Bonus Buy Slots

What are Bonus Buy Slots?

One thing about online slots is that the highest chances of winning significant prizes are hidden in the bonus round. Since it requires a lot of patience to trigger the bonuses naturally, there’s a fairly popular invention that solves the challenge – the buy bonus!

So, what are bonus buy slots? These are games that let you purchase instant access to a bonus round, primarily free spins or a special feature. They’re also referred to as buy feature slots or buy bonus slots.

How Do Bonus Buy Slots Work?

Every slot implements bonus buys slightly differently, but the overall concept is usually similar and straightforward, as explained in the following example:

Additionally, the feature may include extras, such as different values of starting multipliers or numbers of spins. Remember to confirm the bonus buy only when you’re happy with the selected price and configuration (if available).

The rules of the purchased feature are usually the same as when triggered organically. However, the advantage of using the bonus buy is that it may have certain statistical benefits.  

How Much Does It Typically Cost?

From the above example, bonus buys are typically set as a multiple of your bet. Most bonus buy slots cost between 50x and 200x the bet.

However, some studios, such as Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City, and ELK Studios, are fond of including enhanced feature buys (guaranteed mechanics, extra wilds, higher multipliers, etc.), which may be more expensive.

How Many Free Spins Do You Get?

The number of free spins varies by game, but most range from 5 to 15 spins.

Furthermore, some slots allow retriggers or respins within a bonus round, while others are heavy on growing multipliers and/or special symbols instead of awarding extra spins. 

Why are Feature Buy Slots Popular?

Let’s backdate a little bit. The modern-day feature buy mechanic first appeared in 2017’s White Rabbit by Big Time Gaming via its trademarked Feature Drop™ system.

Over the years, buy bonus slots have become popular, catering to players who prefer instant access to moments within a game that matter the most. Here are some reasons for the rise in popularity:

• Most players prefer instant, explosive action over waiting.
• Bonus rounds are typically the cornerstone of big win potential.
• Streamers have popularised buying bonuses back-to-back.
• Feature buy slots provide more hope in highly volatile games.
• Online casinos have embraced bonus buy slots more since they encourage larger single transactions while maintaining the game’s momentum.

In short, slots with bonus buy rose in popularity because they match how modern players want to engage with their favourite games.

The Best Bonus Buy Slots (Top Picks)

Below are some well-known bonus buy slots available in the market. As you’ll note when trying out the slots’ demo plays, each approaches the feature slightly differently. But they all have potential for large payouts during their bonus rounds.

• Wanted Dead or a Wild (Hacksaw Gaming)

RTP: 96.38% | Max Payout: 12,500x | Bonus Buy Price: 80x–400x bet

This game is a highly volatile slot from Hacksaw Gaming that helped cement the popularity of modern bonus buy mechanics.

It uses a 5x5 reel layout and introduces the now-famous DuelReels system that can split reels to create additional win opportunities.

By using the bonus buy, you enter a free spins round with expanding wilds and increasing multipliers. The feature can feel brutal, but when the DuelReels align with wild symbols, the payout potential becomes apparent.

The slot is best for players who enjoy high volatility and aren’t afraid of long non-winning spins in exchange for explosive wins.

• Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play)

RTP: 96.50% | Max Payout: 5,000x | Bonus Buy Price: 100x bet  

Gates of Olympus opts for a scatter pays engine, with tumbling wins and screen-wide multipliers. It takes place on a 6x5 grid, with a heavy focus on multiplier symbols that drop at random and apply to the entire win.

The bonus buy unlocks free spins, where multipliers can stack rapidly during cascading wins. While the game doesn’t expand the grid or add extra reels, its strength lies in the interaction between tumbling mechanics and multiplier growth.

Therefore, the bonus feels interactive and unpredictable, with wins often built via several cascades rather than landing all at once.

• Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)

RTP: 96.51% | Max Payout: 21,100x | Bonus Buy Price: 100x bet

Sweet Bonanza takes you on a sugary affair in a bright, dreamy world. Since its inception, it has become a staple of bonus buy and has even birthed a series of follow-up releases. It runs on a 6x5 grid and features tumbling mechanics.

Buying the bonus grants access to Free Spins, where multiplier bombs can drop onto the reels, increasing your payouts. The feature is straightforward, but the gameplay can be highly volatile.

In fact, most of the win potential is from landing multiple multipliers during cascades. So, it appeals to slot fans who prefer a simple bonus structure with a massive win potential.

•  San Quentin 2: Death Row (Nolimit City)

RTP: 96.13% | Max Payout: 200,000x | Bonus Buy Price: 100x–2,500x bet

San Quentin 2: Death Row is a prison-themed, high-volatility release from Nolimit City that follows San Quentin xWays. It plays on a 5x4 gameboard, with 1024 ways, and allows players to buy instant access to the Green Mile Spins, featuring between 1 and 3 starting Jumping Wilds.

This bonus buy slot affords a feature buy menu with tiered options, from standard spins to enhanced spins with more wilds.

There’s also a Lucky Draw option, worth 740x the bet, and the bonus rounds mix intense mechanics, such as Razor Split, xWays, and Enhancer Cells for more fiery action.

• Pirots 4 (ELK Studios)

RTP: 94% | Max Payout: 10,000x | X-iter / Bonus Buy: 3x–500x bet

Pirots 4 is part of the popular Pirots series by ELK Studios, which takes an unconventional CollectR™ mechanic. It features a space-themed bird adventure, presenting players with a long list of features, including feature symbols, grid expansions, and two bonus rounds.

Like all ELK games, it also includes X-iter™ (bonus buy) options that let you instantly trigger special features or rounds, including the super bonus game. The more explosive the feature you select, the higher the buy price. The diversity makes the game appealing to players who enjoy strategic buys tailored to various feature types rather than a single bonus round.

Pros and Cons

Before deciding whether to use the feature, it helps to compare the advantages against the risks, especially given how volatile some bonus buys can be.

Final Thoughts

Bonus buy slots have reshaped how players experience online slots, replacing long waits for scatters with instant access to the most exciting features. Simply, pay a fixed multiple of your bet and instantly enter a free spins bonus or a special feature, where the winning potential is usually the greatest.

As this guide shows, bonus buys vary widely in price and mechanics. They also vary from straightforward feature buys to complex ones, and other games offer tiered options. In the end, their popularity is determined by cost, intensity, and control, with players deciding when to risk instead of waiting for luck to take effect.

That said, bonus buys are still governed by Random Number Generators (RNG), and results can swing unexpectedly in either direction. Further, even if they’re thrilling, they can be out of some players’ pockets. The best approach is to treat them as high-risk entertainment, set clear limits, and enjoy the action responsibly rather than chasing outcomes.