Bonus Buy Slots Explained: Costs, RTP, and Whether They’re Worth It

Anyone who has played a slot knows that the most exciting part is hitting a bonus. However, those come few and far between. That was until one innovative company launched a new feature. A feature that changed the slot landscape forever: bonus buys. 

Grab a drink, get comfortable, and come along as we explore everything about bonus buys: how they work, their true cost, how it affects the RTP, the best games and providers, why some regulators removed it, and what to use instead. And what’s most important to remember is that bonus buys only buy a bonus, not better odds.

What Are Bonus Buy Slots?

So, what are bonus buy slots? A bonus buy can be called many things: a feature buy, bonus purchase, or feature drop. It allows you to bypass the endless spinning by offering you the chance to buy a bonus spin outright. All you have to do is click a button, click another button to pay, and watch the bonus unfold before your eyes, instantly.

Big Time Gaming debuted the feature with White Rabbit on October 25, 2017, which gave players a chance to buy a trip down the rabbit hole for 100x their stake. It was only a matter of time before other studios did the same. Which makes sense, as bonus spins are the most entertaining and have the highest variance. Bonus buys are now commonplace across any online casino.

How Bonus Buy Slots Work

Providers make buying a bonus extremely simple. All you have to do is look for a button that says “buy bonus” or one of the other variations mentioned above, click it, and pay. 

However, before doing that, there are a few things you may want to understand.

The Bonus Buy Cost

Most providers pin the bonus buy cost at 50x to 100x your stake. Some premium features can go much higher. So, it really depends. Generally speaking, a bet of $1.00 per spin carries a feature buy price of $100. 

The concept behind the pricing is that the more difficult any bonus is to hit, the higher the price. The price typically reflects how many base-game spins you are skipping. So, if a bonus hits often during regular play, expect it to cost less. The price of any bonus can also be used as an informal guide on how often you can expect that type of bonus to hit while playing spin by spin.

Multiple Buy Tiers

More modern slots often offer several purchase options as they have different tier bonuses. A cheaper option may only get you free spins, but as you raise the stake multiplier, the most expensive option turn into the top bonus that rarely lands. 

Let’s take a look at Nolimit City’s xBet-style menu. It has the option to buy bonus symbols for 100x, four options for 400x, or five options for 2,000x your stake. Each level adds more jumping wilds. There are different options at different levels, as the bonus you are buying is connected to different versions of the bonus and different levels of risk and reward.

Does the Bonus Buy Change the RTP?

One of the most commonly, and rightfully so, asked questions is, Do bonus buy slots change the RTP (Return to Player)? The answer is it depends. Some providers may raise or lower the base game’s RTP. It’s important to check the game’s information before clicking buy. The main takeaway here is that a bonus buy cost only really changes the play speed and variance. It isn’t a magical win-more-money button. However, even if the provider slightly alters the bonus buy rtp, it typically is worth the fun every once in a while. It’s also a good idea to play free slot games and test out the bonus. That way you’ll know if it’s even a type of game you enjoy before paying for it.

Bonus Buy Slots vs Base Game Spins

So, how do base game spins and bonus buys compare? It’s pretty straightforward. With base game spins, your money is spread across a longer time frame and spin count, with the chance of hitting one of the bonuses you can buy. bonus buy slots often eat up your balance much faster. However, it skips right to the best parts. Here’s a breakdown:

	Base game spinning	Bonus buy
How money is spent	Many small bets over time	One large bet in a single click
Wins along the way	Frequent small returns	None until the bonus resolves
Variance	Spread out, gentler	Concentrated, sharp
Time to the bonus	Long, unpredictable	Instant
Long-run RTP	Unchanged	Occasionally a bit higher or lower

Remember, there’s no guarantee that bonus buy slots result in winning more. This is commonly misunderstood. The RTP basically stays the same. The only thing that changes is the speed of play and the balance swings.

Best Bonus Buy Slots and Providers

Any opinions here are debatable, as it comes down to player preference. Having said that, Some of the best bonus buy slots are Megaways Slots. What Are Megaways Slots? 

