Bonus Buy Slots
What if there was an easy way straight into the most exciting part of a slot that has the most win potential. It would have sounded almost like cheating not long ago. Well, now there are hundreds of online slots that come with a special bet known as Bonus Buy. It instantly unlocks the game’s main feature, be it free spins or a combination of many bonuses, for an average of 100x bet. Given how long it takes for a bonus to show up, especially in highly volatile slots, it is starting to sound more like a great deal to many punters. After all, aren’t we all spoiled with the Prime-now mentality?!
In this bonus buy slots guide I’ll walk you through the different types, the many game developers that are offering slots with the bonus buy, as well as a few tips on how to choose the best slots that can bypass a horde of dead spins. If you’re playing from the UK then most of these features are unavailable at this time, but I’ll give you a few hints on how you can still take advantage of some bonus buy-in alternatives made specifically with UK players in mind.
Best Bonus Buy casinos in November
T&C ApplyNew Players Only. Wager from real balance first. 50X wager the bonus. Contribution varies per game. Selected games only. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 days / Free spins valid 7 days from receipt. Max conversion: 3x the bonus amount or from free spins: £20. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full T&C apply.
T&C Apply18+. Welcome bonus package on first 3 deposits 1st Dep. Min £20. 40x wagering (bonus & deposit). max bonus to cash 5x. 50 Free spins. 25x wagering. Max bonus to cash £25. Claim once. See full T&Cs for 2nd & 3rd Deposit offers. Full T&C apply.
T&C Apply#AD New customers only, 18+, Gamble responsibly. Min deposit £10, wagering 60x for refund bonus, max bet £5 with bonus funds. Free Spins bonus has x40 wagering. 23 free spins on registration (max withdrawal is £100). 100% refund bonus up to £111 + 77 spins on 1st deposit. No max cash out on deposit offers. Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Ecopayz, Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C apply.
Bonus Buy – How it works?
Time is money, so why not get right into the thick of the action when playing your favourite slot? Don’t we all want to get to the bonus before we run out of credit? Now you can just press the magic button and release the genie! Bonus Buy, also known as Feature Buy, is a special bet that charges a fee to immediately activate one or more of the game’s features. You simply pay to get a shot at the bonus with all the bells and whistles. It’s hard to not win anything in bonuses like Free Spins, so entertainment is pretty much guaranteed.
Are bonus buy slots different from regular slots?
Bonus buy slots work the same way as a regular slot machine. In fact, some developers are adding this capability retrospectively to their existing games. For example, you can now buy the Free Games Feature in the famous Push Gaming slot Jammin’ Jars. That was not possible for over two years since the game was launched. Big Time Gaming is now thinking of going the same route, which would add a completely different dimension to their existing slots.
How much does the bonus buy cost?
Most slot games have a different bonus buy price. That’s because they are unique in the way they are set up. Theoretically, the price reflects a likely win in the bonus round. The more you pay, the more you should win, and vice versa. So for how much can you buy the bonus? The industry average is around 100x, but it can go insanely high with some games such as Tombstone RIP by Nolimit City. This Wild West-themed title is charging up to 3,000x for a chance at its Boothill Freespins, but it also has a matching reward potential of up to an eye-watering 300,000x bet!
In reality, things can get very volatile with a sample size of just a dozen buy-bonus attempts. For that matter, each game’s volatility and RTP allocation play an important part. To get a sense of how likely it is to win back the money from the bonus that you buy with the special bet, give it a few good tries in the demo or the lowest bet first.
👍 Tip: Some game providers like ELK Studios managed to have the same bonus buy bets across all their slots. Slots that support their X-iter bets offer 2x, 10x, 25x, 100x and 500x Super Bonus options, regardless of volatility.
Unfortunately for players in the UK, bonus buy slots are tightly regulated by the Gambling Commission. Because of that, such a game feature doesn’t fall into the responsible gambling criteria and is not allowed. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any loopholes, which some game providers are taking advantage of already.
