature Buy (Pragmatic Play)
- • Bonus Buy (NetEnt, Nolimit City)
- • Buy Free Spins (various providers)
- • Instant Bonus (some providers)
How Buy Bonus Features Work
Mechanics and cost structure
Cost Structure
The cost to buy a bonus feature is expressed as a multiplier of your base bet. This multiplier varies significantly based on the slot's volatility, feature potential, and game design.
Low Cost (50x-80x)
- • Lower volatility features
- • Frequent but smaller wins
- • Examples: Most Pragmatic Play slots
- • £0.50 bet = £25-£40 buy cost
Medium Cost (100x-150x)
- • Balanced volatility features
- • Popular standard cost
- • Examples: Book of Dead, Gonzo's Quest
- • £1 bet = £100-£150 buy cost
High Cost (200x-250x)
- • Very high volatility features
- • Massive win potential
- • Examples: Nolimit City max volatility
- • £1 bet = £200-£250 buy cost
Example Calculation
Scenario: Wanted Dead or a Wild (Hacksaw Gaming)
• Base bet: £1 per spin
• Feature buy cost: 84x (varies by provider/game)
• Total cost: £1 × 84 = £84
• What you get: 12 free spins with expanding wilds and multipliers
• Average return: £50-£300 (highly variable)
Important Note
Buying the feature does NOT guarantee you'll win more than you paid. It's entirely possible to spend £84 and win only £20-£30 from the bonus round. The feature buy gives you instant access, not guaranteed profits.
RTP Implications
Understanding return to player with buy features
Why RTP Increases
When you play normally, the game's RTP includes both base game and bonus round outcomes. The RTP accounts for dead spins while waiting to trigger the bonus.
When buying the feature, you bypass all base game play and go straight to the high-RTP bonus round. The cost is mathematically calculated to give you slightly better long-term value.
Example RTP Comparison
Variance vs. RTP
While RTP may be slightly higher, variance (volatility) is also condensed into shorter sessions:
- →Higher variance: Buying £100 features repeatedly can lead to rapid bankroll depletion if you hit several low-paying rounds
- →Faster spending: You can blow through your bankroll much faster buying features than playing base game
- →Psychological impact: Losing £100 in one feature hurts more than losing £100 over 50 base game spins
Casino Bonus Restrictions
Using buy features during bonus wagering
Critical Warning
Many online casinos prohibit or restrict the use of bonus buy features while you have an active casino bonus (welcome bonus, reload bonus, free spins, etc.). This is one of the most important considerations when playing buy bonus slots.
Common Restrictions
Complete Prohibition:
- Feature buy disabled entirely during bonus wagering
- Using it voids bonus and all winnings
- Most common restriction type
Limited Contribution:
- Feature buy spins count 0% toward wagering
- Or reduced contribution (10-20%)
- Technically allowed but inefficient
Why Casinos Restrict This
- 1.Faster wagering completion: Players could complete requirements much faster by buying high-value features repeatedly
- 2.Reduced variance for players: Going straight to bonus rounds removes base game house edge exposure
- 3.Bonus abuse prevention: Players could exploit higher RTP of feature buy to maximize bonus value
Best Practice
Always read the bonus terms before playing. Look specifically for clauses about "feature buy," "bonus buy," "instant bonus," or "purchasing free spins." If you're unsure, contact casino support to clarify whether feature buy is allowed during wagering.
Strategic Considerations
When to use buy bonus features
Good Use Cases
- ✓Testing new slots: Experience the bonus round quickly without 100+ base game spins
- ✓Time-limited play: Short gaming sessions where you want immediate excitement
- ✓Recording/streaming: Content creators showing bonus features to audiences
- ✓Chasing specific features: When you specifically want to experience certain mechanics
Poor Use Cases
- ✗Chasing losses: Buying features to recover previous losses often accelerates losses
- ✗During bonus wagering: Usually prohibited; using it voids your bonus
- ✗With small bankroll: Spending 25-50% of bankroll on one feature is risky
- ✗Expecting guaranteed profit: Features can and often do return less than cost
Bankroll Management for Buy Features
If you plan to use buy features regularly, adjust your bankroll management accordingly:
Conservative (2-5%)
Feature cost should be 2-5% of total bankroll
£1,000 bankroll = £20-£50 feature buys
Moderate (5-10%)
More aggressive but still sustainable
£500 bankroll = £25-£50 feature buys
Aggressive (10-20%)
High risk of rapid bankroll depletion
£200 bankroll = £20-£40 feature buys
Popular Buy Bonus Slots
Games with feature buy mechanics
Hundreds of slots now include bonus buy features. Here are some of the most popular across different providers:
Pragmatic Play
- • The Dog House Megaways (100x)
- • Sweet Bonanza (100x)
- • Gates of Olympus (100x)
- • Starlight Princess (100x)
- • Sugar Rush (100x)
Nolimit City
- • Mental (75x-2,000x multi-tier)
- • San Quentin xWays (75x-400x)
- • Tombstone R.I.P. (76x-400x)
- • Fire in the Hole (60x-900x)
- • Das xBoot (67x-1,000x)
NetEnt
- • Gonzo's Quest Megaways (100x)
- • Divine Fortune Megaways (90x)
- • Temple of Nudges (80x)
Hacksaw Gaming
- • Wanted Dead or a Wild (84x)
- • Le Bandit (60x-1,500x)
- • RIP City (60x-750x)
- • Chaos Crew (85x)
Pros and Cons
Weighing the benefits and drawbacks
Advantages
Instant Gratification
No waiting through dead spins to trigger features
Slightly Higher RTP
Typically 0.5-1.5% better than base game
Time Efficiency
Experience features quickly, ideal for testing slots
Guaranteed Access
Don't need luck to trigger—pay and play
Disadvantages
High Upfront Cost
50x-250x bet size is substantial investment
Faster Bankroll Depletion
Can burn through funds rapidly with bad features
Casino Restrictions
Often prohibited during bonus wagering
No Guarantees
Can easily lose more than you paid for the feature