Here’s a quick look at a few slots and providers that are popular with players:

Game	Provider	Buy cost	What you get
The Dog House	Pragmatic Play	75x stake	Direct entry to free spins with sticky wilds; 96.51% RTP
Money Train 2	Relax Gaming	100x stake	One Money Cart bonus round; base 96.40% RTP, buy 98%
San Quentin xWays	Nolimit City	100x / 400x / 2,000x	Lockdown Spins with 1, 2, or 3 Jumping Wilds; base 96.03% RTP, buys up to 96.95%
Fruit Party 2	Pragmatic Play	100x stake	Free spins with 3 to 7 scatters; base 96.53% RTP, buy 96.45%

It’s always a good idea to play any slot in demo mode before you spend real money on it. There’s nothing more disappointing than finally hitting a bonus that isn’t your cup of tea.

Where Bonus Buy Slots Are Restricted

If you love to play slots, you’ll really want to pay attention to this section. There’s a little hack you can use to spot illegitimate casinos in the UK. And that could save you a lot of money. 

Buy feature slots are restricted at UKGC casinos. The UK prohibits mechanics that let players escalate their stake in the way that bonus buys allow. That’s not to say that games at UK-licensed casinos don’t have bonuses. They do. You just have to hit them the standard way through base spins. And the same games are still available. The bonus buy button is simply not visible.

So, if you see a site that says it’s UK-licensed and it has slots with bonus buys, you know that site can’t be trusted, and you should avoid playing on it.

Alternatives to Bonus Buy Slots: Ante Bet and Bonus-Only Games

If you’re against the idea of buying a bonus, there are other options available. You can opt for ante bet slots or bonus-only games.

The Ante Bet

Sometimes called a bet booster, the ante bet is a small stake increase added to each spin, commonly about 25%. The additional stake increases the odds that a bonus will hit. This is great for players who want to play the bonus without having to pay 50x to 100x just to do so. 

Basically, you receive a higher bonus frequency, but at a small cost. This is also helpful in increasing your total number of spins. In other words, you can spin for longer with an increased bonus frequency rather than spending a lot at once. With bonus buy slots, the house edge remains about the same. Despite that, ante bets are now a common practice with many casino games.

Bonus-Only Games

A few studios went a completely different direction. They started to create slots that only have bonus round scatter symbols. That means the only way you can win anything is by playing bonus games. So, you either lose or enter a bonus game with every spin.

Relax Gaming’s Money Cart is a great example of this. With a 98% RTP, it quickly became popular among slot players. You don’t have to spend a large amount just to play. Bonus games come much more often yet frequently pay out much less. They are perfect for players who enjoy bonus rounds.

Are Bonus Buy Slots Worth It?

Because buying a bonus doesn’t really affect the RTP, whether or not buying a bonus is worth it really comes down to one thing: would you rather spin the reels longer, or do you enjoy bonus games more than playing the actual slot? The choice is yours.

If you have the funds, buying a bonus each time is a great way to get more excitement out of a slot. If you don’t, buying a bonus is a great way to increase volitality, drain your balance, leaving you without funds to keep enjoying the base game.

Tips Before You Buy a Bonus

As slots are a no-skill game, there’s no way to improve your chances. However, there are a few important things to remember. Here are a few:

• Set limits – always set a number that you’re willing to walk away at, whether you’re up or down.
• Check the RTP – be sure to understand the risk.
• Try the demo first – it’s a good way to understand if you even like the bonus. These are often available with online slot games.
• Read the bonus terms – bonus buy slots are often excluded from wagering requirements. Or, only count them partially. Make sure you check before playing.

Slots should always be treated as entertainment only. Remember to play responsibly and understand how the House Edge in Casino Games works.

Conclusion

What are bonus buy slots?Bonus buys slots are a great way to skip right to the bonus game. However, they don’t come cheap. They often cost as much as 100X the stake, sometimes more. Remember, it’s the fun you’re buying, not an advantage. The RTP often remains about the same whether you buy the bonus or play the base game.

Ante bets are a great alternative. You’ll get to enjoy bonus games more often without going through the large balance swings. And always remember, if you’re playing on a UK-licensed site that has bonus buy slots, it’s not what it claims to be. Make sure to read our blog to learn more about slots and other casino games.

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