Bonus Buy Slots in the UK
The UK online casinos fall under the UKGC regulations, which rule out any use of instant bonus buys as a side feature. That is unless you are playing Big Time Gaming slots with a Win Exchange. In contrast to their slots with a Feature Drop, the exchange is a UK-friendly bonus buy. Whenever you win a certain amount, usually around 25x, you’ll be presented with an option to buy the Free Spins Bonus for 75x, or enter the Win Exchange gamble mode where the chances of winning the bonus are proportionally allocated taking into account how much you’ve won. Win Exchange is currently available in BTG slots like Gold MegaWays, Apollo Pays, Golden Catch and Wild Portals.
Another alternative came in great demand from the fans of Relax Gaming’s Money Train slot series. What the team did is release a bonus-only version of the game. This modified game has essentially only the free spins mode and no base game at all. The entire slot is pretty much a bonus buy machine, but instead of 100x bets, you can play with regularly sized stakes starting from as little as 0.10 credits. For now, Relax Gaming has only the Money Cart series that have been given this mod.
Variations of bonus buy (Available in the UK)
While a full-on bonus buy is a no-no in the UK market, ante bets that increase the chances of winning a feature are generally accepted. Here are some examples that you’ll find with different developers:
- NextGen Gaming — They have a Super Bet feature that they’ve been using since a long time ago, including such old but very popular slots like Foxin’ Wins and Merlin’s Millions.
- Stormcraft Studios and Fortune Factory – These two iGaming studios that fall under the Microgaming umbrella have something called a Win Booster that you’ll find in slots like Fortunium Gold Mega Moolah and Jurassic World Raptor Riches.
- Pragmatic Play – Although they have a full-blown bonus buy in some slots, you’ll also find an Ante Bet in slots like Gates of Olympus, which double the chance of triggering the main bonus.
- Barcrest – If you like online slots that look like they were taken straight from a brick-and-mortar casino then Barcrest and their Big Bet Spins-enabled slots like Monopoly Big Event are a good alternative. Such spins usually come in several expense categories that ultimately increase the chance of winning a feature.
If you want to take full advantage of bonus buy slots, then see our list below.
Developers Offering Bonus Buy Option
By now, most popular game studios have jumped the bonus buy bandwagon. Some are similar, others try to innovate and create something of their own. Here are some prominent developers with Feature Buy slots:
| Developer | Slots with Bonus Buy | Top picks | BB effect on RTP |
| Nolimit City | Most + all new games | Tombstone R.I.P (3,000x) and San Quentin | Often increases |
| Big Time Gaming | Only a handful (to include older titles) | Golden Catch and Extra Chilli | May change |
| Push Gaming | Many + including older releases | Joker Troupe, Jammin’ Jars, Fat Banker (600x) | May decrease |
| ELK Studios | All slots with X-iter | Nitropolis 3 and Wild Toro 2 | Usually stays at 95% |
| NetEnt | Very few | Starburst XXXtreme (95x) and Dead or Alive 2 (67x) | May increase |
| Relax Gaming | Most + all new games | Money Train 2 and Dead Man’s Trail | Often increases |
| Blueprint Gaming | Some | Return of Kong MegaWays (up to 150x) and Rick and Morty MegaWays | Usually increases |
| Yggdrasil | A few + all new games | Vikings Go Berzerk Reloaded and Vikings Go to Valhalla (7x – 330x) | Stays the same |
| Pragmatic Play | A few | The Dog House MegaWays and Sweet Bonanza (200x) | Typically stays the same |
| Quickspin | A few | Big Bad Wolf MegaWays (90x) and Sakura Fortune 2 (55x) | Usually much better |
| Hacksaw Gaming | Most | Wanted Dead or a Wild (80x – 400x) and Cubes 2 | Typically better |
| Microgaming | A few made by the exclusive studios | Dia del Mariachi MegaWays (80x) and Squelin’ Riches (55.02x) | Can change slightly |
Best Bonus Buy Slot Sites
Keep in mind that when using a casino bonus with an active wagering requirement, the maximum bet restriction applies. It is usually just £5 but can be even lower. Here are licensed slot sites that offer bonus-buy slots:
UK LICENSED
EXPERT REVIEWS
MOBILE FRIENDLYFree Spins available upon registration on Book of Dead. Bonuses have a wagering requirement: 30x bonus + deposit (game weighting applies). Max bet applies. Min deposit: €10. New 18+ customers only. Play responsibly. Full T&C apply.
