ShareOnline slot machines today all feature exciting bonus rounds that players naturally want to access as quickly as possible. Usually, most of the action takes place in the bonus round of a slot machine. However, the hit frequency of a bonus round is 1% or less on most slot games, which can test your patience. That is where the bonus buy feature comes in handy! If you prefer to skip the wait for bonus rounds, you might want to try out bonus buy slots.
What Are Bonus Buy Slots?
In most slots, we all eagerly look forward to one thing: the bonus round. That’s because the biggest wins can be achieved in the bonus round. Or better: that fat jackpot! Providers are well aware of this and have been incorporating a bonus buy feature in their video slots for a few years, allowing direct access to the bonus game for an increased stake.
The definition of a bonus buy slot is simple: a slot machine where you buy a shortcut (feature buy) to the free spins bonus. With the bonus buy feature, you never have to wait hundreds of spins for the bonus game while playing slots online, as all scatters are immediately on the reels after activation, allowing you to skip the basic game — and all that within a few seconds.
How Much Does a Bonus Feature Cost on a Bonus Buy Slot?
The cost of the bonus feature varies per slot. In the most popular bonus buy slots, the cheapest bonus is 50 times your bet, and the most expensive is 2,000 times your bet. That is also the average investment needed to activate the free spins in the 'traditional way.' Here’s how much the bonus feature costs in some of the most popular Bonus Buy slots:
| Title | Provider | Price Bonus Buy |
|---|---|---|
| White Rabbit Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 100x bet |
| Dead or Alive 2 Feature Buy | NetEnt | 66x bet |
| Rick and Morty Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 150x bet |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 50x bet |
| Medusa Megaways | NextGen Gaming | 100x bet |
| 1 Million Megaways BC | Iron Dog Studio | 50x–270x bet |
| Money Train 2 | Relax Gaming | 100x bet |
| Genie Jackpots Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 100x bet |
| Book of Gods | Big Time Gaming | 80x bet |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 100x bet |
How Does Purchasing the Bonus Affect the RTP?
When you buy a bonus round on the slot machine, you automatically increase the RTP of the game. The RTP stands for Return To Player and is the percentage of the total bet that flows back to the player over time. This payout percentage is higher in each bonus game than in the base game, and some buy bonus slots even go a step further to make the buy feature even more attractive with bigger jackpots.
Benefits and Drawbacks
There is a big discussion about whether the Bonus Buy is a good idea. Spending too much money in too short a time is the danger that lurks. Vulnerable casino players want to chase big wins with the bonus buy slots, but that is, of course, not the intention for playing slots online. Some European regulatory authorities have even gone so far as to ban the Bonus Buy option due to the risk of gambling addiction. Therefore, playing responsibly is crucial. Here, we present the pros and cons of Bonus Buy slots:
Benefits
● You no longer have to wait endlessly until you win access to a bonus.
● Bonus rounds almost always allow you to win much more than you can during the base game.
● You can quickly determine whether a slot is worth playing since the bonus round is often the most rewarding part of most online slots.
● The Bonus Buy option often gives a higher payout percentage.
Drawbacks
● It is an expensive option that can significantly reduce your balance. Bonus Buys cost an average of 100x the stake, and the price can go up to 2,000x the stake.
● It's very tempting to keep hitting that Bonus Buy button. Therefore, it is dangerous for players prone to addiction.
● It can be extremely frustrating, especially if the results don't meet your expectations.
Conclusion: Are Bonus Buy Slots a Good Idea?
The bonus buy feature can be a good option depending on your budget, playing style, available time, and goals. Instead of waiting dozens of spins before you get enough scatters, you have immediate access to the bonus round.
The original bonus buy slot, White Rabbit, offers a 100x buy-in and a high chance of winning with an RTP of 97.72%. The RTP represents the average percentage that players get paid out. Of course, the house always has a slight edge, but the higher the RTP, the better for the player.
If you are a player with a small budget, bonus buy slots are not always worth it, as you usually have to pay around 100x for your standard bet to buy the bonus buy feature. This also applies to players who mainly want to play for fun. If your goal is to have a fun night, you will not mind playing 100 to 200 spins before you can trigger the bonus the normal way by using scatters. After all, the excitement and the gameplay are the reasons many choose to play this game.
