Bonus Buy Slots Explained: Are They Worth It?
Bonus buy slots let you pay a fixed fee to skip the base game and jump straight into a slot’s bonus round. The feature has become one of the most popular — and most debated — mechanics in modern online slots. This guide explains how bonus buy works, what it costs, how it affects your RTP, and whether buying the bonus is actually worth your money.
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What Are Bonus Buy Slots?
Bonus buy slots are games that offer a paid shortcut into the bonus round. Instead of spinning until you land enough scatter symbols to trigger the feature naturally, you pay an upfront fee and the bonus starts immediately.
The mechanic was pioneered by Big Time Gaming, which introduced the Feature Drop system in games like White Rabbit and Extra Chilli. Today, nearly every major provider offers bonus buy options, including Pragmatic Play, Nolimit City, Hacksaw Gaming, and Push Gaming.
When you activate a bonus buy, the game artificially places scatter symbols on the reels to trigger the feature. The bonus round that follows is mathematically identical to one triggered naturally — same odds, same multiplier potential, same payout structure. Understanding how online slots work helps explain why the outcomes remain the same regardless of how you enter the bonus.
How Much Does a Bonus Buy Cost?
The standard bonus buy price is 100× your base bet — this is the most common cost across providers like Pragmatic Play and Big Time Gaming. At a €1 base bet, that means €100 for a single bonus round.
Some providers offer tiered pricing, where you choose between a cheaper enhanced-odds option and a full direct-entry purchase:
| Cost | Example | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| 3×–5× | BonusHunt FeatureSpins (Hacksaw Gaming) | Enhanced spins — higher chance of triggering, not guaranteed |
| 60× | Crystal Towers (Big Time Gaming) | 10 free spins |
| 100× | Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play) | Standard free spins round |
| 100× | White Rabbit Megaways (Big Time Gaming) | Free spins with extending reels |
| 500× | Money Train 4 enhanced (Relax Gaming) | Money Cart bonus with persistent collector symbol |
Most players will encounter the 100× price point. Higher-cost tiers — like Nolimit City’s extreme options that can exceed 2,000× — unlock more powerful starting conditions but carry proportionally higher risk.
Bonus Buy vs Triggering the Bonus Naturally
The bonus round itself plays out exactly the same whether you buy it or trigger it from the base game. The only difference is how you get there — and what that means for your bankroll.
Triggering naturally means spinning in the base game until scatter symbols land in the right positions. Depending on the slot’s volatility, this can take anywhere from 50 spins to 500+ spins. During those base game spins you collect small wins that partially offset the cost of reaching the bonus.
Buying skips that waiting period entirely. You pay a lump sum and enter the feature immediately — but you also skip all the base game wins you would have accumulated along the way.
Does RTP Change When You Buy?
In many cases, yes. Some games actually have a slightly higher RTP when you buy the bonus compared to playing the base game. For example, Money Train 2 by Relax Gaming has a bonus buy RTP of approximately 98%, compared to 96.4% in the base game. Money Train 4 shows a similar pattern at 96.50% versus 96.10%.
However, a higher RTP does not mean better short-term results. Buying the bonus compresses all the variance into a single event. Data analysis across thousands of bonus buys shows an average return of around 91%, with only about 23% of purchases returning more than the buy cost.
The Ante Bet Alternative
Not every slot offers a full bonus buy, but many include an ante bet option instead. The ante bet adds roughly 25% to your stake per spin and increases the number of scatter symbols on the reels, making the bonus trigger more frequently.
Where a bonus buy skips the base game entirely, the ante bet keeps you spinning but tilts the odds of triggering. Without ante bet, a bonus might appear once every 350–400 spins. With it active, that drops to roughly once every 200 spins.
The trade-off is gentler. You pay more per spin, but the risk is spread across many spins rather than concentrated in one large payment. If you prefer high-volatility action but want a less aggressive shortcut, ante bet is the middle ground.
One important detail: payouts from ante bet spins are based on your original bet amount, not the inflated ante bet cost. The extra 25% is purely the price of increased scatter frequency.
Where Is Bonus Buy Banned?