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 plus 50 bonus spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus + cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply.
Welcome bonus for new players only. 5 free spins on registration (max withdrawal £100). Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100. Min. deposit is £20. No max cash out. Wagering is 35x bonus. Maximum bet while playing with a bonus is £5. Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse. Cashback is cash with no restrictions. Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded. Cashback applies to deposits where no bonus is included. Play responsibly. Full T&C.
No bonus code needed: just use the exclusive link. Use the Spins on Book of Dead (Play’n GO slot). Min deposit: €/$10. Get 1 Free Spin for every €/$1 that you deposit, up to 80. All wins are paid in cash with no wagering requirements. New 18+ customers only. Gamble responsibly. Full T&C apply.
New players. Deposit £10, stake £10 on Bingo, get £30 bonus (x4 Wagering) & £10 Club voucher, &/or stake £10 on slots, get 200 x 10p Fire Blaze Blue Wizard Megaways spins (x20 wagering) & £5 Club slots voucher. Use winnings in cash balance/further deposit to claim both. £5 minimum withdrawal. 18+. Full T&C apply.
18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £200 plus 50 bonus spins on your 1st deposit, 50% match up to £50 on your 2nd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org.
18+. New customers only. Min deposit & spend £10 to get £20 bonus (40x wagering, selected games). 30 Free Spins (value £0.10 each, selected games). Bonus & Free Spins valid for 7 days. Payment restrictions & T&Cs apply.
18+. New depositors only. UK residents only. Minimum deposit £10. Free Spins are valid only on Starburst and expire in 7 days. 10x wagering apply. Certain deposit types are excluded. T&Cs apply.
18+. New players only. Min. dep £20. Max. bonus bet £5. 200 Bonus spins on Book of Dead on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (40x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Full T&C apply.
18+. New customers only. Spend £10, get £40 Slots Bonus (40x Wagering, selected games) + 40 Free Spins (Value £0.10 each, selected games). Claim & use within 7 days. Restrictions and T&Cs apply.
18+. New customers only. Spend £20, get £40 bonus (40x Wagering, selected games) + 50 Free Spins (value £0.10 each, selected games). Bonus & Free Spins valid for 7 days. Restrictions and T&Cs apply.
18+. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Bet a minimum of £10+ on any of the qualifying Casino/Slots/Games or Live Casino games. 40x wager requirement (bonus only) on selected games in 30 days. 24hrs to accept. Bonus valid for 48hrs. Certain deposit types excluded. Bets covering >70% of Roulette table excluded. T&Cs Apply.
No wagering requirements on this signup bonus. Rewards must be claimed within 7 days. No code needed. New 18+ customers only. Play responsibly. Full T&C apply.
18+. New players only. One offer per player. Max bonus bet £5. Offer: 100% bonus match on 1st deposit + bonus spins. Value of bonus & number of spins depend on deposit amount: £20-£100: max £100 bonus + 150 spins on selected games; £101-£200: max £200 bonus + 100 spins on selected games; or £200+: max £300 bonus + 150 spins on the following game(s): Starburst, Gonzo, Aloha, Twin Spins and eligible NetEnt games. Winnings from spins credited as bonus and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds contribute to wagering requirement. Bonus funds expire within 30 days; bonus spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org.
The spins are playable on different NetEnt slots (Starburst, Mega Fortune Dreams, Jack and the Beanstalk, Warlords, Twin Spin, and Swipe and Roll). No wagering requirements. Use within 3 days. No maximum win limit. No code needed. New 18+ customers only. Play responsibly. Full T&C apply.
18+. New customers only. Min spend £10 on qualifying games. Certain deposit types excluded. £50 Bonus on selected games subject to 40x wager req. Must accept within 7 days, valid for 30 days. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply.
#AD Wagering requirement: 25x bonus within 30 days (game weighting restrictions apply). Min deposit: €/$10. Skrill, Neteller and Paysafe deposits excluded. New 18+ customers only. www.begambleaware.org. Full T&C apply.
#AD New customers only, 18+, Gamble responsibly. Min deposit £10, wagering 60x for refund bonus, max bet £5 with bonus funds. Free Spins bonus has x40 wagering. 23 free spins on registration (max withdrawal is £100). 100% refund bonus up to £111 + 77 spins on 1st deposit. No max cash out on deposit offers. Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Ecopayz, Skrill or Neteller. Full T&C apply.
#AD New Player Offer at bet365 – Discover bet365 Casino with 50 Free Spins. Deposit and stake £10 on eligible Casino games to get 50 Free Spins. Time limits, game restrictions and T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. Deposit & spend £10 to get £40 Bingo Bonus (4x wagering) + 40 Free Spins on Foxy’s Full House Wild Slot (value £0.10, 10x wagering on winnings). Claim & use within 7 days. T&Cs apply.
#AD 1st time depositor at 888casino only. £20 min deposit. Claim within 48 hrs. Valid for selected games. Bonus wins capped at £500. 30x wagering – req. vary by game. Bonus expires within 90 days. Payment method & country restrictions apply. General withdrawal restrictions & full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
New Players Only. Wager from real balance first. 50X wager the bonus. Contribution varies per game. Selected games only. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 days / Free spins valid 7 days from receipt. Max conversion: 3x the bonus amount or from free spins: £20. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full T&C apply.
Best Feature Buy Slots
As you can see from the above, there are many different variations of a bonus buy mechanic. To make matters even more complicated, the feature is evolving constantly. If there was one way to pick the best bonus buy slot, then it could come down to the games that also offer a better RTP. So when you buy a feature, you’ll have a small extra edge against the casino. In some cases, the difference can be almost as big as 1%. Read our guide on why RTP matters to learn more.
Developers that offer such increased RTP with their bonus buys include but are not limited to Push Gaming, Nolimit City and Quickspin. For example, Push Gaming’s Big Bamboo slot is offering an RTP of up to 96.74% when using the bonus buy, which is a significant increase from 96.13%. However, the Bonus Buy in Jammin’ Jars from the same developer will decrease your RTP from an above-average 96.83% down to 96.49%. Nolimit’s San Quentin slot has a theoretical return to player of just 96.03%, but with the most expensive, 2,000x bet bonus buy, it increases to 96.95%! This may be an extreme example but even with their cheapest bonus entry, you’ll get a boost in RTP across a variety of their slots. Sakura Fortune 2 by Quickspin also shines in this criterion, boosting players’ odds from 96.03% RTP to 96.72% RTP when going straight for the Free Spins versus triggering them naturally.
Standard practice is that the bonus buy theoretically does not change a thing in how much money you win or lose over a long period of time. But because such bets are often many times higher, your balance can rally up and down way more. It’s easier said than done but be prepared to lose your 100x bonus buy-in because some Free Spins may pay nothing at all.
Summary
Bonus Buy is one of the hottest slots “innovations” in recent years. As with any slots tool, it’s important to keep a cool head when playing with a bonus buy. That’s especially true with games where a single bonus chance can cost as much as 3,000x. It is for a reason that jurisdictions like the UK Gambling Commission have been so critical of this sneaky modification. For pure convenience, however, Bonus Buy seems to have been well accepted by players around the world and is becoming a thing of preference when choosing which slots to play. Casino influencers and streamers especially enjoy the fact that they no longer need to spend hours for the main feature to drop. As a feature buy user, just be mindful of some of the pitfalls mentioned above and the fact that this may limit the game’s experience in a big way. When complemented with responsible, regular gameplay, it can be a real time-saver and an entertainer.
FAQ
Here you can find the FAQs related to this article:
Unfortunately, Bonus Buy is not allowed in the UK. However, some developers have found a way around this regulation with ante bets, special games and other modifications that we also discuss in our guide.
It comes down to each individual game and both place and time. It makes more sense to buy the bonus in slots that are very volatile or in which it’s very difficult to trigger a bonus naturally within a meaningful time.
The average cost is known to be around 100x bet, but it can fluctuate greatly among different developers and individual games. The price also depends on the type of bonus buy and whether it guarantees a bonus entry at all.
It depends on each game, as some slots offer better RTP when using the bonus buy, and vice versa. See our table to see how the probability usually changes for each game provider.
At most UKGC-regulated online casinos, the maximum bet with a bonus is usually capped at £5, which means that most Bonus Buys will be out of reach unless you manage to bring the total cost down by decreasing the bet amount.