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) banned bonus buy features entirely in 2019. The regulator determined that letting players pay to skip directly into bonus rounds removed the element of chance and created a risk of accelerated gambling harm. You will not find bonus buy options at any UK-licensed casino.
Players in regulated European markets — including Malta Gaming Authority and Gibraltar-licensed casinos — can still access bonus buy slots. However, regulatory scrutiny is increasing across multiple jurisdictions as responsible gambling frameworks evolve. Our casino guides cover licensing and regulation differences in more detail.
Some providers work around restrictions by releasing alternative game versions. For example, Relax Gaming released Money Cart as a bonus-only companion to Money Train, and several Megaways titles have “All Action” versions designed for markets where the feature is permitted.
Pros and Cons of Buying the Bonus
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Instant access to the feature round | High upfront cost (€50–€400+ per buy at €1 stake) |
| Transparent pricing — you know exactly what you spend | Only ~23% of purchases return more than the buy cost |
| Can carry slightly higher RTP than base game | Dramatically increases variance and bankroll risk |
| Saves time in high-volatility games where triggers are rare | Skips base game wins that offset feature costs |
| Useful for short sessions | Banned in the UK; restricted in some markets |
The core trade-off is speed versus risk. Bonus buy gives you immediate access to the most exciting part of the game, but it front-loads all the financial risk into a single transaction. If you play with online casino bonuses, be aware that bonus buy spins may count differently toward wagering requirements depending on the casino’s terms.
When Is Buying the Bonus Worth It?
There is no universal answer, but certain situations make bonus buy more reasonable than others.
Buying may make sense when:
- You are playing a high-volatility slot where the bonus triggers very rarely (300+ spins)
- You have a large enough bankroll to absorb multiple unsuccessful buys
- Your session time is limited and you want feature action quickly
- The game’s bonus buy RTP is equal to or higher than the base game RTP
Buying is usually a poor choice when:
- The slot has low or medium volatility — the bonus triggers naturally often enough
- Your bankroll is limited (a few bad buys can wipe it out)
- You have not checked the game’s paytable and RTP for the bonus buy mode
- You are chasing a loss from a previous buy
Before committing real money, test the feature in demo mode. Many free demo slots include the bonus buy option, letting you see how the bonus round plays out without financial risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bonus buy mean in slots?
Bonus buy is a feature that lets you pay a fixed fee — usually 50× to 300× your base bet — to enter a slot’s bonus round immediately. Instead of waiting for scatter symbols to trigger the feature naturally, you skip the base game and go straight into free spins or the bonus game.
Is it cheaper to buy the bonus or wait?
On average, buying the bonus costs more than triggering it naturally. Data shows only about 23% of bonus buys return more than the purchase price. When you spin naturally, base game wins partially offset the cost of reaching the bonus, making the natural path cheaper over time — but significantly slower.
Can you buy the bonus in UK casinos?
No. The UKGC banned bonus buy features in 2019. Any casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must disable the feature. Players using casinos licensed in Malta, Gibraltar, or Curacao can still access bonus buy slots.
Do you get better RTP when buying the bonus?
In some games, yes. Money Train 2 has a bonus buy RTP of approximately 98% compared to 96.4% in the base game. However, higher RTP does not guarantee better results in any single session — the variance is much higher, so outcomes swing more dramatically.
What is the difference between bonus buy and ante bet?
Bonus buy is a one-time lump sum payment (50×–300× your bet) that takes you straight into the bonus round. Ante bet adds roughly 25% to every spin and increases scatter symbol frequency, making the bonus trigger more often while keeping you in the base game. Ante bet spreads the cost across many spins; bonus buy concentrates it into one.
Conclusion
Bonus buy slots offer a shortcut to the most exciting part of a slot — but shortcuts come with a price. The feature is transparent, fast, and sometimes even carries a slightly higher RTP than base game play. However, the concentrated variance means most bonus buys will not return their cost, and the financial risk is significantly higher than spinning naturally. Whether buying is worth it depends entirely on your bankroll, your risk tolerance, and how much time you have to play.
